When the Patriarch Jacob set out to bless the sons of Joseph, he placed his right hand "on the head of Ephraim the younger and his left hand on the head of Menashe. He switched his hands, Menashe being the older." (Genesis 48:14) It is true that Joseph tried to persuade him to remove his right hand [considered the more important hand] and to place it on Menashe's head, but Jacob refused, saying, "I know, my son, I know. The older one will also become a nation. He too will attain greatness. But his younger brother will become even greater." (verse 19)
Rashi explains: "Why did Jacob give precedence to Ephraim over his older brother Menashe? It is because Joshua was destined to emerge from Ephraim and he would distribute the tribal inheritances in the Land and would teach Israel Torah."
Indeed, when Israel entered the Land, G-d said to Joshua bin Nun:
"Be strong and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then you shall be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the L-rd your G-d is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:6-9)
The Torah says:
"Clear out the Land and live in it, since it is to you that I am giving the Land to occupy.... 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 33:53,55)
Joshua was the spiritual and political leader, as well as the brilliant and illustrious head of the armed forces, and he was a man effused with spirit. He knew precisely what was the goal towards which he was fighting, and he infused his great spirit in his army.
Today, our prime minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, is a brilliant and illustrious general. Yet, instead of infusing a great spirit in the nation and the Israeli army, he is navigating the country like a ship that has no compass - or conscience. Yesterday, he said, "Netzarim has to be treated as Tel Aviv." Today, Netzarim is no longer Eretz Yisrael, G-d forbid.
Yesterday, the settlers who gave their lives for the people and the Land were our beloved brethren, who brought merit to the Jewish People. Today, they are the enemies of the State and the regime. Yesterday, values like the pioneer spirit and settlement were sacred and lofty and worthy of all praise. Today, such values have become loathsome.
Today, the Israeli army is the "Israel Defense Forces". Tomorrow, it will be the "Force for Uprooting Jews from Israel." Yesterday, the IDF fought to establish the State of Israel. Today, it is fighting to establish an Arab state in Israel - it will never be! Yesterday, there was engagement. Today, there is disengagement.
An army whose fundamental goals change is an army without a spirit. It is an army that does not know what land it is defending, and does not know for what, why and against whom it is fighting. It is an impotent army, like a body without a soul.
We need leadership on a par with Joshua bin Nun, a man of spirit, a man who can infuse a great spirit within the people and army of Israel. By such means, we will merit true security and peace, as it says: "The L-rd shall give strength to His people. The L-rd will bless His people with peace." (Psalm 29:11)
Rashi explains: "Why did Jacob give precedence to Ephraim over his older brother Menashe? It is because Joshua was destined to emerge from Ephraim and he would distribute the tribal inheritances in the Land and would teach Israel Torah."
Indeed, when Israel entered the Land, G-d said to Joshua bin Nun:
"Be strong and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then you shall be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the L-rd your G-d is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:6-9)
The Torah says:
"Clear out the Land and live in it, since it is to you that I am giving the Land to occupy.... 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 33:53,55)
Joshua was the spiritual and political leader, as well as the brilliant and illustrious head of the armed forces, and he was a man effused with spirit. He knew precisely what was the goal towards which he was fighting, and he infused his great spirit in his army.
Today, our prime minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, is a brilliant and illustrious general. Yet, instead of infusing a great spirit in the nation and the Israeli army, he is navigating the country like a ship that has no compass - or conscience. Yesterday, he said, "Netzarim has to be treated as Tel Aviv." Today, Netzarim is no longer Eretz Yisrael, G-d forbid.
Yesterday, the settlers who gave their lives for the people and the Land were our beloved brethren, who brought merit to the Jewish People. Today, they are the enemies of the State and the regime. Yesterday, values like the pioneer spirit and settlement were sacred and lofty and worthy of all praise. Today, such values have become loathsome.
Today, the Israeli army is the "Israel Defense Forces". Tomorrow, it will be the "Force for Uprooting Jews from Israel." Yesterday, the IDF fought to establish the State of Israel. Today, it is fighting to establish an Arab state in Israel - it will never be! Yesterday, there was engagement. Today, there is disengagement.
An army whose fundamental goals change is an army without a spirit. It is an army that does not know what land it is defending, and does not know for what, why and against whom it is fighting. It is an impotent army, like a body without a soul.
We need leadership on a par with Joshua bin Nun, a man of spirit, a man who can infuse a great spirit within the people and army of Israel. By such means, we will merit true security and peace, as it says: "The L-rd shall give strength to His people. The L-rd will bless His people with peace." (Psalm 29:11)