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B"sd
Retreat From Land and Jewish Obligations Will Never Bring Peace
Gary Cooperberg
February 5, 2004
The United States of America is today the most powerful nation in the world. Her example of a government of the people by the people and for the people is one which has elevated the concept of democracy to a kind of "holiness". It is true that prior to this form of government dictatorships were common all over the world and the common man was subject to the whims of the monarch or dictator. It was a refreshing change to have thrown off British rule and declare that the people themselves should now decide what is best for the nation.
Here, in Israel, we also fought for our independence from Great Britain and succeeded in throwing off her yoke of oppression. Yet, rather than turning back to our ancient sources, our Torah, for guidance in setting up our renewed homeland, we looked instead to the mighty USA. Ironically, the founding fathers of America actually turned to the Bible for help in establishing their new country. Yet we Jews, when reestablishing our homeland in the Land of the Bible, chose to copy a copy of our original!
Democracy implies justice, freedom and fair play. Yet it fails to take into consideration the fact the human wisdom is very limited, and that the eternal moral values found in the Bible are not eternally etched into the changing values of human society. One example of this concept can be seen in the fact that American judges have accepted the concept of same sex marriages. In our society homosexuality is accepted as an "alternative life style". Yet the Bible describes it as an abomination. This is just one example of how human values can actually exchange sin for virtue.
When Man begins to think that he has the wisdom to change moral values, we find ourselves on the brink of chaos. Perhaps owing to our incredible technological advances we have forgotten our place in this world. True freedom is not the right to do anything you please. When we follow such a course we end up becoming slaves to our own endless desires. It is only when we learn how we can channel our passions to please our Creator, and then actively pursue that goal, that we can achieve true freedom. For the limits placed upon our behavior by the Bible are merely tools to enable us to achieve true freedom and happiness.
If this is true for all of Mankind, how much more so it is for the Chosen of G-d. . . the Jewish people, especially after He has wrought modern day miracles in order to return us to our ancient homeland to become the living examples we are destined to be. The Jewish State may have one of the most technologically advanced armies in the world, yet it is still only the Hand of G-d which has enabled us to win the wars waged against us by those who seek our destruction. How dare we refuse to recognize from whence our true Power comes! The only reason we have strife in our homeland today is because we have leaders who really think that they are running things. All of those in government who presume to decide how to best protect us have failed to accept our Divine obligations and include them in their plans. This oversight guarantees that their efforts will come to nought, and even bring further suffering, G-d forbid.
Ariel Sharon is not the first pseudo genius who thought he could make peace by giving away Jewish Land. What is most ironic about his recent statements is the fact that they were made by one who was considered the most extreme militant leader we had. His exchanging eternal values for "new" ones is yet another example which proves that we cannot accept any leadership which is not guided, first and foremost, by Biblical principles. It is a sin for any Jew to give away or even sell any part of our holy inheritance. One does not achieve peace by violating Jewish obligations. It matters not how much Mr. Sharon may feel he is making a personal sacrifice. . . to give away Jewish land is not an option for any Jewish leader. The Land is not his to give away. The Land belongs to G-d, and He obligated us to possess it. Thus we have no right to play with Jewish obligations. To do so will only bring Divine Wrath upon us.
Polls are also insignificant. For even were every Jew in the world willing to give away half of the Gaza Strip we still have no right to do so. The G-d of Israel has begun to bring us home from all four corners of the world. This we should all be able to see. Is it then imaginable that He would change His Mind? His Prophesies are eternal and unchangeable. No matter what anyone plans, in the ultimate future Jews will live in all parts of Israel, even those which are not yet in our possession. Sharon's vision of a time in the future when Jews will no longer live in the Gaza Strip will never come to pass. The Jewish communities there will continue to grow and thrive in spite of our leaders because this is the Will of G-d.
What is most important for us as Jews is not to lose sight of why we are here. Our goal is not to topple this government and exchange it for yet another tragedy. Our goal is to turn to our G-d by living our lives according to Jewish principles above "democratic" ones. Did it make any logical sense for our fathers to walk into the sea? To have done so must have appeared suicidal up until the moment that the sea parted. Does it make any sense for us to continue to live in our homeland when suicide murderers continue to take our lives; the nations of the world demand that we surrender to the PLO; and our own government is negotiating our very existence? It makes no sense at all. Yet it is precisely because of this fact that we must continue to live and thrive in our homeland. This is our way to show ourselves and our enemies that we really do believe in our G-d. And that is our ultimate weapon which will bring us true peace.
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