In days when elected leaders of the Jewish nation gather together to vote to expel Jews from their homes and justice is twisted to fit political agendas, one is overwhelmed with extreme sadness. When one hears the jubilant cries of the parties of the Left, which were thrown out in the last elections, one sinks even deeper. When one speaks to Arab neighbours here in the Old City of Jerusalem and understands that they feel their terrorism has again routed the Jews, then the sadness is laced with anger.
One attempts to move beyond the sadness by comprehending that all the abnormal and illogical behavior we see around us comes out of lack of faith and belief in our national destiny. We need, or want, to believe that it does not come out of evil and blind hatred.
We continue to believe that in darkness we are still commanded to light the candles of hope, since a little light can yet dispel the great darkness. We are also aware that in the midst of the voyage there are many dark and shadowy bends in the road, and that an eternal people have no fear of the long journey.
Yet, one cannot help but be sad when one looks around us today.
The days of the "footsteps of the Messiah" are described by our sages as days of great difficulty. In tractate Sotah (49b), we read the following: "In the days of the footsteps of the Messiah, insolence will increase and honor will dwindle... the government will turn to heresy and there will be none to offer them reproof... the dwellers of the frontiers will go about from place to place without anyone to take pity on them, the wisdom of the learned will be spurned and the fearers of sin will be despised, and truth will be lacking...."
The press is filled with reports of young demonstrators arrested for committing dastardly crimes, such as sitting in the middle of the street during demonstrations and yelling at government ministers that Jewish blood should not be treated cheaply. The police say they plan to prosecute 33 right-wing activists who clashed with police last week while blocking roads and highways in protest of the disengagement plan. The pundits in the written and spoken media continue to harangue their readers and listeners with the dire threat to democracy presented by these young demonstrators. Recently, a resident of a settlement in the Shomron was taken into questioning for planting trees in unauthorized land on Tu B'Shvat. He came home with bruises and cuts all over his body.
The police have yet to investigate the matter.
The Knesset has voted into law new measures that in some instances call for a two-year prison term for any Jew caught trying to demonstrate against the expulsion of Jews from their homes in Gush Katif or northern Shomron.
Yet, in small articles in the newspapers or in the last piece in the television news, we read about the progress in talks to release terrorists from prison. So far, officially, only terrorists who have not yet succeeded in killing Jews are being released. They are being released for the sake of the secular Messianism of "peace", ignoring the strong possibility they will try harder next time. Other murderers, who were sadly more successful in their bloody attempts, boast in the Israeli papers that they are being assured of their imminent release, as well.
In this strange time of confusion, they are probably right.
They will be set free and the prisons will be filled with the thousands of Jews caught demonstrating against this expulsion. That, too, is a sign of this strange time of confusion. When confronted with so much painful and illogical behaviour, it becomes hard to keep in mind that these too are signs that the process of redemption is moving relentlessly unto its completion.
The options for the faithful are clear. The answer to those that come to uproot is for others to take root. A tree with thin, shallow roots will topple when battered by the winds of change. A tree deeply rooted and nourished will flourish forever.
The faithful will stand upright in Gush Katif and in the northern Shomron. They will stand firm in the demonstrations and vigils. They will stand together in prayer and hope. They will even continue to flourish in the recently emptied jail cells. They will be there until the winds of change alter direction.
Yet, after all is said and done, it is sad.
But the sadness is mitigated by the knowledge that "those who sow in tears shall reap with joy." (Psalms 126)
One attempts to move beyond the sadness by comprehending that all the abnormal and illogical behavior we see around us comes out of lack of faith and belief in our national destiny. We need, or want, to believe that it does not come out of evil and blind hatred.
We continue to believe that in darkness we are still commanded to light the candles of hope, since a little light can yet dispel the great darkness. We are also aware that in the midst of the voyage there are many dark and shadowy bends in the road, and that an eternal people have no fear of the long journey.
Yet, one cannot help but be sad when one looks around us today.
The days of the "footsteps of the Messiah" are described by our sages as days of great difficulty. In tractate Sotah (49b), we read the following: "In the days of the footsteps of the Messiah, insolence will increase and honor will dwindle... the government will turn to heresy and there will be none to offer them reproof... the dwellers of the frontiers will go about from place to place without anyone to take pity on them, the wisdom of the learned will be spurned and the fearers of sin will be despised, and truth will be lacking...."
The press is filled with reports of young demonstrators arrested for committing dastardly crimes, such as sitting in the middle of the street during demonstrations and yelling at government ministers that Jewish blood should not be treated cheaply. The police say they plan to prosecute 33 right-wing activists who clashed with police last week while blocking roads and highways in protest of the disengagement plan. The pundits in the written and spoken media continue to harangue their readers and listeners with the dire threat to democracy presented by these young demonstrators. Recently, a resident of a settlement in the Shomron was taken into questioning for planting trees in unauthorized land on Tu B'Shvat. He came home with bruises and cuts all over his body.
The police have yet to investigate the matter.
The Knesset has voted into law new measures that in some instances call for a two-year prison term for any Jew caught trying to demonstrate against the expulsion of Jews from their homes in Gush Katif or northern Shomron.
Yet, in small articles in the newspapers or in the last piece in the television news, we read about the progress in talks to release terrorists from prison. So far, officially, only terrorists who have not yet succeeded in killing Jews are being released. They are being released for the sake of the secular Messianism of "peace", ignoring the strong possibility they will try harder next time. Other murderers, who were sadly more successful in their bloody attempts, boast in the Israeli papers that they are being assured of their imminent release, as well.
In this strange time of confusion, they are probably right.
They will be set free and the prisons will be filled with the thousands of Jews caught demonstrating against this expulsion. That, too, is a sign of this strange time of confusion. When confronted with so much painful and illogical behaviour, it becomes hard to keep in mind that these too are signs that the process of redemption is moving relentlessly unto its completion.
The options for the faithful are clear. The answer to those that come to uproot is for others to take root. A tree with thin, shallow roots will topple when battered by the winds of change. A tree deeply rooted and nourished will flourish forever.
The faithful will stand upright in Gush Katif and in the northern Shomron. They will stand firm in the demonstrations and vigils. They will stand together in prayer and hope. They will even continue to flourish in the recently emptied jail cells. They will be there until the winds of change alter direction.
Yet, after all is said and done, it is sad.
But the sadness is mitigated by the knowledge that "those who sow in tears shall reap with joy." (Psalms 126)