bs"d
Dear Esteemed Rabbanim of Moetzes Gelolei HaTorah of America and Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Degel Hatorah, amv"sh
When we want someone to get married is it sufficient to simply davan and say tehillim? Isn't actually meeting a potential partner a necessary step as well? Hishtadlus (let's do our part and Hashem will respond in kind).
When a gun is pointing at our heads and we are capable of removing the gun aren't we obligated to get rid of the gun (and if we are able to davan and say tehillim at the same time then we davan and say tehillim as well.).
Why doesn't Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah come out with a Kol Korei stating that the Roadmap is against the Torah and then daven and say Tehillim that such a statement will be well received? In America, let it be known, that each and every Jew has an achraiyus, an obligation, to write to the White House and let them know the Torah's Position (Daas Torah) is against the establishment of a Palestinian State in the heartland of Eretz Yisroel.
Let us not be afraid to tell President Bush that the Land of Israel is promised exclusively to the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and we must keep the commandments. Will the Palestinians keep Shemittah (Sabbatical year)? Shemittah demonstrates that the Land of Israel belongs to G-d.
Is President Bush aware that the Torah position is against a Palestinian State whether or not it is a Democratic State?????
Sure, the Moetzes has many considerations. $$$ and more $$$. Money for Torah institutions and for children allowances and in America for wonderful Special Ed programs and insurance for fertility treatments and job training etc. etc... and results in lots of employment opportunities for our community. These considerations are not greedy. They are addressing our bread and butter.
BUT, this is the Shemittah year. In the Shemittah year we do things that on the surface seems to take away our Parnassah, our monetary sustenance, yet Hashem promises much blessings. It is in the same spirit as Shabbos. In the Shemittah year we rely purely on Hashem for our sustenance.
So how does one survive you ask? Won't we all starve? Hashem promises that peace and security and blessings will result. How does this work? It works because in the spirit of Shabbos, we share our resources. On Shabbat we all grab at the Kiddush? Why? Are we so malnourished? It's because we want the Kedusha that is inherent in that shul chulent.
Let's take the plunge and say, we'll risk our job to make that statement for all of Eretz Yisroel. And if Chas Vechalila, G-d forbid, I will lose my job, my honorary position, then let's rely on this year being a Shemittah year. Patoach Tiftach is the very special Mitzvah of the Shemittah year. Loaning money with dignity even with witnesses and openly and not even secretly as we would do for a poor person, is the special Mitzvah of Shemittah. Yet the recipient, if unable, is under no pressure to repay the loan since the loan must be released assuming there was no Pruzbul. Of course we have good faith when people borrow they sincerely wish to repay the loan.
Farmers that do not have an income because they keep the commandment not to work the Land will need good faith loans. So will the Rabbinic Leader that speaks out for Eretz Yisroel and gets replaced for being so forthright. If Chas Vechalila that happens, this courageous soul will also need a loan. But this courageous soul can be counted on to repay the loan when funds becomes available to him.
The point that I am making is that we must be courageous and speak up and let's put our faith in Hashem to provide for all our needs.
What's the alternative? Another Gush Katif? Another War in Lebanon? These were perfect example of pooling of resources. A perfect model of the Shemittah year. The entire country was involved with sharing their resources, providing for each others needs and making sure that no one lacks. A third of the residents living in the North in Israel were forced to flee their homes when the rockets started flying. The people of Gush Katif will tell you of all the wonderful people that took them in and provided for them (and I don't think they will be talking about the gov't). So will the escapees of the North.
Maybe Hashem wishes us to share our resources this year and if it doesn't happen by keeping Shemittah it can happen in a variety of ways. Much worse ways. Katrina is another example of a situation where people were displaced overnight and at the mercy of the goodwill of their brothers.
Let's not forget the chemical, biological and nuclear capabilities in the hands of our enemies. The World Trade Center tragedy was caused by a simple airplane. Heavens and earth is Hashem's witnesses and agents.
BeDamyich Chayii. With Blood Shall You Live. We can live with the blood of the Korban Pesach, the Paschal Sacrificial lamb or the blood of the Bris Mila, circumcision, or alternatively, G-d FORBID, by the sacrifices of human blood. We can get our sustenance from the graciousness of the Israeli gov't or the United States gov't or directly from Hashem through the good will of our brothers.
Do we choose blood money to buy our Silence at the expense of the lives of our Brethren Acheinu Beis Yisroel? How many terrorists with blood on their hands have been released into Israeli society with no protest? How many rockets have been fired on Sederot with our Silence? How many young Jewish girls have been harassed for desiring a judicial system based on Torah? What is the value of the "pure" chinuch of our children when it is based on such blood money. What lessons will our children learn from this chinuch?
What do we choose???? Ubechartem Bachayim. Let us choose Life! Life of Torah, and life for our Brethren in Eretz Yisroel and a life for ourselves.
From: Rabbi Shmuel Bloom [mailto:news@agudath-israel-of-america.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of Rabbi Shmuel Bloom
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 11:46 AM
Subject: Moetzes Kol Koreh
|
|
| Below is the text of a kol koreh issued by the Moetzes Gedoleh Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel and the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degal Hatorah in EY, calling upon jews where ever they may be to say special tefillos, including tehillim and seder yom kippur kotton, this coming Tuesday Feb 5, erev rosh chodosh adar 1, in light of the extremely serious current matzav in EY. As you will see, The American Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah has also joined in this urgent call. | | An Announcement from Gedolei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel, shlit"a TO OUR FELLOW JEWS LIVING IN ERETZ YISROEL AND TO JEWISH COMMUNITIES EVERYWHERE The difficult situation of the Jewish community in Eretz Yisroel fills us with trepidation. No one knows what the new day will bring. In our sins, we see the fulfillment of the posuk "Behold Your enemies are in uproar and those who hate You have raised their head. Against Your nation they deviously plot, and take counsel against those whom You protect." Our eyes are lifted in prayer to the Creator, that all of the goings-on in the world turn for the good. From both within and without the crisis mounts. The danger threatens both body and soul. During these days, items are on agendas that could place entire populations of Jews into grave danger, G-d forbid - including those in the Holy City of Yerushalayim. Further, there are constant attempts to undermine the foundations of pure chinuch in Eretz Yisroel and to cause harm to the holiness of Klal Yisroel. Therefore it is incumbent on us to fortify ourselves with Torah, tefilla and good deeds, to awaken the mercy of Heaven. Dear brethren, awaken and inspire yourselves to pour out prayer before the Creator of the world, that He have pity and protect His nation from all who stand up against us, that He abolish the intentions of those who hate us and nullify the plottings of our enemies, and that the eyes of the misguided be opened to the realization that their path is foolishness and they should leave Hashem's nation to guard its path and faith, without hindrance or interference. We therefore call on members of Hashem's holy nation in all the places they reside, men, women and children, to gather in tefilla on Tuesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar Rishon, 5768, to recite chapters of Tehillim and the order of Yom Kippur Koton. May Hashem hear our pleas, and turn His face to us so that we may be saved with a permanent salvation soon. And let us merit to see, quickly, the redemption of Yisroel, and gaze upon the building of the Beis HaMikdosh, quickly in our days, omein. Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Agudas Yisroel Degel HaTorah 23 Shevat, 5768 A Statement from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America We hereby join in the statement of the Gedolei HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel and call on our fellow Jews here in this country to gather and be unified in public tefilla on Tuesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar Rishon, Yom Kippur Koton, to pour out prayer to Heaven over the situation in Eretz Yisroel. May HaKodosh Boruch Hu accept our tefillos in mercy and hurry our redemption and ultimate salvation. Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America |
| | Agudath Israel of America
42 Broadway 14th floor
New York, New York 10004
212-797-9000 |
|
|
| |
