The Talmud asks: "What is Chanukah?" And it then goes on to explain why we celebrate that holiday. Without a doubt, if the Talmud would have been written today, our sages would be asking: "What is Yom HaAtzma'ut (Independence Day)?"
There is total confusion among the religious public surrounding Israel's Independence Day, for the last 57 years. Most Charedi Jews do not celebrate the day or say any special prayers. In fact, if questioned, they have been known to answer: "I'm not worse than Ben-Gurion, who also did not say Hallel (praises to HaShem)." Even among the national-religious communities, the question has arisen whether, with all the talk of giving away parts of the Land of Israel, one should be saying Hallel. Just a few years ago, the prime minister of Israel would be honored at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, the center of the national-religious movement, in honor of the holiday; today, who would think of inviting him to speak at the yeshiva?
And so, a state of mass confusion has arisen among the people about the religious aspects, if any, of this day. Be sure that everyone likes a good barbecue, but is there more to the day than meets the mouth?
The Key
Truth be told, understanding the ramifications of Independence Day is the key to understanding why we are here today in the Land of Israel, and the key to bringing the complete Redemption to the Jewish people, speedily and without pain.
In our parsha, Emor, we are told: "You shall observe My commandments and perform them, I am the L-rd. You shall not desecrate My holy Name; rather, I should be sanctified among the Children of Israel, I am HaShem who sanctifies you." From here, our rabbis learn that it is a commandment upon every Jew to sanctify HaShem's holy name. Not just in the case of the three cardinal sins - murder, adultery and idol worship - that a Jew must give up his life rather than transgress, but also in our daily lives, must a Jew act in such a manner as to not cause a Chilul HaShem.
This commandment of Kiddush HaShem is also relevant to the Jewish people as a whole. How unfortunate it is, then, that today we bear witness to the confusion and distortion of the concept of Kiddush HaShem, and how it has been played out. For this, the Torah wears a sackcloth! For if we truly understood this concept and how it relates to us, we could no doubt magnificently end the Exile and bring the complete Redemption.
And so, we find that after the sin of the golden calf and the sin of the ten spies, Moses petitions HaShem and begs for mercy to spare the Jewish people. The winning argument that Moses puts forward is, of course, 'What will the Egyptians say? What will the nations of the world say when they hear that the Jews died in the desert? That against one nation (Egypt) HaShem was able to fight, but against all 31 nations in the land of Cana'an Hashem is powerless.' This, then, is the argument that swayed HaShem, and so, in order that there would not be a great Chilul Hashem, HaShem did bring the Jewish people into the Land.
"Lo Lema'anchem" - Not for Your Sake
Throughout our history, this has always been the overriding argument that sees us through. "Not for your sake, O House of Israel, but for My Holy Name which has been defiled in the Exile." (Ezekiel 36) There is no greater Chilul HaShem than the Jew being in Exile, for that shows the nations of the world that the G-d of Israel is a weak G-d. This, then, is why HaShem, in His great mercy, has taken us from the ashes of the Exile and returned us to our Land. Not because we are righteous or deserving of it, but for His great Name, which has been defiled among the nations.
This is what Yom HaAtzma'ut - Independence Day - is all about, and woe to those who do not understand this, for it is more than just a slap in the face. And no, it is not for an Israeli government that talks of withdrawals or openly desecrates the Shabbat day; no, it is not for them. But rather, for the great miracles which HaShem has done for His great Name's sake, in order to stop the horrible Chilul HaShem and to bring the Redemption through great Kiddush HaShem. This is the reason, and for this we shall praise HaShem. One way or another, Kiddush HaShem will replace the Chilul HaShem that we see today, as we are told, in the wars of Gog and Magog. And HaShem will be sanctified in the eyes of the nations.
There is total confusion among the religious public surrounding Israel's Independence Day, for the last 57 years. Most Charedi Jews do not celebrate the day or say any special prayers. In fact, if questioned, they have been known to answer: "I'm not worse than Ben-Gurion, who also did not say Hallel (praises to HaShem)." Even among the national-religious communities, the question has arisen whether, with all the talk of giving away parts of the Land of Israel, one should be saying Hallel. Just a few years ago, the prime minister of Israel would be honored at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, the center of the national-religious movement, in honor of the holiday; today, who would think of inviting him to speak at the yeshiva?
And so, a state of mass confusion has arisen among the people about the religious aspects, if any, of this day. Be sure that everyone likes a good barbecue, but is there more to the day than meets the mouth?
The Key
Truth be told, understanding the ramifications of Independence Day is the key to understanding why we are here today in the Land of Israel, and the key to bringing the complete Redemption to the Jewish people, speedily and without pain.
In our parsha, Emor, we are told: "You shall observe My commandments and perform them, I am the L-rd. You shall not desecrate My holy Name; rather, I should be sanctified among the Children of Israel, I am HaShem who sanctifies you." From here, our rabbis learn that it is a commandment upon every Jew to sanctify HaShem's holy name. Not just in the case of the three cardinal sins - murder, adultery and idol worship - that a Jew must give up his life rather than transgress, but also in our daily lives, must a Jew act in such a manner as to not cause a Chilul HaShem.
This commandment of Kiddush HaShem is also relevant to the Jewish people as a whole. How unfortunate it is, then, that today we bear witness to the confusion and distortion of the concept of Kiddush HaShem, and how it has been played out. For this, the Torah wears a sackcloth! For if we truly understood this concept and how it relates to us, we could no doubt magnificently end the Exile and bring the complete Redemption.
And so, we find that after the sin of the golden calf and the sin of the ten spies, Moses petitions HaShem and begs for mercy to spare the Jewish people. The winning argument that Moses puts forward is, of course, 'What will the Egyptians say? What will the nations of the world say when they hear that the Jews died in the desert? That against one nation (Egypt) HaShem was able to fight, but against all 31 nations in the land of Cana'an Hashem is powerless.' This, then, is the argument that swayed HaShem, and so, in order that there would not be a great Chilul Hashem, HaShem did bring the Jewish people into the Land.
"Lo Lema'anchem" - Not for Your Sake
Throughout our history, this has always been the overriding argument that sees us through. "Not for your sake, O House of Israel, but for My Holy Name which has been defiled in the Exile." (Ezekiel 36) There is no greater Chilul HaShem than the Jew being in Exile, for that shows the nations of the world that the G-d of Israel is a weak G-d. This, then, is why HaShem, in His great mercy, has taken us from the ashes of the Exile and returned us to our Land. Not because we are righteous or deserving of it, but for His great Name, which has been defiled among the nations.
This is what Yom HaAtzma'ut - Independence Day - is all about, and woe to those who do not understand this, for it is more than just a slap in the face. And no, it is not for an Israeli government that talks of withdrawals or openly desecrates the Shabbat day; no, it is not for them. But rather, for the great miracles which HaShem has done for His great Name's sake, in order to stop the horrible Chilul HaShem and to bring the Redemption through great Kiddush HaShem. This is the reason, and for this we shall praise HaShem. One way or another, Kiddush HaShem will replace the Chilul HaShem that we see today, as we are told, in the wars of Gog and Magog. And HaShem will be sanctified in the eyes of the nations.