It has been fifteen years since an Arab assassin's bullet stilled the voice of Rabbi Meir Kahane, the truest and most noble Jewish leader of our generation. Although conventional wisdom teaches that "time heals all wounds," the pain and anguish of so great a loss continues. Indeed, it is compounded, as his prophetic warnings concerning the rise of an Arab nationalism that threatens Israel's very survival have become stark reality.



Although it may come as a surprise to many Jews who even today opine that he should have 'toned down his rhetoric' and 'not said everything openly', in order to receive more votes for his Kach political party, Rabbi Kahane did not consider himself a politician. Rather, in his own words, "I am first and foremost a rabbi, who is in politics."



Unlike the majority of Israel's politicos, his sole purpose in running for the Knesset was not self-gratification, but rather to have a broad public platform where he could focus upon and spotlight the critical issues that affect Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. Rabbi Kahane was never willing to handel (make deals), as is the modus operand of many of our Israeli so-called leaders - from the prime (or crime) minister of Disengagement to the myriad of power-hungry MKs who are willing to sell out principles and concede everything except their Knesset seats.



A lack of understanding of his motivation and sense of urgency often manifested itself in the accusation by experts among Jewish "advice givers" that, in the countless lectures he delivered in communities throughout the United States and elsewhere over more than three decades, Rabbi Kahane often came across as aggressive and defiant. "Why," they asked "is he so angry?"



Indeed, what could have made Rabbi Meir Kahane, of blessed memory, an angry man?



Was it that the Jewish State, which, with G-d's help, came into existence after the unspeakable Holocaust as a homeland for the Jewish people, grants equal (and often superior) rights to Arabs who, by and large, declare they want to replace Israel with a "Palestinian state"?



Was it that the sovereign Jewish State, which miraculously won five Arab-initiated wars, resulting in the death of thousands of Jewish soldiers, willingly continues to give up the sacred land for which our martyred sons lay down their lives? The "peace process", he so clearly foresaw, is a 'piece by peace' dismantling of Israel.



In what was undoubtedly the coupe de gras in the myriad of outrageous actions taken to silence him by successive Israeli governments, was Rabbi Kahane angry at being banned by the 'democratic' State of Israel - while Arab Knesset members who openly align with Israel's enemies are permitted to run for election? He was imprisoned countless times and often suffered beatings for espousing the truth.



Had he lived, might Rabbi Kahane have been angry today that funds that should have been designated for the growing numbers of victims of Arab terrorist attacks, as well as to lessen the plight of Israel's poor and deprived citizens, was reportedly (and continues to be) transferred by the government of Israel to the coffers of the Palestinian Authority?



At this critical juncture in Jewish history, when the unthinkable expulsion of Jews from their homes in Gaza has been perpetrated by a Jewish (sic) government, and the plight of several thousand refugees they created seemingly doesn't anger members of Knesset nearly as much as the thought that they may lose power in the next election, the sage words of an anonymous philosopher seem altogether fitting: "The measure of a man... is what angers him."



For, unlike the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose legacy lives on to inspire Jews in the present and future generations, the Israeli government simply doesn't measure up.



A graveside memorial ceremony for Rabbi Meir Kahane will take place, please G-d, on Sunday, November 20, 2005 (l8 Mar-Cheshvan) at 4:00pm, at the Har Hamenuhot cemetery in Jerusalem. The ceremony will be followed by a Memorial Evening at Heichal David Hall, l4 Oholiav St. in Romema, Jerusalem, at 6:00pm. For further information about commemorative classes on Saturday night, please call the Yeshiva of the Jewish Idea at 02-582-3540 or 052-869-3845.