The National Anthem and Rabbi Sholom Cohen
The National Anthem and Rabbi Sholom Cohen

Every Jewish soul that yearns for Zion was deeply offended by the recent remarks made by head of the Shas Party Council of Rabbis, Rabbi Shalom Cohen shlita and former Shas Mk Shalom Benizri concerning the Jewish state's national anthem.

It is true that the anthem does not mention Hashem, our Father and King, He who brought about our return from exile.

It is true that the anthem's writer was not a follower of the Holy Torah's precepts.

It is true that when we are able to, and as soon as possible, we will add a stanza about the House of David, the Holy Temples and the God of Israel.

It is true that every God fearing person is pained when seeing how so much of the Zionist movement does not look Heavenward, does not yet realize that we are a Godly nation returning home.

It is true that the anthem reflects the western Ashkenazic Jewish community and does not take Sephardi Jews from countries such as Iraq, Iran and Syria into account, as it talks about the land to the east.

But despite these failings, we must remember that this is not a personal song, not a negative song, not the antithesis of Judaism. It is simply a song filled with longing for Jewish rebirth in the Land of Israel.

The anthem, although flawed, is full of love for the land, for Zion, for Jews, recognizes the exile's impurities as well as the joy of being free. All these are important values in which we, as Torah observers, believe. 

The anthem expresses our nation's struggle to rise up from the ashes of its exile and was sung by hundreds as they were forced to march to the gas chambers of Auschwitz,  by IDF soldiers going forth to risk their lives for our land, by the Jews who tried so desperately to reach it when Britain closed its doors.

To insult the anthem is to insult the Jewish people as it is today, insult a nation with unique qualities, whose exceptionalism is becoming more and more evident now that it is in its own sovereign state.

We are well aware of the country's present weaknesses and confusion, its oblivion to God's Presence.  But will insults and bitter pessimism bring anyone closer to God? Will ignoring secular nationalism (even if wrong) bring the pubic to love and fear of God?

We must give serious attention to the state of the country. A nation thousands of years old stands before us, awakening from dormant exile, and sometimes making mistakes while its eyes are still drooping with weariness. Both the state and its errors must be respected, we must have faith in its strength, love it, realize that errors are part of the process of understanding Mashiach ben Yosef, the leader, according to Jewish sages, who brings about the practical aspects of redemption - symbolized in present day Israel's technology, army, productivity. Only when we have faith in it, can we constructively criticize the state.

Someone who sees modern Zionism as out of the pale, someone who denigrates the hesitant steps our nation is taking in search of the truth and doesn't recognize their worth, will never be able to give true criticism. Only a positive approach can bring about tikun.

Every day, Rabbi Isaac Luria's disciples prayed for Messiah ben Yosef not to die in the middle of the Redemption, that is, for the process of developing the state physically and economically to continue. Everyone must take special care not to wound him.

We have not reached the high level of Mashiach ben David, the spiritual Mashiach.  We are on our way, but need more analysis of the way we are going. We need for everyone to talk to one another, as did Joseph when he united the travels of the tribes.

The concept of "everything or nothing" is not applicable to the generation of redemption. Rabbi Kook writes this clearly in his writings and letters, calling on us to elevate and deepen our approach, counsel and criticize, as part of a long term process, one with a beginning, center and end.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was careful to rise when the national anthem was played, in deference to the State of Israel. He was careful to honor the symbols of the country, believing that this might be the way to bring the Jewish people back to their Heavenly Father.  He did not make light of our having a state, did not abandon it. Instead, he improved whatever he could from within, and showed warm affection for the country's leaders despite his criticism of their actions.

Criticize the anthem. Criticism has value. But don't kill Mashiach ben Yosef, don't invalidate the years in which we have been trying to hold our own in the world, develop our country, understand what is expected of us. Don't laugh at God's nation. Have faith in it. He who causes injury to Israel is injuring God.