Almost 2000 years ago our forebears were uprooted from Judea. Though dispersed and scattered throughout the world, they continously and persistently remained rooted in Judea.
They cherished Judea. They yearned for Judea.
They continued to pray thrice daily for the redemption of Judea.
With pride, they continuously identified themselves with Judea. They continued to call themselves "Yehudim", Jews - the people of Judea. And they continued to cleave, often at sacrifice of life to their faith, Judaism. Thus, a continuous existential bond between Jews, Judaism and Judea.
In time, the world recognized them as the Eternal People.
Thirty-four years ago, Judea was miraculously regained, redeemed.
But soon after, Judea was not to be recognized.
Processed.
Beyond recognition by opinion molders.
Judea was no longer Judea.
Effaced.
Renamed.
Transformed.
Into territories, "schtochim".
Spaces, Areas, Stretches.
Spaces.
Areas.
Stretches.
Devoid of significance.
Barren.
And now, we hear of a potential giveaway of Judea - a severance of Jews from Judea.
If, Heaven forbid, this comes to pass, what legacy do we leave our children?
Will they be able to continue to identify themselves as Jews - the people of Judea?
Could they truthfully identify themselves as Jews - the people of Judea?
Would the world permit them to identify themselves as Jews - the people of Judea?
Would they not become the laughingstock of the world?
Would not the world state to our children, to our future generations, "You are no longer the people of Judea. Your parents have renounced Judea. Your parents have voluntarily given away Judea."
If this were to come to pass would not we, ourselves, set in motion a process that would in the natural course of events lead to effacement of the Jewish identity?
Hashem will not forsake our people.
We shall continue to be the Eternal People.
They cherished Judea. They yearned for Judea.
They continued to pray thrice daily for the redemption of Judea.
With pride, they continuously identified themselves with Judea. They continued to call themselves "Yehudim", Jews - the people of Judea. And they continued to cleave, often at sacrifice of life to their faith, Judaism. Thus, a continuous existential bond between Jews, Judaism and Judea.
In time, the world recognized them as the Eternal People.
Thirty-four years ago, Judea was miraculously regained, redeemed.
But soon after, Judea was not to be recognized.
Processed.
Beyond recognition by opinion molders.
Judea was no longer Judea.
Effaced.
Renamed.
Transformed.
Into territories, "schtochim".
Spaces, Areas, Stretches.
Spaces.
Areas.
Stretches.
Devoid of significance.
Barren.
And now, we hear of a potential giveaway of Judea - a severance of Jews from Judea.
If, Heaven forbid, this comes to pass, what legacy do we leave our children?
Will they be able to continue to identify themselves as Jews - the people of Judea?
Could they truthfully identify themselves as Jews - the people of Judea?
Would the world permit them to identify themselves as Jews - the people of Judea?
Would they not become the laughingstock of the world?
Would not the world state to our children, to our future generations, "You are no longer the people of Judea. Your parents have renounced Judea. Your parents have voluntarily given away Judea."
If this were to come to pass would not we, ourselves, set in motion a process that would in the natural course of events lead to effacement of the Jewish identity?
We shall continue to be the Eternal People.