cc: Rabbi Moshe Dovid Niederman United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg (I do not have his email but hopefully I hope he will read it)
bs"d
Dear Distinguished Rabbanim, and Distinguished Torah Print and Radio Media Personnel, amv"sh
Torah Jews, Satmar Chasidim included, know that Jewish rights to the entire Eretz Yisroel is based on the Torah and our Covenant between Hashem and our Forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov and to their children and children's children, the Nation of Israel.
This Covenant can never be revoked because Hashem keeps His promises. (Even if we are undeserving and thrown out of our Land due to our sins, the Torah promises that the Land will never forsake us.) (see note 1 below)
This is fundamental to Judaism and references to our Everlasting Covenant with Hashem regarding the Land of Israel are repeated numerous times in Chumash, Meforshim, Navi, Medrash, Shulchan Orach, everyday prayers in Pesukei D'zimra, Shemonah Esreh, Shabbos prayers, Yom Tov prayers, Tehillim, Krias Shma, Mezuza, Tefillin, Selichot, Bentching etc.....
The Mitzvah of defending our Land is relevant for TODAY for each and every Jew wherever we are, and for Gentiles as well!
Numerous phone calls by Activists such as myself to Askanim,lay leaders, Gedolei Yisroel in Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, Agudath Yisroel of America and Lev L'Achim (advertised as the Movement of Gedolei Yisroel),
leads me to believe that the majority of these Rabbanim and organizations have accepted the position of the Satmar Rebbe as their explanation of why they have not taken an activist role regarding our rights to Judea and Samaria.
Why bring this up? These Gedoilim are modest, but the reality is that Daas Torah of these Gedoilim have considerable influence over the majority of Torah Observers worldwide (numbering in the 6 digits). They have considerable influence over secular Jews as well as a result of very effective outreach organizations and professionals such as Aish Hatorah, Ohr Sameach, Shofar.net, Arachim, Kiruv, Chabad etc. The majority of Observant Jews, Rabbanim and Yeshivot look to these Gedoilim for guidance. Their organizations and political parties have significant influence in Capitol Hill, and the Knesset. Their position of Daas Torah is reflected in the media cc'd in this email be it newspapers, magazines and radio shows numbering in the 5,6 digits.
Let us therefore seriously address the points of the Satmar Rebbe. Please read in entirety. Here is a small portion:
"The question of our right to Eretz Yisrael in our times is based on two main points. The first point is a passage from Gemara Kesubot,111a, God made the Jews take two oaths and the world take one. To the Jews "Not to ascend to the Holy Land as a group using force, not to rebel against the governments of countries in which we live," and "Not to push the end away with our sins ", see Rashi.
For some this means that the State of Israel is a sin, we came back in force and rebelled against the nations.
This is easily answered; there was no rebellion against the nations. We were granted permission by Britain, League of Nations and the United Nations to recreate our homeland in the Land of Israel. Second the first two oaths might be contingent on the third, if the non-Jews treat us harshly, which they did, then we can rebel and go up to the land. Even if the oaths are not connected, we saw clear signs of redemption, which nullified the oaths themselves. This is similar to the Halacha where one swears not to enter his house. If the walls of his house collapse, he is freed from his oath and may step on the remains of the house. "
Therefore, in spite of the numerous daily reminders of our rights to our entire Land both in our liturgy and in Torah sources, we still seriously need to convince Torah believers to be activists to defend our right to Judea and Samaria.
That is why the following post by Ted Belman based on work by Eli Hertz and others, is necessary to prove our legal entitlement according to International law. It hopefully, Beezrat Hashem, will help convince the majority of Observant Jews to unite and become activists and ultimately convince other Jews and the world at large of our Divine entitlement based on Torah and International law. This activism will be mezakeh the Rabim, make us worthy of keeping our Land. (G-d forbid we should sell it for a pot of lentils (empty promises of peace)).
Please read Ted Belman's
Jewish Legal Rights to Judea and Samaria (based on work done by Eli Hertz.)
http://noahdavidsimon.blogspot.com/2009/12/doc-talk-jewish-legal-rights-to-judea.html My last point is as follows. Why would Judaism place such an emphasis on Eretz Yisroel in daily prayers and in the weekly Parsha, if it wasn't relevant to each and every generation especially our own?
Sometimes we are blinded to truth when our hearts are leading us astray. For example, intellectually we know cigarettes are dangerous to our health but we convince ourselves otherwise.....
Let me end with this prayer.
May Hashem enlighten us in merit of our strong desire to keep the Mitzvoth in Eretz Yisroel thereby bringing forth the Kedusha, the Sanctity of the Land, May we have the zechus, the merit of being a Mamlechet Kohanim Vegoy Kadosh, a Nation of Priests and a H-ly Nation, in order that the entire world be blessed with Peace and Prosperity. Amen Ken Yehi Ratzon (May it be His Will)
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(Note 1) Yosef Rabin writes in his Letter to Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah.
http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2008/10/to-mgh-letter-to-moetzet-gedolei.html "In Parshat Bichukoti, one of the many infamous curses is the one on the Land of Israel. " I will make the Land desolate, and the enemies who dwell within will be desolate. "(26:32)).
The Ramban explains this to be a blessing and promise for the Jewish People. That the Land will never grow for anyone but the Jewish People. Rabbenu Bachya also explains, BeReshit 17:8, " This is a great sign for the Jewish People, since they were exiled from their Land no nation was able to settle there. Rather it sits is desolation until its children return. " Also, may there be a thousand separations, the famous non-Jewish author, Mark Twain visited the Land of Israel in 1867. He wrote, " The hills are barren, they are dull of color, they are un-picturesque in shape. The valleys are unsightly desert fringed with feeble vegetation that has an expression about it of being sorrowful and despondent… The Land sits in sackcloth and ashes… This Land is no more of this work-day world. It is sacred to poetry and tradition-it is a dream-land. " (Innocent Abroad end of chapter 56)
It is clear that Hashem has kept his promise, up until the Jewish People decided to return to the Land of their forefather's, the Land did not grow. It is interesting that he wrote this in 1867, just a few short years before the Children of Israel although mainly secular returned. Even though they were secular, did not keep Shabbat or Kashrut, the Land accepted them and she grew accordingly. The Land allowed them to drain her swamps, grow her fields, raise cattle and build beautiful towns and cities. This was all barely 30 years after Twain visited. "
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This will be posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
