When we listen to politicians, we know how to look for the hidden interest behind the seemingly practical reasons. The same public figure who explains to you with great logic why the government should not be enlarged, for example, will in another situation present a series of well-reasoned arguments for why a large government is needed.
Of course, all the beautiful arguments are nothing more than a tool to serve the circumstances, and behind them lies a clear interest.
The spies, who returned from the mission assigned to them by Moses, also presented seemingly logical arguments: "The people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are very walled, and we also saw the descendants of Anak there." They described the strength and power of the inhabitants of Canaan, and warned that conquering the land would entail heavy losses. On the surface, this seems like a legitimate position.
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However, the Book of Psalms reveals the hidden motive behind the logical arguments: "And they were dismayed at the pleasant land, they believed not his word." Their words and reasoning stemmed from their dismay at the Land of Israel. They did not love the land and did not want to enter it. They also did not believe in the Creator’s promise to give the land to the people of Israel.
That was the real reasoning, and everything else was nothing but a smokescreen.
From the land of the dead
Even in the debate that has raged among us for the past forty-eight years, it is easy to identify this hidden motive. First, we argued that Judea and Samaria should be returned to the Jordanians, payment for a peace agreement with them.
After it became clear that Jordan was not interested in these territories and a peace agreement was signed with it without handing over any territories, the argument began to be heard that we should give up the territories in favor of the 'Palestinians.'.
After some time, we suddenly began to hear that giving up the heart of the Land of Israel was generally in the Jewish interest, so that the identity of the Jewish state could be preserved.
Only we, with our inherent suspicion, did not understand that the Arabs and Europeans are simply interested in our well-being, and their entire focus is on ensuring the existence of the Jewish state...
Reasons rise and fall, arguments are voiced and exchanged, but behind it all lies the same motive – "and they will be dismayed by the land of delight." There is a debate here between lovers of the land and those who are loathsome. Some are amazed and excited by the land of the Bible, while others find this connection repulsive and repulsive. They prefer Tel Aviv, and if the Milky Way is a little expensive, they will go to Berlin.
A callous attitude
This ulterior motive emerges in the emotionless reference to the Land of Israel. The same people will call the land's regions - 'territories', 'land', 'the West Bank'.
I still remember well the struggle waged by journalists from the State Broadcasting Authority demanding that they be allowed to refrain from calling these parts of the land by their names – Judea, Samaria, Benjamin – but rather 'territories' or 'the West Bank.' This is where the needle comes out of the bag.
This is the heart of the matter, and therefore the focus should be on cultivating love of the land – a true correction to its depravity.
Pragmatic, security, and other arguments are not enough. We need to educate people to love the Land of Israel, to emphasize its sanctity, and to deepen the emotional connection to it.
