The historic marathon of the Jewish People that has been going on for over three thousand years, stretching from Egypt to Jerusalem, is approaching its conclusion. Millions of Jews are already privileged to be living in Eretz Yisrael, in a sovereign state, while millions of others are planning, either consciously or not, to come home to Jerusalem. The passage that we recite in the Pesach Haggadah, starting with the words, "We were slaves in Egypt," and ending, "Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem," is not just a wish. Rather, we are seeing clearly, with our own eyes, Jerusalem being rebuilt.
Yet, precisely at the end of this long and exhausting marathon, the difficulties are reaching their climax, just like in sports races when precisely at the finish the great difficulties turn up. The Zionist movement raised the banner of Zion. Its purpose was to establish a state for the Jewish People, a state like all others, and thereby to solve the problem of Jewish oppression in the exile. With G-d's help, the Zionist movement established by Theodor Herzl set out on its path, until we established a national home. Yet, the State of Israel is just a national home that is concerned with the nation's survival needs; i.e., its economic and security needs.
It is well-known that a house devoid of content, devoid of spirit, devoid of a noble and spiritual purpose, devoid of love, will be hard to live in, no matter how large and luxurious it may be. The Jewish national home has to be infused with content. It has to be filled with spirit and soul for the people returning to Zion. We have to raise up "the banner of Jerusalem," that same banner that Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook began to raise up.
Upon that banner he engraved the words: "Israel are a nation for the world. We have risen to rebirth in Eretz Yisrael not in order to be like all the nations, but in order to bring light to the nations." (Igarot 867 and 871)
As the Prophet Isaiah said:
"Many peoples shall go and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the L-rd, to the house of the G-d of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
The Zionist banner has been waving proudly in the breeze for a hundred years, and with G-d's help, it brought about the establishment of the State of Israel. Recently, however, the winds have ceased to blow and it lies stagnant. The Israeli government, instead of dealing with settling the Land, and with strengthening the spirit and unity of the nation, has been involving itself with plans to uproot Jews from their land and to establish a state for the Arabs in the land of our life's blood - it will never be. This grave deed can only lead to strife and divisiveness amongst the Jewish People, instead of strengthening unity and togetherness.
The Zionist movement, which merited to establish our national home, has reached the end of its way in the marathon. We are on the way to the next stage of history, in which all will see that indeed Israel are not like all the nations. Quite the contrary, it will more and more be revealed that Israel are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, and that their destiny is to bring goodness and light to all the nations, out of Zion and Jerusalem.
Every Jew who has a loving, understanding heart, will love his people, Torah and land. Every such Jew should recognize that we did not establish a state just so that we could eat, drink and relax in it, but in order to actualize G-d's promise to Abraham: "I will make you a great nation and you shall be for a blessing. All the families of the earth shall be blessed through you." (Genesis 12)
Moreover, he should join the movement to make the Jewish People a nation for the world. This is what will raise up Rabbi Kook's "banner of Jerusalem" as a continuation to the "banner of Zion". Then, through us will be fulfilled the words, "Save Your people and bless Your inheritance, and tend them and carry them forever." (Psalm 28:9)
Yet, precisely at the end of this long and exhausting marathon, the difficulties are reaching their climax, just like in sports races when precisely at the finish the great difficulties turn up. The Zionist movement raised the banner of Zion. Its purpose was to establish a state for the Jewish People, a state like all others, and thereby to solve the problem of Jewish oppression in the exile. With G-d's help, the Zionist movement established by Theodor Herzl set out on its path, until we established a national home. Yet, the State of Israel is just a national home that is concerned with the nation's survival needs; i.e., its economic and security needs.
It is well-known that a house devoid of content, devoid of spirit, devoid of a noble and spiritual purpose, devoid of love, will be hard to live in, no matter how large and luxurious it may be. The Jewish national home has to be infused with content. It has to be filled with spirit and soul for the people returning to Zion. We have to raise up "the banner of Jerusalem," that same banner that Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook began to raise up.
Upon that banner he engraved the words: "Israel are a nation for the world. We have risen to rebirth in Eretz Yisrael not in order to be like all the nations, but in order to bring light to the nations." (Igarot 867 and 871)
As the Prophet Isaiah said:
"Many peoples shall go and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the L-rd, to the house of the G-d of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
The Zionist banner has been waving proudly in the breeze for a hundred years, and with G-d's help, it brought about the establishment of the State of Israel. Recently, however, the winds have ceased to blow and it lies stagnant. The Israeli government, instead of dealing with settling the Land, and with strengthening the spirit and unity of the nation, has been involving itself with plans to uproot Jews from their land and to establish a state for the Arabs in the land of our life's blood - it will never be. This grave deed can only lead to strife and divisiveness amongst the Jewish People, instead of strengthening unity and togetherness.
The Zionist movement, which merited to establish our national home, has reached the end of its way in the marathon. We are on the way to the next stage of history, in which all will see that indeed Israel are not like all the nations. Quite the contrary, it will more and more be revealed that Israel are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, and that their destiny is to bring goodness and light to all the nations, out of Zion and Jerusalem.
Every Jew who has a loving, understanding heart, will love his people, Torah and land. Every such Jew should recognize that we did not establish a state just so that we could eat, drink and relax in it, but in order to actualize G-d's promise to Abraham: "I will make you a great nation and you shall be for a blessing. All the families of the earth shall be blessed through you." (Genesis 12)
Moreover, he should join the movement to make the Jewish People a nation for the world. This is what will raise up Rabbi Kook's "banner of Jerusalem" as a continuation to the "banner of Zion". Then, through us will be fulfilled the words, "Save Your people and bless Your inheritance, and tend them and carry them forever." (Psalm 28:9)