\u00a0Ahmed Tibi, or by his long nickname MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi, wrote: "In Israel they say that Spain did justice to the Jews expelled from Spain and granted them citizenship. There is another country that caused injustice and expelled people. Does 'doing justice' apply here too?" He was surely referring to the Jewish state that expelled only the Jews who lived in the Gaza Strip from their homes...<\/p>\r\n
This week I attended the farewell event for the British Ambassador to Israel. The first Jewish ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Holy Land. The event was also addressed by Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who was the Chief Rabbi of Britain until about two years ago.<\/p>\r\n
Rabbi Sachs expressed his great appreciation for the Lubavitcher Rebbe, saying that when he was twenty years old, the Rebbe designated him for greatness. The Rabbi, who received a knighthood (lordship) from the Queen, said, among other things, that at a time when Israel finds itself isolated from the world, it is worth remembering things we have forgotten, including that it was Judaism that laid the foundations for the values \u200b\u200bof the Western world.<\/p>\r\n
He mentioned that the values \u200b\u200bof tolerance (used by the European left against Israel) and human rights were brought into the world by the Torah. "The foundations of the free world are based on the Bible. Without religious faith, we will fail to protect the future of humanity. The values \u200b\u200bof the Torah are what connect Israel and Britain," said the Jewish Lord.<\/p>\r\n
\u00a0Respect for the rabbis<\/b><\/p>\r\n
The rabbi, Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman, Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek, spoke at the event about an Israeli Jew he met in London.<\/p>\r\n
\""He said to me: 'Are you the disco rabbi? I want to ask you what to do. I want to marry a Gentile and stay here in Britain.' In the evening, I asked my host to take me to a disco to light Hanukkah candles there. I went in and asked the Israelis who were there who knew the blessing they say for lighting a Hanukkah candle, and I stayed with them until dawn. A large part of those present returned to Israel, became closer to Judaism and began to live a life of Torah.".<\/p>\r\n
The GRI turned to the outgoing ambassador, Matthew Gold, and said to him: "You spoke so beautifully about the Haredi public. I wish our ambassadors would speak about the Haredi the way you speak... Our Israelis who live in London need a lot of encouragement. If you come and talk to them, it will be a different matter. Here, you have a new job. Soon you will be bringing all the Jews of Britain to the Land of Israel," the GRI concluded with a smile.<\/p>\r\n
It was surprising to see the great respect and special treatment of the ambassador and embassy staff for the ultra-Orthodox rabbis and guests. As if it were not clear that every society respects those who have chosen ideals. What is clear to every nation and language is not clear to us here in Israel.<\/p>\r\n
\u00a0Gafni dancing?<\/b><\/p>\r\n
When I went out into the hot street, I couldn't help but remember the bewildered looks of the media people in light of the position that many members of the Haredi public are currently taking in the media. Without apology. Without a stutter. We are proud! Proud to be Haredi and to be believers and torchbearers from generation to generation. Gone are the days when "we were in our own eyes like grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes.".<\/p>\r\n
This week's Torah portion is very clear in this regard. The spies who were sent to spy out the land return and slander it and even dare to speak against heaven with the words "for He is stronger than He." The punishment was clear and unequivocal. Anyone who doubts the holiness of the Land of Israel very quickly comes to apostasy against the Creator, the Blessed One.<\/p>\r\n
I was amazed this week to hear MK Moshe Gafni speak in favor of a "political process." If I hadn't realized later that the words were spoken out of turn, I might have thought that he too had become one of the spies. That he too had decided to dance "Ma Yafit" in front of the Pritzker. There are also Jewish Pritzkers, what can be done?<\/p>\r\n
\u00a0To be a dog and Joshua<\/b><\/p>\r\n
A Jew cannot give up even a part of the Land of Israel for two reasons. One: Halachic. The land is not ours. It belongs to God. We do not have the authority to give it up. The second: Security. Every concession over the years has resulted in bloodshed on both sides. This is also a Halachic reason, as appears in the laws of Shabbat regarding Gentiles who besieged Israeli towns and violated the Sabbath, even if they came for straw and hay. All the more so if they came for human rights.<\/p>\r\n
And despite everything, one must end on a positive note. The Rebbe emphasizes that immediately after the punishment the Israelites received for the sin of the spies, God commands the Israelites to make offerings and sacrifices. The command begins with the words, "When you come to the land of your sojournings," and the holy Rashi immediately clarifies: "Give them news that they may enter the land.".<\/p>\r\n
Yes. Even after the punishment, "Your carcasses will fall in this wilderness." God makes it clear that the people of Israel will enter the Land of Israel. One generation will die in the wilderness and bear its punishment, but the next generation will inherit the land. Even in the final moments of exile, we must stand firm for our right to the land given to us by God Himself.<\/p>\r\n
This is a right that is a duty. It is the duty of each and every one of us to act like a dog and Joshua. To try to work on our immediate and distant surroundings to observe Torah and commandments in order to be holy and worthy of the holiness of the land.<\/p>\r\n