The Honorable President of the State of Israel, Mr. Reuven Rivlin.
Hello,
My name is Amir Benayoun, and we know each other a little.
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I could not help but write these words to you, in light of the fact that my eyes see that His Excellency is walking an unfair path towards his people, and is moving further and further away with each passing day, to the point of almost completely renouncing Jewish values in the Jewish people, and his personal identity as a Jew.
And above all, most importantly – for turning his back on his people, while being arrogant and changing his skin too sharply.
I will tell him a parable in his honor, in the name of Rabbi Ben Ish Chai, zt"l, which sufficiently describes his honor's condition, and with God's help he will be able to open his honor's eyes, and especially his Jewish heart.
A parable of a ladder leaning against the wall. The top rung of the ladder began to boast to the rungs below it, saying: "Although I am like you, I am superior to you. If there were no special virtue in me, because of which the owner of the house chose me to be superior, he would not have made me superior. And if so, I am special to you, and superior to all of you, because of me.".
A man passed by, hearing the boasting of the top rung, and came and overturned the ladder. And so, in the blink of an eye, the top rung became the lowest rung, the one closest to the ground.
The moral is simple and understandable.
His Excellency may be the president, but he is not superior to any citizen in the State of Israel.
On the contrary, if His Excellency were wise enough to know his people, he would become humble and modest, because it is known that his people do not like arrogant people, and do not tolerate any whiff of superiority. In general, the institution of the presidency belongs to them at least as much as it belongs to His Excellency.
If His Honor were to get to know his people, he would know that they are no less than the smartest people in the world. There is no such thing as 'stupid citizens.'.
On the contrary, it would have been his honor to internalize this, and it would have led him to speak the truth and at eye level, instead of distancing himself and uttering all sorts of washed-up slogans.
Please let His Majesty learn from great leaders in the people of Israel, who knew how to ask for forgiveness for their actions and correct their ways. Learn from Judah, who said, "Truth is from me," and from King David, who said, "I have sinned against her," and from Solomon, the wisest of men, who admitted all his mistakes.
And thus, His Honor will gain his world, because we are a people of mercy, sons of mercy, and I am certain that if His Honor asks forgiveness from the Jewish citizens of the State of Israel with all his heart, they will welcome him back into their arms. Provided that His Honor ascends the golden path.
thanks,
Amir Benayoun
P.S. In two words: love Jews no less than you love people of other nations.
