Dear President Bush,
I beg of you to please read my letter before you consider advancing the establishment of a Muslim terrorist state in the Holy Land.
2,300 years ago, the Ishmaelites approached Alexander the Macedonian, who was then, like you, the head of the largest superpower on earth. They demanded of him that he partition the land of Israel. They argued: Canaan belongs both to Ishmael and to the Jews, for Ishmael and Isaac are both the sons of Abraham, as it says, "These are the generations of Ishmael son of Abraham.... These are the generations of Isaac son of Abraham." (Genesis 25:12,19)
Then a simple Jew named Geviah, son of Pesisa, came forth to deliberate with them before Alexander. He told them:
"I too shall bring proof from Scripture. It says, 'Abraham gave all that he owned to Isaac. To the sons of the concubines that he had taken, Abraham gave gifts. Then, while he was still alive, he sent them to the country of the East, away from his son Isaac.'" (Genesis 25:6-7)
Already during his lifetime, Abraham understood that it would be a mistake to give Ishmael part of the Holy Land. He therefore banished Ishmael (see the Talmudic Tractate Sanhedrin 91a).
The reason he banished Ishmael was that he knew him well. Scripture had previously said of him, "He shall be a wild man. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him." (Genesis 16:12) Such a person has no place in the Land of Israel, for that is the Holy Land, and its function is to bring divine light and bounty to mankind. Ishmael belongs to the opposite: the evil and wickedness that darken the earth. Indeed, Abraham heeded Sarah, who commanded him, "Drive away this slave together with her son. The son of this slave will not share the inheritance with my son Isaac." (Genesis 21:10)
President Bush, your plan to establish an Arab, Ishmaelite, Muslim state in the Holy Land is a tragic mistake and is the exact opposite of your just decision to fight against the axis of evil on earth, which threatens world peace with murderous terror. A terrorist Muslim state in the Holy Land only encourages Muslim terror, which has set a goal of destroying the United States and the State of Israel -- it shall never be.
You are the faithful friend of the State of Israel, and I hope you continue being its faithful friend, by strengthening it, encouraging it, and especially by enabling the Jews who have returned there after 2,000 years to settle every part of the Land of Israel, just as G-d promised them in the Bible.
If you do this, you will be increasing light and goodness on earth, and G-d will bless America and you yourself as leader of the largest superpower on earth. This is your main task, to increase goodness on earth. When the Jewish People live in the Land of Israel, it will be good for mankind. It will be good for America. It will be good for the Arabs. It will be good for you and your family.
And may the words of the Prophet Isaiah be fulfilled about Israel becoming a light unto the nations: "It shall come to pass in the end of days.... Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem.... Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:2-4)
As one who admires your work on behalf of mankind and the State of Israel, it is my fervent wish that you and your family should enjoy G-d's blessing.
[This letter is being sent to the President of the United States, and copies are being sent to the Vice President, to Condoleezza Rice and to members of the Senate and Congress.]
I beg of you to please read my letter before you consider advancing the establishment of a Muslim terrorist state in the Holy Land.
2,300 years ago, the Ishmaelites approached Alexander the Macedonian, who was then, like you, the head of the largest superpower on earth. They demanded of him that he partition the land of Israel. They argued: Canaan belongs both to Ishmael and to the Jews, for Ishmael and Isaac are both the sons of Abraham, as it says, "These are the generations of Ishmael son of Abraham.... These are the generations of Isaac son of Abraham." (Genesis 25:12,19)
Then a simple Jew named Geviah, son of Pesisa, came forth to deliberate with them before Alexander. He told them:
"I too shall bring proof from Scripture. It says, 'Abraham gave all that he owned to Isaac. To the sons of the concubines that he had taken, Abraham gave gifts. Then, while he was still alive, he sent them to the country of the East, away from his son Isaac.'" (Genesis 25:6-7)
Already during his lifetime, Abraham understood that it would be a mistake to give Ishmael part of the Holy Land. He therefore banished Ishmael (see the Talmudic Tractate Sanhedrin 91a).
The reason he banished Ishmael was that he knew him well. Scripture had previously said of him, "He shall be a wild man. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him." (Genesis 16:12) Such a person has no place in the Land of Israel, for that is the Holy Land, and its function is to bring divine light and bounty to mankind. Ishmael belongs to the opposite: the evil and wickedness that darken the earth. Indeed, Abraham heeded Sarah, who commanded him, "Drive away this slave together with her son. The son of this slave will not share the inheritance with my son Isaac." (Genesis 21:10)
President Bush, your plan to establish an Arab, Ishmaelite, Muslim state in the Holy Land is a tragic mistake and is the exact opposite of your just decision to fight against the axis of evil on earth, which threatens world peace with murderous terror. A terrorist Muslim state in the Holy Land only encourages Muslim terror, which has set a goal of destroying the United States and the State of Israel -- it shall never be.
You are the faithful friend of the State of Israel, and I hope you continue being its faithful friend, by strengthening it, encouraging it, and especially by enabling the Jews who have returned there after 2,000 years to settle every part of the Land of Israel, just as G-d promised them in the Bible.
If you do this, you will be increasing light and goodness on earth, and G-d will bless America and you yourself as leader of the largest superpower on earth. This is your main task, to increase goodness on earth. When the Jewish People live in the Land of Israel, it will be good for mankind. It will be good for America. It will be good for the Arabs. It will be good for you and your family.
And may the words of the Prophet Isaiah be fulfilled about Israel becoming a light unto the nations: "It shall come to pass in the end of days.... Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem.... Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:2-4)
As one who admires your work on behalf of mankind and the State of Israel, it is my fervent wish that you and your family should enjoy G-d's blessing.
[This letter is being sent to the President of the United States, and copies are being sent to the Vice President, to Condoleezza Rice and to members of the Senate and Congress.]