Man was created in the image of G-d. That is, G-d imbued him with the ability and the free choice to build and to plant and to add and to increase goodness, light and holiness. As Isaiah said (51:61): "I have put My words in your mouth, and I have covered you in the shadow of My hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and that I may say unto Zion, 'You are My people'." Man accomplishes all of this by means of thoughts, words and good deeds.
Conversely, through evil thoughts, words and deeds, a person darkens the world and diminishes its goodness, light and holiness, and he increases the forces of evil and impurity, bringing ruin and destruction. As it says, "Your destroyers shall emerge from within your midst." (Isaiah 49:17; Nefesh HaChaim, Sha'ar 1, Ch. 3)
Some interpret this to mean that when those who would destroy you emerge from within you, then the continuation of the prophecy will be fulfilled: "Lift up your eyes round about and behold: all these gather themselves together and come to you?. For your waste and your desolate places and your land that has been destroyed, surely now shall be too narrow for its inhabitants, and they that swallowed you up shall be far away." (verses 18-19)
Today, we hear about Ariel Sharon's plans to destroy the settlements of Gush Katif, as well as many settlements in Judea and Samaria, and to build upon their ruins a foreign state whose purpose will be the destruction of the State of Israel. This is the literal fulfillment of, "Your destroyers shall emerge from within your midst." Yet we hope that its true interpretation is that those destroyers will speedily repent from their evil thoughts and plans.
A grave responsibility rests upon every Jew in Israel and throughout the world to upturn and to nullify those thoughts about destroying settlements and banishing Jews from the land of our life's blood. There are partners to these thoughts, and it is forbidden to be a partner with them or to support this severe sin in any way. It is like the sin of Yeravam ben Nevat, who both sinned and caused the public to sin. He brought about a rift within the Jewish People and the division of the Land into two states.
Quite the contrary, every one of us has a great mitzvah and an enormous obligation to strengthen and to encourage the marvelous pioneers, who dedicate their lives to the People, the State and the Land of Israel. We must actively support them at all times and in all places. After all, our struggle to settle our land is a war of the sons of light against the sons of darkness. Settling the Land increases the light of Israel and of all of mankind. This light is steadily increasing, and will continue to do so as the Jewish People continue to rise to rebirth throughout the length and breadth of our land.
Through this, may we all merit together for a new light to shine over Zion, speedily in our day, amen.
Conversely, through evil thoughts, words and deeds, a person darkens the world and diminishes its goodness, light and holiness, and he increases the forces of evil and impurity, bringing ruin and destruction. As it says, "Your destroyers shall emerge from within your midst." (Isaiah 49:17; Nefesh HaChaim, Sha'ar 1, Ch. 3)
Some interpret this to mean that when those who would destroy you emerge from within you, then the continuation of the prophecy will be fulfilled: "Lift up your eyes round about and behold: all these gather themselves together and come to you?. For your waste and your desolate places and your land that has been destroyed, surely now shall be too narrow for its inhabitants, and they that swallowed you up shall be far away." (verses 18-19)
Today, we hear about Ariel Sharon's plans to destroy the settlements of Gush Katif, as well as many settlements in Judea and Samaria, and to build upon their ruins a foreign state whose purpose will be the destruction of the State of Israel. This is the literal fulfillment of, "Your destroyers shall emerge from within your midst." Yet we hope that its true interpretation is that those destroyers will speedily repent from their evil thoughts and plans.
A grave responsibility rests upon every Jew in Israel and throughout the world to upturn and to nullify those thoughts about destroying settlements and banishing Jews from the land of our life's blood. There are partners to these thoughts, and it is forbidden to be a partner with them or to support this severe sin in any way. It is like the sin of Yeravam ben Nevat, who both sinned and caused the public to sin. He brought about a rift within the Jewish People and the division of the Land into two states.
Quite the contrary, every one of us has a great mitzvah and an enormous obligation to strengthen and to encourage the marvelous pioneers, who dedicate their lives to the People, the State and the Land of Israel. We must actively support them at all times and in all places. After all, our struggle to settle our land is a war of the sons of light against the sons of darkness. Settling the Land increases the light of Israel and of all of mankind. This light is steadily increasing, and will continue to do so as the Jewish People continue to rise to rebirth throughout the length and breadth of our land.
Through this, may we all merit together for a new light to shine over Zion, speedily in our day, amen.