The stature of the Jewish People waxes and wanes. During the reigns of David and Solomon in the First Temple Period it was quite high, as it was during the days of Matityahu and his sons during the Second Temple Period.
It is true that during the 2,000 year exile, Israel's stature was brought low, reaching its nadir during the terrible Holocaust, with the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis, may their name be blotted out. Yet the State of Israel's establishment symbolized the raising of Israel's stature, which grew greater and greater as we achieved victories over our enemies during the War of Independence and the wars that followed.
Israel's stature is now rising more and more. Hopefully we shall soon merit fulfillment of our entreaty: "Our Father, our King! Elevate the stature of Your anointed one, speedily in our days. Amen!"
Today, the nations of the world have not resigned themselves to Israel's elevated stature in Eretz Yisrael and Jerusalem. They thus have various plans for lowering Israel's stature and for humiliating them. One of those plans is the "Road Map", whose purpose is to establish an Arab state in the very heart of the land of our life's blood. They argue that through this, they will bring peace between us and the Arabs.
To our great chagrin, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has attached himself to this plan, and has even gone so far as to be ready to hand over parts of Eretz Yisrael as a down payment. His means of doing this is his "Disengagement Plan", a withdrawal combined with the forced uprooting of thousands of Jews from their land and from their homes. This act lowers Israel's stature in the world. Their stature is likewise lowered when we display insensitivity to the pain and suffering of our dear, beloved brethren who sacrifice themselves for the sake of our people and land, and when we cold-heartedly plan their uprooting from Eretz Yisrael. As all this happens, our enemies are rejoicing and exalting to see one Jew grab another by the neck.
How can we elevate Israel's stature? How can we exalt Israel at this time? We can do this by lifting up the banner raised first by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook: the banner of Jerusalem. A movement has to be founded that will blow spirit and soul into the sails of the ship of state, and into our people. It must be a great spirit that will provide Israel with the knowledge and awareness of what the Jewish People is, what their historic destiny is in general, and specifically, in Eretz Yisrael.
Our nation must realize that Israel is a people for the entire world, chosen by G-d to shower benevolence and light upon all humanity. As G-d said, "I created this people for Myself so that they might tell My praise." (Isaiah 43:21)
It is true that during the 2,000 year exile, Israel's stature was brought low, reaching its nadir during the terrible Holocaust, with the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis, may their name be blotted out. Yet the State of Israel's establishment symbolized the raising of Israel's stature, which grew greater and greater as we achieved victories over our enemies during the War of Independence and the wars that followed.
Israel's stature is now rising more and more. Hopefully we shall soon merit fulfillment of our entreaty: "Our Father, our King! Elevate the stature of Your anointed one, speedily in our days. Amen!"
Today, the nations of the world have not resigned themselves to Israel's elevated stature in Eretz Yisrael and Jerusalem. They thus have various plans for lowering Israel's stature and for humiliating them. One of those plans is the "Road Map", whose purpose is to establish an Arab state in the very heart of the land of our life's blood. They argue that through this, they will bring peace between us and the Arabs.
To our great chagrin, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has attached himself to this plan, and has even gone so far as to be ready to hand over parts of Eretz Yisrael as a down payment. His means of doing this is his "Disengagement Plan", a withdrawal combined with the forced uprooting of thousands of Jews from their land and from their homes. This act lowers Israel's stature in the world. Their stature is likewise lowered when we display insensitivity to the pain and suffering of our dear, beloved brethren who sacrifice themselves for the sake of our people and land, and when we cold-heartedly plan their uprooting from Eretz Yisrael. As all this happens, our enemies are rejoicing and exalting to see one Jew grab another by the neck.
How can we elevate Israel's stature? How can we exalt Israel at this time? We can do this by lifting up the banner raised first by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook: the banner of Jerusalem. A movement has to be founded that will blow spirit and soul into the sails of the ship of state, and into our people. It must be a great spirit that will provide Israel with the knowledge and awareness of what the Jewish People is, what their historic destiny is in general, and specifically, in Eretz Yisrael.
Our nation must realize that Israel is a people for the entire world, chosen by G-d to shower benevolence and light upon all humanity. As G-d said, "I created this people for Myself so that they might tell My praise." (Isaiah 43:21)