In addition to the current Chabad-Lubavitch campaign in Israel against the disengagement/expulsion plan, Chabad Hassidim elsewhere around the world are also making their voice known. Rabbi Binyamin Edri, who runs a Chabad House in Tokyo, Japan, has begun a campaign to oppose the unilateral withdrawal, citing the late Lubavitcher Rebbe's oft-repeated admonition against giving away any portion of the Holy Land and warning of the dangers therein. Rabbi Edri is organizing public demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo.
Two major events were held in New York last week, expressing Chabad's strong opposition to the very notion of giving up parts of the Land of Israel. More than 2,000 people attended a rally in support of Gush Katif held in the main sanctuary of Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn. MK Dr. Aryeh Eldad addressed the crowd, and noted that when he speaks in defense of Gush Katif, he generally finds himself quoting Ariel Sharon himself. In fact, Eldad said, "I recently wrote an article that had so many quotes from Sharon, I sent him a check, explaining that I did not want to be a thief by stealing his words." N'vei Dekalim resident Moshe Saperstein, a sharpshooter who lost his right arm in the Yom Kippur War and who was wounded in his left hand in a terrorist attack, told of the many miracles that have occurred in Gush Katif throughout this trying period.
The next day, another emergency Chabad rally took place in New York, where it was proposed to hold a Chabad demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in Manhattan. Another suggestion is in the process of being implemented: Having young Chabadniks from New York phone Likud members in Israel and try to persuade them to vote against the withdrawal plan. "Many of these voters may not even be intending to vote," state the phone-calling guidelines, "while others are confused by the media propaganda. Our job is just to gently urge them to do the right thing, according to Torah, Jewish Law and the Rebbe's instructions... The people you will call are most often pleasantly surprised by a call all the way from America, and will appreciate the gesture. It is not necessary to try to argue or convince anyone. The call from America itself is convincing enough about the importance of this vote to Jews everywhere."
Two major events were held in New York last week, expressing Chabad's strong opposition to the very notion of giving up parts of the Land of Israel. More than 2,000 people attended a rally in support of Gush Katif held in the main sanctuary of Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn. MK Dr. Aryeh Eldad addressed the crowd, and noted that when he speaks in defense of Gush Katif, he generally finds himself quoting Ariel Sharon himself. In fact, Eldad said, "I recently wrote an article that had so many quotes from Sharon, I sent him a check, explaining that I did not want to be a thief by stealing his words." N'vei Dekalim resident Moshe Saperstein, a sharpshooter who lost his right arm in the Yom Kippur War and who was wounded in his left hand in a terrorist attack, told of the many miracles that have occurred in Gush Katif throughout this trying period.
The next day, another emergency Chabad rally took place in New York, where it was proposed to hold a Chabad demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in Manhattan. Another suggestion is in the process of being implemented: Having young Chabadniks from New York phone Likud members in Israel and try to persuade them to vote against the withdrawal plan. "Many of these voters may not even be intending to vote," state the phone-calling guidelines, "while others are confused by the media propaganda. Our job is just to gently urge them to do the right thing, according to Torah, Jewish Law and the Rebbe's instructions... The people you will call are most often pleasantly surprised by a call all the way from America, and will appreciate the gesture. It is not necessary to try to argue or convince anyone. The call from America itself is convincing enough about the importance of this vote to Jews everywhere."