In the State's 56th year, we shall oppose the "Disengagement Plan".
The special mitzvah of Israel Independence Day is the mitzvah of settling the Land of Israel. Ramban, seconded by all the early and late commentaries who ruled like him, declared: "We were commanded to occupy the land given by G-d to our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We must not leave it in the hands of any nation. As it says , 'Clear out the land and live in it, since it is to you that I am giving the land to occupy.'" (Ramban's remarks on Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot, Mitzvah 4; Even Ha'Ezer 75:4, Pit'chei Teshuvah)
The settlement and conquest of Eretz Yisrael, and the establishment of the State of Israel, constitute tangible fulfillment of the mitzvah of occupying the Land, a mitzvah that we know weighs against all the other mitzvot combined. This mitzvah is incumbent upon the entire Jewish People, and every individual Jew.
Whoever violates it, that is, whoever leaves the Land of Israel in the hands of a foreign power or "disengages" from it and hands it over to the nations "in any generation" (Ramban, ibid.) commits a serious offense. Rashbam (on Genesis 22:1), in fact, teaches that because of Abraham's sin of making a pact with Avimelech, Israel suffered numerous misfortunes, amongst them, the destruction of the First and Second Temples.
One may think that disengaging from Eretz Yisrael will bring security, economic or other benefits. Yet, the Torah says, "If you do not drive out the land's inhabitants before you, those who remain shall be barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, causing you troubles in the land that you settle." (Numbers 33:55) As Ohr HaChaim comments, if we leave an alien people in the Land, that people will not suffice with its portion, but will demand as well the portion that we hold, and they will oppress us.
Today, on the fifty-sixth Independence Day of the State of Israel, questions on the public agenda include this: Should we disengage from parts of our homeland, or should we remain faithful to Eretz Yisrael? For the Jew who believes in G-d and Torah, this is no question. It is like asking him whether or not one should keep the Sabbath and eat kosher food. He will reject the question out of hand.
In fact, the same holds true for anyone for whom the Land and State of Israel hold a supreme, hallowed position, anyone who loves the State and is willing to risk his life for its survival. For such a person, as well, there is no question whatsoever. For him, handing over portions of the homeland to the enemy would be like selling his own mother. For such a person, Eretz Yisrael is like his mother.
Only someone with no conscience and no understanding of what Eretz Yisrael represents for the Jewish People, and of what a homeland is, is willing to sell it out. Indeed, there are those who consider themselves "practical." These advocates of "realpolitik" view Eretz Yisrael as saleable real estate. For them, one's country and homeland are just a means to be used towards temporal ends. Such people are like a married couple in which the husband views his wife as just a means of satisfying his temporal needs. Sooner or later, that husband will discover that there is no peace in his home, and his married life will fall apart.
Likewise, those who delude themselves that via disengagement from Eretz Yisrael they will achieve economic relief and security will quickly become aware of their tragic mistake. After all, as our sages say, "There are none so wise as those with experience." Since the wretched Oslo Accords, we have paid a heavy price in blood for the fundamentally erroneous conception that Eretz Yisrael is negotiable.
We shall protest against that idea during this, Israel's fifty-sixth year of independence. For those who love the Jewish People and State, Israel's fifty-sixth Independence Day is a time of joy, on the one hand, but sadness as well, due to Sharon's "Disengagement Plan." Ours is a state of simultaneous "joy and trembling." (Psalm 2:11)
Yet, we know and believe that "many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but it is G-d's counsel that shall endure." G-d's promise to us will be fulfilled: "The L-rd will not abandon His people, nor will He leave His inheritance?. G-d's counsel will endure forever, the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation." (Psalm 94:14;33:11)
With blessings for a joyous Independence Day.
The special mitzvah of Israel Independence Day is the mitzvah of settling the Land of Israel. Ramban, seconded by all the early and late commentaries who ruled like him, declared: "We were commanded to occupy the land given by G-d to our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We must not leave it in the hands of any nation. As it says , 'Clear out the land and live in it, since it is to you that I am giving the land to occupy.'" (Ramban's remarks on Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot, Mitzvah 4; Even Ha'Ezer 75:4, Pit'chei Teshuvah)
The settlement and conquest of Eretz Yisrael, and the establishment of the State of Israel, constitute tangible fulfillment of the mitzvah of occupying the Land, a mitzvah that we know weighs against all the other mitzvot combined. This mitzvah is incumbent upon the entire Jewish People, and every individual Jew.
Whoever violates it, that is, whoever leaves the Land of Israel in the hands of a foreign power or "disengages" from it and hands it over to the nations "in any generation" (Ramban, ibid.) commits a serious offense. Rashbam (on Genesis 22:1), in fact, teaches that because of Abraham's sin of making a pact with Avimelech, Israel suffered numerous misfortunes, amongst them, the destruction of the First and Second Temples.
One may think that disengaging from Eretz Yisrael will bring security, economic or other benefits. Yet, the Torah says, "If you do not drive out the land's inhabitants before you, those who remain shall be barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, causing you troubles in the land that you settle." (Numbers 33:55) As Ohr HaChaim comments, if we leave an alien people in the Land, that people will not suffice with its portion, but will demand as well the portion that we hold, and they will oppress us.
Today, on the fifty-sixth Independence Day of the State of Israel, questions on the public agenda include this: Should we disengage from parts of our homeland, or should we remain faithful to Eretz Yisrael? For the Jew who believes in G-d and Torah, this is no question. It is like asking him whether or not one should keep the Sabbath and eat kosher food. He will reject the question out of hand.
In fact, the same holds true for anyone for whom the Land and State of Israel hold a supreme, hallowed position, anyone who loves the State and is willing to risk his life for its survival. For such a person, as well, there is no question whatsoever. For him, handing over portions of the homeland to the enemy would be like selling his own mother. For such a person, Eretz Yisrael is like his mother.
Only someone with no conscience and no understanding of what Eretz Yisrael represents for the Jewish People, and of what a homeland is, is willing to sell it out. Indeed, there are those who consider themselves "practical." These advocates of "realpolitik" view Eretz Yisrael as saleable real estate. For them, one's country and homeland are just a means to be used towards temporal ends. Such people are like a married couple in which the husband views his wife as just a means of satisfying his temporal needs. Sooner or later, that husband will discover that there is no peace in his home, and his married life will fall apart.
Likewise, those who delude themselves that via disengagement from Eretz Yisrael they will achieve economic relief and security will quickly become aware of their tragic mistake. After all, as our sages say, "There are none so wise as those with experience." Since the wretched Oslo Accords, we have paid a heavy price in blood for the fundamentally erroneous conception that Eretz Yisrael is negotiable.
We shall protest against that idea during this, Israel's fifty-sixth year of independence. For those who love the Jewish People and State, Israel's fifty-sixth Independence Day is a time of joy, on the one hand, but sadness as well, due to Sharon's "Disengagement Plan." Ours is a state of simultaneous "joy and trembling." (Psalm 2:11)
Yet, we know and believe that "many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but it is G-d's counsel that shall endure." G-d's promise to us will be fulfilled: "The L-rd will not abandon His people, nor will He leave His inheritance?. G-d's counsel will endure forever, the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation." (Psalm 94:14;33:11)
With blessings for a joyous Independence Day.