We are less than one week away from an all encompassing national tragedy. The ruling traitors of Israel will send the police and army troops first to Gush Katif. They intend to expel good, loyal Jews from their legal homes. They intend to award terrorism by delivering well-kept houses, magnificent synagogues, large schools and thriving hothouses into the hands of the terrorists who murdered their family members and friends. These murderers will fly 60,000 flags of victory (including 20,000 with pictures of Arafat, may his name be obliterated) from every rooftop.
Our own flesh and blood will then go to four strategically located communities in northern Samaria to expel the good families there. From these four communities, established on towering mountains, it is easy to see Netanya, Herzliya and Kfar Saba. They will be only a stone's throw - or a missile launch - away.
After the Israeli troops return to divide Jerusalem, the terrorists, supported by the world, will take over no less than all of Judea and Samaria.
If you live elsewhere, do not be too quick to heave a sigh of relief. From these new terrorist enclaves, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Bnei Brak will be in easy range. Our army will be depleted and weary, both physically and emotionally. Guilt-ridden, many police and soldiers will soon enough see how they have been used as pawns in a deadly, treasonous maneuver by the few against the true.
We are talking about a great national tragedy less than one week away.
According to top military strategists, terrorism in every area of Israel will spiral upwards. It will not affect only the national-religious, or only those in a specific geographical location. Just as neither the non-religious, Hareidi nor foreign visitor or worker is exempted from a suicide bomber's explosion, so too will we find ourselves united as victims - first, of a traitorous government and its military puppets, and second to the terrorists they have equipped and encouraged.
Let us unite, not as victims, but in order to survive, to resist while we can. This will require exceptional motivation - perhaps the kind that comes from fighting a common enemy for the common good.
The courageous residents of Gush Katif, together with concerned citizens all over Israel have been breaking down many invisible boundaries through the Panim El Panim (Face to Face) campaign. They attempt to, and often succeed, in clarifying distorted conceptions in relationships with the non-religious, with large city-dwellers, with farmers from moshavim, and with families of the police who are being persuaded, perhaps even brain-washed, into thinking 'settlers' are violent, backward fanatics.
Many Chassidic Rebbes, together with their Chasidim, pray day and night, fasting and saying Psalms, and send representatives with words of strength and brotherhood to Gush Katif. Groups such as the 'Orange Cell' (Ta Katom) bring the religious and non-religious college students together in intellectual dialogue and in-depth comprehension of the religious and geopolitical situation. And the list goes on.
Now is the time for the big guns. We must be ready to bring the most powerful forces together. It is time for the Hareidi and national-religious sectors to come face to face. Now, during the period of the Three Weeks [days of increased mourning culminating in Tisha B'Av - ed.], what could be more appropriate? "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," Rabbi Akiva said. This is the time, this is the place and these are our neighbors.
At the risk of sounding naive or of trampling on anyone's sensitivities, let the national-religious community admit its mistakes. As one rabbi commented, "Just look how many religious Zionists are accomplices to this tragedy - in the IDF, in the police force and in government offices." By assimilating in order to lead, too many were lead to assimilate. And when the Hareidim were fighting for the honor of the Sabbath, for the preservation of graves, for financial assistance to yeshiva students and so on, the national-religious should have stood with them, together, for the sake of Kiddush HaShem (G-d's sanctification). Let the Hareidi rabbis hear these humble confessions. Let the yeshiva students hear it. Let the national-religious rabbis speak face to face with Rabbi Elyashiv.
Let us make the commitment to fight for HaShem's honor - with unity. Yes, there are many deep divisions and there is mistrust. No, we will not resolve long-standing divisions overnight. But let us come face to face with that which separates us and create a Kiddush HaShem that may yet be worthy of miracles and salvation.
There is precious little time. May G-d help us all.
Our own flesh and blood will then go to four strategically located communities in northern Samaria to expel the good families there. From these four communities, established on towering mountains, it is easy to see Netanya, Herzliya and Kfar Saba. They will be only a stone's throw - or a missile launch - away.
After the Israeli troops return to divide Jerusalem, the terrorists, supported by the world, will take over no less than all of Judea and Samaria.
If you live elsewhere, do not be too quick to heave a sigh of relief. From these new terrorist enclaves, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Bnei Brak will be in easy range. Our army will be depleted and weary, both physically and emotionally. Guilt-ridden, many police and soldiers will soon enough see how they have been used as pawns in a deadly, treasonous maneuver by the few against the true.
We are talking about a great national tragedy less than one week away.
According to top military strategists, terrorism in every area of Israel will spiral upwards. It will not affect only the national-religious, or only those in a specific geographical location. Just as neither the non-religious, Hareidi nor foreign visitor or worker is exempted from a suicide bomber's explosion, so too will we find ourselves united as victims - first, of a traitorous government and its military puppets, and second to the terrorists they have equipped and encouraged.
Let us unite, not as victims, but in order to survive, to resist while we can. This will require exceptional motivation - perhaps the kind that comes from fighting a common enemy for the common good.
The courageous residents of Gush Katif, together with concerned citizens all over Israel have been breaking down many invisible boundaries through the Panim El Panim (Face to Face) campaign. They attempt to, and often succeed, in clarifying distorted conceptions in relationships with the non-religious, with large city-dwellers, with farmers from moshavim, and with families of the police who are being persuaded, perhaps even brain-washed, into thinking 'settlers' are violent, backward fanatics.
Many Chassidic Rebbes, together with their Chasidim, pray day and night, fasting and saying Psalms, and send representatives with words of strength and brotherhood to Gush Katif. Groups such as the 'Orange Cell' (Ta Katom) bring the religious and non-religious college students together in intellectual dialogue and in-depth comprehension of the religious and geopolitical situation. And the list goes on.
Now is the time for the big guns. We must be ready to bring the most powerful forces together. It is time for the Hareidi and national-religious sectors to come face to face. Now, during the period of the Three Weeks [days of increased mourning culminating in Tisha B'Av - ed.], what could be more appropriate? "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," Rabbi Akiva said. This is the time, this is the place and these are our neighbors.
At the risk of sounding naive or of trampling on anyone's sensitivities, let the national-religious community admit its mistakes. As one rabbi commented, "Just look how many religious Zionists are accomplices to this tragedy - in the IDF, in the police force and in government offices." By assimilating in order to lead, too many were lead to assimilate. And when the Hareidim were fighting for the honor of the Sabbath, for the preservation of graves, for financial assistance to yeshiva students and so on, the national-religious should have stood with them, together, for the sake of Kiddush HaShem (G-d's sanctification). Let the Hareidi rabbis hear these humble confessions. Let the yeshiva students hear it. Let the national-religious rabbis speak face to face with Rabbi Elyashiv.
Let us make the commitment to fight for HaShem's honor - with unity. Yes, there are many deep divisions and there is mistrust. No, we will not resolve long-standing divisions overnight. But let us come face to face with that which separates us and create a Kiddush HaShem that may yet be worthy of miracles and salvation.
There is precious little time. May G-d help us all.