Contempt for fundraising efforts for Gush Katif

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I never would have believed that I would be posting a blog that shows contempt for fundraising efforts for expellees of Gush Katif... but that is how I feel.

I heard today, that the Agudas Yisroel of Madison, Rabbi Reisman's shul in Brooklyn is doing fundraising to benefit the youth from Gush Katif that are currently in Yad Binyamin. What I heard (and I have yet to verify) is that they are looking to raise $100,000 to help the troubled youth formerly of Gush Katif, now in Yad Binyamin, to help pay for psychological counseling among other things.

I feel contempt because Rabbi Reisman, following the lead of Agudas Yisroel of America, chose not to speak out publicly against the disengagement. I have no doubt that they "shared" the pain of their brethren at the time but did nothing publicly to prevent it from happening. Their excuse was that they do not make political statements.

Is this politics? Is their study of Torah purely academic?


American frum Jews are comfortable collecting money for the poor. This is a cause that is close to their heart. So collecting money for troubled youth fits their comfort level.

A Torah Statement (Kol Korei) about our claim to Eretz Yisroel is still forthcoming.

Rabbi Reisman can include in his Torah Lectures that Eretz Yisroel was promised to the seed of Avraham Yitzchok and Yaakov and therefore the Roadmap is in direct contradiction to the Covenant since they are mutually exlusive. Did Rabbi Reisman lobby Agudas Yisroel to make such a statement? Did they send out a Mischlachat to Eretz Yisroel asking Rav Shteinman, Rav Eliashiv and Rav Kanievsky and other important Rabbanim how come no such proclamation was forthcoming.

I can't help but wonder what kind of Kavana these Rabbanim have each morning when they put on Tefillin and say the two portions of the Torah that is in Parshas Bo "Vehaya Chi Yeviacha Hashem el Eretz Haknaani...Asher Nishba Laavosecho Lases Lach Eretz Zavas Chalav Udevash" (the portion pertaining to eating Matzoh on Pesach, no chametz, etc) and "Vehaya Ki Yeviacho Hashem el Eretz Haknaani Kaasher Nishba Lecho Velavosecha Unesanah Lach" (portions pertaining to Peter Rechem).

Translated (from Stone Chumash) these portions are Exodus 13/4 "And it shall come to pass when Hashem shall bring you to the land of the Canaanite....which He swore to your forefathers to give you - land flowing with milk and honey..." and Exodus 13/11 It shall come to pass, when Hashem will bring you to the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your forefathers and He will have given it to you..."

How many times does the Torah have to repeat that He swore the Land to our forefathers to give to us? Is this only relevant to the generation entering Eretz Yisroel and not relevant to our generation? Why then do the men say it every day when they put on Tefillin.

It must be extremely fundamental because the Torah repeats these or similar words again and again.

If I was one of the youth expelled from Gush Katif I would send a letter back to the Agudas Yisroel of Madison to please keep their money for psychological counsel. It's a waste of their money. I would ask Rav Reisman to instead make a public statement along with the Agudas Yisroel of America about our Covenant and that the Covenant is in direct conflict (Soter in Hebrew) with the Roadmap plan.

Eidus Hashem Meishivas Nafesh. That would be the best Refuah for the youth expelled from their Land.