I had the opportunity this year to witness a unique phenomenon in Israel. It was something that I had heard about, but did not quite believe. Yet, there it was on display, as clear as day. And it made me understand why the religious Right in Israel is in such a dysfunctional mess. Put simply: the religious Right are losers. Losers in their own country.
Let's back up a little bit. Do I really think the religious Right are losers? No, I respect, admire and study the Torah-based literature they produce. I do not think they are losers. Yet, they think they are. They have conditioned themselves into believing that they are losers and that they are utterly incapable of bringing any meaningful political change to Israel's pathetic form of government.
How does this manifest itself? It is manifest in the fact that the religious Right would rather vote for any secular candidate than for one that offers them faith-based (non-theocratic) leadership - because they believe that any kippah-wearing candidate is necessarily a loser like them, even if this person has new ideas. It is manifest in the fact that the so-called religious parties, rather than lead the country, have become special interest lobbyists for people who look like them, dress like them and speak like them. It is manifest in the fact that their votes in the Knesset allowed the disgrace of the Gush Katif expulsion to happen, by propping up a morally bankrupt, illegitimate government.
It is manifest when the mayor of Jerusalem, a religious man, decides he is too politically impotent to lift a finger against the shame of a gay pride parade in the world's holiest city. As a right-leaning, secular Jew sitting on a plane next to me remarked, "We allow this after 2,000 years? You datiim (religious) allow this? If we can't stop this, then we don't deserve Jerusalem. Maybe we should just lease the city to the Muslims. Then there won't be any gay parade."
Tough to argue with.
So, the religious leadership of the country has failed. Rather than bridge gaps with their secular brothers, they have allowed the gulf between them and secular Jews to widen even more. They have brought shame, loathing and finger-pointing by the seculars on themselves as purveyors of those whose votes are for sale (rent?) for a little more funding.
And yet, despite all this, they continue to look for that messianic secular figure to lead them. Perhaps, it is truly as Rabbi Meir Kahane, H.y.d. z.tz.l., said. Perhaps, because of how they look in the eyes of the Goyim, they need a nice, Goyish-looking leader to interact with the outside world - so they can hunker down until Moshiach shows up.
Yet, all is not lost. For when a high-ranking secular Likud official can openly state that he realizes now that he no longer trusts secular leadership for the Land of Israel, and that we need an acceptable faith-based candidate, perhaps the worm begins to turn. Perhaps the younger generation of religious Zionist youth and Chareidi youth will start to sound the clarion call against corruption, against business as usual, and against G-dlessness and moral bankruptcy.
I saw a hopeful sign in the Old City o of Jerusalemn during Sukkot, as I gave out literature and interacted with the young people. They are hungry for authentic, faith-based leadership. They are desperate to be proud Jews in their own land.
It is very simple. We are an am segulah; we need a manhig segulah. I call on all Mafdalniks, Shasniks, Yahadutniks (and even you Yisrael Beiteinuniks, who were sold out so fast it must have given you collective whiplash) to do what must be done. Join Manhigut Yehudit and help. The only way to do that is to join the Likud. Hold your nose if you have to, but join. Because if the best this country can do after the disgrace of Lebanon II is a government headed by Binyamin Neytanyahu, with the same old players, then it really is a shame and time to get the real estate lawyers working on that long-term lease for the Arabs.
Let's back up a little bit. Do I really think the religious Right are losers? No, I respect, admire and study the Torah-based literature they produce. I do not think they are losers. Yet, they think they are. They have conditioned themselves into believing that they are losers and that they are utterly incapable of bringing any meaningful political change to Israel's pathetic form of government.
How does this manifest itself? It is manifest in the fact that the religious Right would rather vote for any secular candidate than for one that offers them faith-based (non-theocratic) leadership - because they believe that any kippah-wearing candidate is necessarily a loser like them, even if this person has new ideas. It is manifest in the fact that the so-called religious parties, rather than lead the country, have become special interest lobbyists for people who look like them, dress like them and speak like them. It is manifest in the fact that their votes in the Knesset allowed the disgrace of the Gush Katif expulsion to happen, by propping up a morally bankrupt, illegitimate government.
It is manifest when the mayor of Jerusalem, a religious man, decides he is too politically impotent to lift a finger against the shame of a gay pride parade in the world's holiest city. As a right-leaning, secular Jew sitting on a plane next to me remarked, "We allow this after 2,000 years? You datiim (religious) allow this? If we can't stop this, then we don't deserve Jerusalem. Maybe we should just lease the city to the Muslims. Then there won't be any gay parade."
Tough to argue with.
So, the religious leadership of the country has failed. Rather than bridge gaps with their secular brothers, they have allowed the gulf between them and secular Jews to widen even more. They have brought shame, loathing and finger-pointing by the seculars on themselves as purveyors of those whose votes are for sale (rent?) for a little more funding.
And yet, despite all this, they continue to look for that messianic secular figure to lead them. Perhaps, it is truly as Rabbi Meir Kahane, H.y.d. z.tz.l., said. Perhaps, because of how they look in the eyes of the Goyim, they need a nice, Goyish-looking leader to interact with the outside world - so they can hunker down until Moshiach shows up.
Yet, all is not lost. For when a high-ranking secular Likud official can openly state that he realizes now that he no longer trusts secular leadership for the Land of Israel, and that we need an acceptable faith-based candidate, perhaps the worm begins to turn. Perhaps the younger generation of religious Zionist youth and Chareidi youth will start to sound the clarion call against corruption, against business as usual, and against G-dlessness and moral bankruptcy.
I saw a hopeful sign in the Old City o of Jerusalemn during Sukkot, as I gave out literature and interacted with the young people. They are hungry for authentic, faith-based leadership. They are desperate to be proud Jews in their own land.
It is very simple. We are an am segulah; we need a manhig segulah. I call on all Mafdalniks, Shasniks, Yahadutniks (and even you Yisrael Beiteinuniks, who were sold out so fast it must have given you collective whiplash) to do what must be done. Join Manhigut Yehudit and help. The only way to do that is to join the Likud. Hold your nose if you have to, but join. Because if the best this country can do after the disgrace of Lebanon II is a government headed by Binyamin Neytanyahu, with the same old players, then it really is a shame and time to get the real estate lawyers working on that long-term lease for the Arabs.