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I see things differently than Moshe Feiglin.. What follows is my opinion.
I am under the impression that even though Likud has some excellent Nationalist candidates for Knesset, under Netanyahu they are impotent.
Because if they were not impotent they would have insisted and demanded under no uncertain language and terms under threat of leaving the Likud, in response to the recent UN vote granting the PA a nonmember State, that their party, the Likud officially adopt the Levy Report and that Judea and Samaria be annexed. I have been sick to my stomach at some recent emails I have been receiving. How can Likud still be advocating a 2 State Solution knowing as clear as day that it's based on a lie and we all know that they know that a 2 State Solution can never be a Solution? Netanyahu plays politics and in politics we mask the truth.
I get the sense that Moshe Feiglin plays politics as well and masks the truth because he does not want to appear politically incorrect. I am referring to his discussion about his opposition to a "religious party". Feiglin does not feel comfortable talking about the Torah and Halacha (Torah Shebichtav and Torah Shebaal Peh). He claims that to do so would be to have a sectoral party. He is more comfortable with terminology like "faith based" Jews. Apparently, in Moshe's opinion, one can be faith based and not 'religious".
But it's just a political game and using language as a political weapon. Moshe Feiglin knows that his platform is basically based on Torah Shebichtav and Torah Shebaal Peh. But I believe his unwillingness to call a spade a spade will cause him to go astray. He claims a "religious" party will coerce but a "faith based party" will not coerce. So for example if the majority of a community in Israel does not want to observe Shabbat they don't have to. Let's run this by a Kingdom of days gone by!
A religious party in his opinion would "coerce" people to keep Shabbat. Here is the flaw that I see in this argument. A Davidic Kingdom like Solomon's Kingdom was the greatest Kingdom in the World it its time! King Solomon was proud of the Torah since he knew it was the best road map for humanity. I am sure that King Solomon would not be happy with a democratic vote of whether to keep Shabbat or not for the Jews living in Israel. After all keeping Shabbat is in their best interest. Rather, a wise Solomon would use the most successful Kiruv techniques and professionals and PR people out there to convince the population of the beauty of Shabbat. Chabad and other Kiruv professionals disagree on approach. Chabad will say that unaffiliated Jews should drive to shul. Other Kiruv professionals say absolutely not. But we all agree that in the realm of Torah Shebeal Peh, Rabbinic Law, Eilu veEilu.. each approach is valid as long as it has Rabbinic endorsement and backup. Other approaches are respected and valid as well. The Talmud is full of such scenarios and that is what is meant by a Machloketh LeShem Shamayim, and argument for the sake of heaven.. There are 70 faces to the Torah. But neither side would be happy with a secular democratic vote on whether or not the Torah is right or wrong.
When it comes to right and wrong the written and Oral Torah is our guide. Feiglin is fearful to take this approach since he does not wish to be branded as a religious extremist fanatic like fundamental Islam.
Well in my opinion we can learn some things from our enemies and since we never can fathom success using a politically incorrect approach, G-d gives success to our enemies to prove to us that it can be done. For example: Hamas' slogan is "Allah is its goal, the Prophet its model, the Qur'an its Constitution, Jihad its path and death for the case of Allah its most sublime belief". Slowly this religious slogan is taking over the world by storm.
Of course Hamas' "religious" message is horrible. However....
Maybe G-d is sending us a message that a religious message can actually be popular and doable and not to be so afraid to sound religious! But rather than death, Jews choose LIFE!
The Miracle of Chanuka is that there were a few brave individuals, known as the Maccabees who were not afraid to tell the truth. They did not care about being politically correct. Matithyahu refused to play the game even though the Greeks would have compensated nicely for such an individual like Matisyahu to have played along. The miracle of the oil also reflected an unwillingness of the Maccabees to use oil that was merely tainted because it was touched. The Greeks weren't interested in destroying the oil. They merely wanted that it be tainted and then used. Lenny Goldberg of Tapuach at Afsi's Chanukah Party in Manhattan enlightened us with his history lesson of the Maccabees. He said that these few individuals brought holiness into the world because they did what they did for G-d's sake alone. Similarly the Chanuka lights must be for G-d's sake exclusively and may not be used for any other purpose. Veein lanu Reshut LeHishtamesh Behem.It is forbidden to use Chanukah lights....Lenny Goldberg contrasted this period in history where the Maccabees succeed in overcoming their enemies with the history of the destruction of the 2nd Temple. In that period of time there were many groups of Jews who wanted to fight the Romans. However, they had self interest and each group wanted to take lead in winning the Romans. So they were splintered and basically destroyed each other. What a lesson for our times.
I pointed out that inj a previous email that Likud is carrying too much negative baggage. Moshe Feiglin has a valid point that Jewish Home has its share of skeletons in the closet. So here is a suggestion. Start a new party and call it "Zocher Habrit".
Every member must be willing to forego their place in the sun for the greater good. Zocher Habrit must put G-d's Covenant as #1 priority and personal gain must take a back seat burner. Everyone agrees that the existing way the political parties and cabinet is set up in Israel is not conducive to acting according to G-d's Torah and to voting according to ones inner beliefs of what is right and wrong.
As you can see from these links we are talking about Fatah and Hamas, an enemy determined to be united and no different than Nazis. The reports of women and Christians being terrorized is the horrible consequences of our enemies eing given a free reign. Jews are the caretakers of the entire world. When we do G-d's word the entire world is a safer more peaceful place. When we don't,....it's Holocaust for humanity.
No I don't believe a "religious platform", that is, one that openly calls for Torah SheBichtav and Torah Shebaal peh platform is sectoral.
LeHefech, the opposite, it is the only platform that is all inclusive. Any other platform is sectoral including Likud's or Manhigut Yehudits
Shabbat Shalom Umevorach!
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Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) a great activist and lover of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichrono Baruch.
Most of these emails are posted on
Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog.