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Apr 4, 2014
if you want to see God, go to Shuk Machaneh Yehudah
Rabbi Shalom Gold penned the following letter and sent it to the Hamodia newspaper for publication. Being that they did not print it, Rabbi Gold has given permission for it to be published and passed around.
To the Editor, Hamodia
There is what seems to be "a statement of authentic Torah-true hashkafah" that appears occasionally in Hamodia (the most recent on the 4th of Adar II) and in other publications, that I believe must be examined very closely and dispassionately. The pronouncement raises extremely serious problems of a religious nature.
The Hamodia article quoted a rav who said, "The most difficult golus to endure is a golus suffered from other Jews and therefore we plead for a final redemption from this terrible golus." I experienced a great deal of personal anguish just writing that sentence. First of all, it's absolutely false. We are not in Czarist Russia, Inquisitionist Spain, Crusader-ravished Rhineland, Cossack-scorched Poland, nor fascist Nazi Germany, nor assimilation-ridden America. Klal Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael is experiencing the most magnificent era in 2,000 years.
Rav Avraham Pam movingly put the present period in time in its proper Jewish-Torah perspective. He said that a rule in Jewish history is that following every period of suffering comes an era of Hashem embracing His people, comforting them, and pouring out His goodness, just as a father whose son has suffered will embrace him and console him. Rav Pam highlights four such historic episodes. The fourth one, Rav Pam said, was, that following the worst horror of all, the Shoah, Hashem embraced us with "hakomas Medinas Yisroel" (precisely his words).
Hashem does not embrace His people by casting them into the worst golus of all. To say that, is a denial of Hashem's goodness, an ugly rejection of His benevolence, and shameful ingratitude.
Three months after the establishment of Medinat Yisrael, Rav Dessler wrote that he who does not see the dramatic change and the complete reversal of the fate of the Jewish people, "min hakatzeh al Hakatzeh, "from one extreme of six million slaughtered to the other extreme end "the settling of our people in their own medina in our Holy Land" is blind. "Woe to one who will come to the Day of Judgment still blind and not having been able to see something so real." (Michtav M'Eliyahu, Volume 3, page 352)
Rav Dessler wrote this at a time that the infant state was locked in a struggle for its very existence. No one then could predict the outcome, yet he rejoiced. He did not predict that the State wouldn't last for ten years.
The plain facts are that the greatest growth of Klal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel in just about every conceivable area has been mind-boggling. Little Israel whose air force ranks after the United States, Russia and China. Way up there with the biggest. An army whose might is so clearly the result of the efforts of "He who gives you the strength to be mighty." Agricultural accomplishments of global proportions. Israel is a world agricultural power. It staggers the imagination. (Google Israel – Agriculture and read Wikipedia.) It would help if you have a TaNach handy to see the prophecies fulfilled before your very eyes. Focus on Yechezkel chapters 36, 37 and 38.
For me, every visit to my local fruit and vegetable store is a powerful religions experience. In the middle 50s I learned in Ponovitz and subsisted on tomatoes, cucumbers and watermelon. Today, in my local store I am overwhelmed by the dazzling amounts of produce. If this is golus then I can't begin to imagine what geulah is. I once said that every rabbi is zocheh to one good line in his career. Min is, "If you want to speak to G-d go to the Kotel, but if you want to see Him, go to Shuk Machaneh Yehudah."
Little Israel is a world leader in medicine, science, technology, and so much more.
And – the greatest explosion of Torah learning in Jewish history has taken place here with the generous help of the secular Zionists, and the religious Zionists (the Mizroochnikim).
And this you call "golus by Jews." We have never had it better.
Now take a closer look at that "great article of faith" and you should be struck by the realization that for that statement alone the charedi community should be held in absolute contempt. The ugly assertion that we, your fellow Jews, impose upon you an exile worse than any you have ever experienced, is more than enough reason for us to reject you and all you supposedly stand for. That despicable hashkafah is not Torah.
Furthermore, if the golus you suffer by the hands of fellow Jews is so bad, in fact the "worst golus," why don't you leave, run away, save yourselves from "this terrible exile." Breath the fresh air of France, the tranquility of the Ukraine, join the Moslems of England. Save your souls from enslavement to us. The "goldeneh medina" beckons. Be free of the yoke of tziyonim and mizroochniks, get a green card. Boro Park here we come. Why stay here and suffer. Go be rid of us.
Come to think of it – since the Eritreans and Sudanese like it here so much, so maybe an exchange of populations can be arranged.
I am very surprised that the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation did not soundly condemn this "hashkafah" which can only be described as mega-loshon hora against Klal Yisrael for subjecting their brothers and sisters to such awful golus.
There is, of course, a secondary gain from this statement that is warmly welcomed. The people of Chutz L'Aretz don't even have to consider aliyah at all. Who would willingly subject his family to the "worst golus of all."
Take note: the ugly "golus by Jews" hashkafah places you right down there with the world's anti-Semites, who accuse Israel of apartheid.
I suspect that the purveyors of that lie have been entrapped in the web of their own extreme rhetoric, "gezeras hashmaed," "destroyers of Torah," "chareidi haters." You have begun to believe that it is really so. What a pity.
I suggest that Hamodia publicly disassociates itself from that abhorrent, poisonous hashkafah, asks for forgiveness from all of us, and expresses thanks and gratitude to Hashem for all His kindness. If you may be in a truly penitent mood, ask yourselves whether you are really the victims of unbridled, undeserved hatred, or have you contributed in great measure to what may be a reaction to your own contempt for everything that is sacred and holy to the "people who reside in Zion." Think about it. Think about it honestly and seriously.
The nation's flag is "a shmatteh on a shteken" ("a rag on a stick"), the national anthem was written by a drunk. As a matter of fact, the flag is beautiful, and a study of Hatikvah will reveal its power to move a nation.
Yom Haatzmaut is nothing, Yom Hazikaron raises the serious issue of, chas v'shalom, standing for two minutes silence of which you have made into some bogus nonsensical crime (you really made many friends with that). Yom Hashoah is all wrong. Even Yom Yerushalayim is unknown in your community. You don't say the Prayer for the Welfare of the State, nor do you pray for the safety of the soldiers who protect you so that you can learn Torah (that one really made you very popular). In fact, I can't think of a single area in which you participate with the rest of Klal Yisrael. In one of my more aggressive moments I asserted that since the State and the IDF have been doing so well for 66 years without your prayers, let's better leave it that way. We don't want to rock the boat, you know.
An absolute rejection of the ugly hashkafah will hopefully signal the beginning of a new era of love and friendship between Jew and fellow Jew. When you truly see the hand of Hashem in action for the past sixty-six years, you will want to say with great kavanah the prayer for the State and for the soldiers who risk their lives day and night so that we can all live safely in G-d's land.
Sholom Gold
16/9 Agassi St.
Jerusalem 98377
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Bravo.
ReplyDeleteBravo indeed.
ReplyDeletewell-said. 'shekoach.
ReplyDeleteA Jew today has greater physical safety in America or England than in Israel. That being said, there are reasons of kedusha and other reasons to choose to live in Eretz Yisroel rather than in chutz for many folks despite the Zionists. For many other Jews their overall Avodas Hashem is best served by them living in chutz.
ReplyDeleteWow. You didn't get a word he said, did you? "Despite the Zionists"? Try "because of the Zionists", because they're the ones who are subsidizing the lifestyle of the the leeches who don't work and don't know how to put a plug in their wives' vaginas. And who are making sure that Jews don't get slaughtered by their neighbors - which is why, contrary to your assertion, Jews have greater physical safety in Israel than anywhere else. (Try walking alone on Chicago's south side or any number of other wonderful neighborhoods in America's big cities if you think I'm wrong.)
DeleteYour ahavat Yisrael oozes, no pours, out of every word here. Better luck hiding i next time
DeleteAnonymousCoward 1:54:
DeleteIt really bother you that Hareidim have lots and lots of children, huh. Well let it keep bothering you. Then you might just have a heart attack from all that anguish and those Hareidim with all their hordes and hordes of children can can trample over your body.
In the U.S. there is less worry for a Jew about getting blown up on a bus or restaurant or street than in Israel. Referencing Chicago's south side is comparable to an Arab neighborhood in Israel. Try taking a stroll there yourself one fine night.
Definitely safer in the USA. Especially in places like Fort Hood. Or Columbine High. Or Sandy Hook Elementary.
DeleteI've got no problem with people having lots of kids, as long as they can pay the costs themselves. When they expect other people to pay for their kids, then I have a problem. The fact that American haredim have fewer kids than Israeli haredim means (a) they've discovered birth control and (b) the existence or lack state handouts has a profound effect on people's behavior.
"greater physical safety in America or England" That is very misleading. Women and kids are not able to safely walk around most of 'America' while in Israel, except for the area of south Tel Aviv where the illegal aliens rule, it is possible all day and all night.
Deletew/r to anon "the existence or lack state handouts" - also very misleading. Israel has a culture friendly to children and bringing them up as opposed to overseas where children are a pain and a hassle to bring up. It would seem this has affected the American Haredim as well, among other things that thankfully have not made aliyah yet like extreme materialism, though I am sick of Israeli Haredim wearing expensive brand name clothes like Nautica and Tommy.
Men, women and children can walk around almost any part of suburban America safely and soundly at any time. And this is almost as true in most parts of urban America as well outside the slums and minority neighborhoods. Israel has issues in Tel Aviv and in Muslim areas of the State.
DeleteReblogged. Yasher koach. I think you have to censor Anonymous of 1:54's post. Inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you re: the original posting, but re: the comment - why inappropriate? Because of the word "leeches", or because of the word "vagina"? I laughed out loud. The original posting bemoans not only the complete and total lack of hakarat hatov on the part of people who write things like "The most difficult golus to endure is a golus suffered from other Jews and therefore we plead for a final redemption from this terrible golus" (or who refer to observant Jews who insist on other observant Jews serving in the army as "amalek", as was recently done by one so-called "rabbi"), but the unbelievable chutzpa inherent in saying such things. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones; people who don't work (and therefore don't pay taxes) who choose to have more children than they can afford to support because they calculate that they can vote themselves a piece of the pie that they didn't contribute shouldn't call the state that affords them such a luxury a "golus", let alone a "golus" that's worse than what the friendly Christians or Moslems have treated us to over the years.
DeleteWhat i don't understand is why theState of Israel still finance those who insult the medinah, his leaders and a big part of the population. Myself, I'm not a zionist per se, no pro, no con, i just try to look at life through Torah. In any country, if a person insults a representant of government, it wil be sued. But not in Israel, why?
ReplyDeleteSecond of all, if the "Tzyonim" are so bad, treif, tamei, why the Charedim will accept money from them. The Gra, zatza"l tells that using unkosher money to feed your children as a bad spiritual effect on them. A bit of hypocrisy, no?
In a democracy it is entirely permitted to "insult the government" without losing any benefits. You can call Obama a Muslim Kenyan terrorist while collecting welfare and food stamps. Is Israel a democracy?
DeleteMany anti-Zionists, contrary to your suggestion, refuse to accept legally entitled government funding (schools, welfare, etc.) Some of these groups are Eida Chareidus, Satmar, Brisk, etc.
Thirdly, as far as those that do accept government funding, they also pay taxes. Therefore they are entitled to whatever any citizen has available in government resources. "No taxation without representation." Ring a bell? If you think they take more in financial payments that paying in taxes, then propose they be exempt from all Israeli taxes and be ineligible for any payouts.
Yes, Gold, we are in golus today in Eretz Yisroel. Despite any illusions, the zionists did not bring about the redemption. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking it's so good today we don't need Moshiach, we're doing great as it is.
ReplyDeleteRegarding you chest-pounding of what a powerful military Israel has and all its technology and scientific achievments, pound, pound, pound, we could have done quite well without it had the zionists not riled up the Arabs into a murderous frenzy since the beginning of the 1900s. (Yes, starting before the State came into existence.)
Every breath of Torah by Klal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel is despite the zionists great efforts to stamp out Judaism. Yes, they wanted to stamp it out from the very beginning, whether their forcible kidnapping of the Yemenite children away from Judaism to all their other numerous crimes against humanity. They can keep all their artificial man-made holidays for themselves. We Jews have our Torah and have our own Yomim Tovim.
So, God had nothing to do with the state being created? That was all the Zionists?
DeleteG-d has everything to do with the holocaust happening and the State being created.
Deletethat is just utter codswallop.
Deleteno other response is needed.
Sounds like R. Gold holds like R. Yehudah. See Shabbos 33b.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much right and so much wrong in this article at the same time. I am a fan of Rabbi Gold, and agree with much of what he writes here, but at the same time, I believe he is not understanding the period that we are in. It is obvious that the period we are currently in - that of Ikveta Dimshiha - is still Galut. Even if Jews are in charge of Eretz Yisrael, which is a huge Beracha, none of the Rabbanim listed: not Rav Pam ZT"L nor Rav Dessler ZT"L or anyone else would say that we are in a period of Geula and that we cannot call the current situation "Galut suffered by other Jews".
ReplyDeleteIn fact, there are many sources that point to the fact that the subjugation from the Erev Rav will be harsher than that of the other 4 Galuyot. The way I understand it is that it is not harsher in the typical sense - of course, the troubles under the other nations caused unbearable suffering which we are not experiencing now. However, what is meant, I believe, is that since we were given the Medina by HKB"H, and we know that it is the beginning of the flowering of our Redemption, when we have made so much progress toward the ultimate goal of Redemption, and all of a sudden, comes along a government made up of other Jews (perhaps, Erev Rav) and is impeding that progress, that is the worst suffering of all.
This is why such statements coming out of Haredi circles are not to be condemned, but condoned. No one (except for a few on the extreme) is denying the Beracha of the fruits of Eretz Yisrael. Many Haredim (I being one of them) even agree with the concept of the Medina being a Beracha. Nevertheless, there is much to be desired when it comes to the way Eretz Yisrael is being run, and it is not Leshon Hara to say so. And after what occurred in 2005, I'm surprised a Religious Zionist would not agree.
Of course, we hope and pray that these setbacks are just temporary bumps in the road to our ultimate Redemption, Bimhera Veyameinu Amen.
2005 - when the Rabin government colluded with Arabs, all leftist Jews, and Charedim, in order to build a majority in favor of divesting Israel of some of its land. In other words without a majority of Jewish MKs (because of the Arab participation necessary).
DeleteI very closely affiliate with Charedim - there is no other community that has established so well, sincere adherence to the details of Torah observance. But I don't like the assertion that the Charedim have a monopoly on limud Torah, or even psak halacha.
So therefore I sadly say - there is more than one galus at the hands of Jews going on.
Miriam,
DeleteYou mean the Sharon govt. And you're correct that that was the wrong path for the Ashkenazi Charedi party.
Who said that Haredim have such a monopoly? Who is saying such a thing? Only you.
The medina has accomplished the unique feat of creating a nation that speaks the language of the Tanach yet overwhelmingly does not even know the possuk of Shema Yisroel.
ReplyDeleteIt is also one of the only nations on earth where the law of the land is that one can be jailed for the crime of learning Torah.
What good Hashem has done to the nation was responded to with the hashkofa of "kochi votzem yodi." The physical successes the author mentions are despite, not due to, Tziyonim. There's a reason that (nearly) every single godol of the previous generation was opposed to "hakomas hamedina."
Ivrit is not Loshon HaKodesh, the language of Tanach. Ivrit was created by a self-hating Jew who hated nothing more than Judaism.
DeleteYou cannot be jailed in Israel for learning anything, much less Torah. This lie needs to stop. You deserve every bad thing that ever has happened or will happen to you. Disgusting people who pervert the words of Hashem and create their own gods and call them "Gedolim".
DeleteI think there is a typo in your comment Chosid. What you meant to say was this
DeleteThe Medina has accomplished the unique feat of bringing back the People of Israel who have been dispersed for thousands of years and through a mind-boggling variety of influences to once again have a sense of unity on a common territory, a common language and a greater than ever sense of responsibility for their fellow Jew - whatever their background. The Medina has created and supported more Torah learning than ever before and has again grounded in law special exemptions for Torah Study from army service. More Jews than ever before feel connected to their history and heritage due to compulsory Torah studies in all state-run schools.
It is also one of the only nations on earth where for sixty years parasites were allowed to evade their responsibilities to the rest of their people under the pretense that they were learning Torah 'for the sake of' the rest of their people. It is the only nation where Jews of all backgrounds (except one) fight together to protect and defend each other. It is the only nation on earth where Jews (of one kind) do all they can to avoid protecting other Jews (including risking jail time for draft dodging.
What good Hashem has done to the nation of Israel was responded to with the brachot of Yom HaAtzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim, and to the reciting of Haracham Hu Yevarech et Medinat Yisrael Reishit Tzmichat Geulateinu in Birkat Hamazon.
The physical successes perhaps represent Hashem's blessings, as alluded to in the second paragraph of the Shema and the poverty of the irresponsible haredim possibly represents the flip side of that particular coin. Thus, all intelligent Jews (including rabbis and gedolim) praise Hakamat Hamedina, whilst those whose power and position depend on freebies from the hand they have been biting for so long (ironically) despise the State of Israel. Their day will come.
Isn't that what you actually meant to say?
Chosid,
ReplyDeleteBeing a Chossid, I would bet that most Israelis know more Tanach than you.
Chilonim's knowledge of Tanach is worse than the Christians knowledge of it.
DeleteAnd both are better than any Charedi.
Deleteרב גולד,
ReplyDeleteיישר כח ששברת!
אברהם לייבלר
Chosid - "one can be jailed for the crime of learning Torah. " So untrue, so imbecilic to repeat the propaganda... nobody is being thrown into jail for any such 'crime' - what utter nonsense! There are thousands of Hesdernikim learning Torah day and night, who are able to also serve in the army, what do you call their learning? There is a little known unit in the army, where people learn and study Torah full time! Use your G-d given intelligence to work out the truth and don't just repeat the lies and false propaganda!
ReplyDeleteDear Rabbi Gold, as one who identifies as Chareidi, I must say that I believe this piece to be very much in line with the unfortunately visceral attacks which have become so commonplace these days.
ReplyDeleteFirst, allow me to quote the Navi: "Lo B'Ra'ash HaShem". If the HaModia or the picketers or whomever is raising a ruckus is not to your liking, that is fine (they are not to mine either - not that you need my backing) as they do not represent Yahadus / Godliness. It is in, says the Navi, the "Kol D'mama daka" that one may find the presence of God. The one lunatic or the many lunatics need not be reckoned with by the Chacham.
Next: There is no question that Hakamat HaMedina has brought with it myriad berachos and for those we must be grateful. You ask however, "If this is Galus, what does Geula look like?". That is a great question. It is answered by many (though I have only seen RamBa"m in print. The one answer that is not in classic Jewish sources is that the messianic era is characterized by fighting between brothers. That description was given by none other than Jesus (quoted by Matthew and Luke - so at least two of his disciples believed it). So this is definitely NOT the Geula.
Is HaModia wrong in it's grotesque terminology? I am pretty confident that they are very wrong. So until that point, I humbly submit my support of your statements and sentiments.
But then you go on to fight "the good fight". You insist that all those who don't say the Tefila L'Shlom HaM'dina are wrong. Same goes for those who don't add the MiShebeirach for Chayalaynu HaKedoshim. There are many (among whom, you will admit, are some people whose Psak you hold in highest esteem) who disagree with your Psak on that matter. The flag "in fact" is beautiful. Someone else once said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'll go with that guy. There are no "facts" about beauty (in a flag). You criticize - and in-so-doing incite others to criticize in even more colorful terms - the individuals who avail themselves of their democratic right to support from their government. Isn't that the beauty of democracy? Everyone has one voice to vote and then there is law and we abide by it. Until such time as the law changes, it is just as legal for a kollel Avreich to receive a government stipend as it is for you or me to pay income taxes. Then it gets worse. You suggest that whole communities should leave to Sudan or the Ukraine. That is not your decision to make. God gave all of us this land. Your disagreeing with the sentiment of others is no justification for your intolerance. If these people want to move, they will.
What I am getting at, here, is that you and so many others - in all camps: Chareidi, Dati Leumi, Chiloni, and gentile, have such a narrow vision of what is acceptable. One is required to think for oneself. One need not and indeed dare not make those decisions for others. For the vast majority of us Chareidim, Medinat Yisrael is a bracha for which we are constantly and eternally grateful. That same vast majority are very proactive contributors to the workforce and, to a lesser but extant degree, the army. We are tolerant of different view points, respectful of our religious-Zionist and secular neighbors, and humbled by the sacrifices made by many of our soldiers . The Chiloni community seems to also be willing to accept the differences between our groups and, encouragingly, they revel, as well, in the similarities. In my own freelanced research, I have seen the Dati Leumi community to hold themselves in the highest esteem as the "real" bearers of the torch. "We learn better - because we know what we are learning for"......"we have hesder so we are the proof that things are right in the army"......and on and on.
There is a difference between receiving one's legal right, and pushing legislation that undermines the country. No one is accusing you as an individual. However, the Charedi political leadership has no concerns regarding the solvency of the country nor the social cohesiveness of its people (which does not require drafting, but would require better than stalemating discussions on them matter). And while the Gedolim might justify name-calling like "amalek" in response to name-calling like "parasite" - the Jewish people deserve better leadership.
DeleteThere is no difference. Legal is legal. The country is quite stable economically. Who justifies name-calling? What makes a gadol if not greatness in character? If you believe these men are great, it behooves you to question them and realize that they would not and do not engage in name-calling...
DeleteThe Gemara in B'rachos relates that no one was willing to author Birchas HaMinim. They, of course, knew what it was to include. It was not for lack of scholarship that no one would pen the 19th bracha of the Amida. It took someone who was so confident in his Ahavat Yisrael to write something negative about his (evil? wayward? destructive?) brethren that they simply could not find a volunteer. At long last, Shmuel HaKatan said that he would. But the story doesn't end there. The Gemara (as of course, you know) says that Shmuel HaKatan was serving as the Shaliach Tzibbur when he could not remember the exact formulation of that Beracha. He waited and waited until he could get the exact words. Normally (especially at the time when heresy was rampant) one who errs in this bracha is disqualified from the post. But who would accuse the author of this fault? Further - why couldn't he ad-lib? The story teaches the heightened sensitivity required when considering the derision of others.
ReplyDeleteLet the HaModia learn to use discernment in its judgement of others and, perhaps more directly, its use of the written word. How dumb can they be so as to suggest that we are being exiled by our own brethren. We were exiled 2000 years ago because of these games; not now. That Galus isn't over.
Let the Dati Leumi community not feel so alienated by the Chareidi world (PS this divide is much more pronounced in the English speaking DL world; Merkaz HaRav et al has a lot less to say on the matter).
Let the Chilonim cling to us in our many stripes and colors as we cling to our Mesora for guidance and stability.
Let us all move together to share the prophecy of "Umal'a HaAretz Dei'a es HaShem".
Much Love,
Avi
This "Rabbi" gold urges love of all Jews. Where is his love for all Jews? He hates chardim.
ReplyDeleteIf he does not like what Hamodia holds, so who is asking him to read it.
BTW we not only in exile but the Erov Rav (this includes Bait Yehudie) are running the show.
The Torah say 4 out 5 did not leave Egypt. The redemption is very close and will be coppy of what happened in Egypt . Just take care "Rabbi" gold (and Raffi) that with Haskafot you are not left behind.
In the final Geula, all the Jews will be redeemed and none will be left behind.
DeleteYashar Koach R' Gold for speaking out, like Yehoshua bin Nun and Calev ben Yefuneh, against this modern-day cheit hameraglim.
ReplyDeleteReading these comments, the only one that I wholeheartedly 100% agree with is Yaak's comment. He said exactly what I truly believe, but only better. The establishment of the State was minHaShamayim, but as the GR'A foretold us that at the end of days, Israel will be run by the Erev Rav and, so it is. There has to be a coming together of the chareidim and other Torah Jews and unite and that will surely speed up our Geulah. The Erev Rav have aligned themselves with Eisav/Edom and even Yishmael. Unity of Torah Jews can override all the evil decrees.
ReplyDeleteThe ones that have aligned them with Yishmael wear black velvet hats and, occasionally, sackcloth.
ReplyDeleteAnd live in Meah Shearim and some parts of Brooklyn and ....
DeleteHate for non Haredim is nothing new -it is a policy, to quote rabbi Teitelbaum (satmer) “that even if a city had no wicked Jews, it would be worthwhile to pay some wicked Jews to come and live there so that the good Jews would have something to separate themselves from.”
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know, who here writes his comments, or for that matter lives out his life, with the belief that he is doing all he can to bring Mashiach?
ReplyDeleteJust because you believe you're right and they're wrong, that's reason enough to engender and perpetuate strife, and to prevent peace?
Think about it what's important.
I want to commend Yaak for his well-written response.
ReplyDeleteSZ Jessel
Rabbi Gold writes, "Hashem does not embrace His people by casting them into the worst golus of all. To say that, is a denial of Hashem's goodness, an ugly rejection of His benevolence, and shameful ingratitude." He then goes on to bring support for his position in the name of Rav Dessler.
ReplyDeleteBut, in fact, it was Rav Dessler who described the situation in Eretz Yisrael, in a 1951 talk in Ponevezh Yeshiva, as "the last test of Galus, the hardest test ever..." (Michtav Me'Eliyahu, Vol III, pp. 217-218.
SZ Jessel