tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134908822024-03-12T23:42:54.035-04:00Jews for ZionismTrue Torah Jews for Zionism, Aliyah, and Eretz YisraelJews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-47020606097434910762019-05-26T15:30:00.001-04:002019-06-02T07:01:32.936-04:00The Klausenberger Rebbe - Time for Bracha and Mass Aliyah<br />
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Admor_sitting_with_bekashe.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Yael Simon at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Admor sitting with bekashe" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Admor_sitting_with_bekashe.jpg/256px-Admor_sitting_with_bekashe.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
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Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam also known as the Klausenberger Rebbe or Rebbe of the Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidic dynasty, was born in the town of Rudnik Poland in 1905. He was a leader for thousands of followers in the town of Klausenberg, Romania before World War II. Unfortunately, his first wife and 11 children were murdered in the Holocaust. <br />
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After the terrible tragedies of WWII, he eventually settled (temporarily) in the United States where he rebuilt his community. <br />
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Rabbi Shlomo Riskin recalls the remarkable event he witnessed when he davened (prayed) with the Rebbe in the summer of 1952 when he was just 12 years old. On that particular Shabbos, it was the reading of the Tochecha - Rebuke. <br />
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Rabbi Riskin writes the following:<br />
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"In accordance with the custom, the Torah reader began to chant the Tochacha in a whisper. And unexpectedly, almost inaudibly but unmistakably, the Yiddish word “hecher” (louder) came from the direction of the lectern upon which the rebbe was leaning at the eastern wall of the shul.<br />
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The Torah reader stopped reading for a few moments; the congregants looked up from their Bibles in questioning and even mildly shocked silence. Could they have heard their rebbe correctly? Was he ordering the Torah reader to go against time-honored custom and chant the Tochacha out loud? The Torah reader continued to read in a whisper, apparently concluding that he had not heard what he thought he heard. And then the rebbe banged on his lectern, turned to face the stunned congregation and cried out in Yiddish, with a pained expression on his face and fire blazing in his eyes: “I said louder! Read these verses out loud! We have nothing to fear. <b><u>We’ve already experienced the curses. Let the Master of the Universe hear them. Let Him know that the curses have already befallen us, and let Him know that it’s time for Him to send the blessings!"</u></b><br />
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"The rebbe turned back to the wall, and the Torah reader continued slowly chanting the cantillation out loud.<br />
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"After Musaf, the rebbe rose to speak.<span style="background-color: #f7f7f5; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: "pt serif" , serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span>'My beloved brothers and sisters,' he said, 'Pack up your belongings. We must make one more move – hopefully the last one. <b>God promises that the blessings which must follow the curses will now come.</b> They will come – but not from America. <b><u>The blessings will only come from Israel. It is time for us to go home.'”</u></b><br />
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In 1960, the Rebbe moved to Israel with many members of his community. He established Kiryat Sanz neighborhood's in Netanya and Jerusalem. In 1974 he founded the Laniado Hospital in Netanya. He passed away on 9th of Tamuz 5754 - June 18, 1994 and was buried in Netanya, Israel.<br />
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Source: <a href="https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/nothing-to-fear-in-the-klausenberg-shul/">https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/nothing-to-fear-in-the-klausenberg-shul/</a></div>
Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-90415991488498741662019-05-13T10:07:00.000-04:002019-05-13T10:10:03.255-04:00Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk - Ohr Somayach on the Abolishment of the Three OathsAfter the Balfour Declaration, the leaders of the Mizrachi movement in Dvinsk asked<br />
Rabbi Simcha Meir, famously known as the Ohr Somayach, for a letter of support for the Keren HaYesod fund for Israel. The Rabbi immediately sat down and wrote a special letter of support for the Zionist establishment. (Printed in, Ha Tor, second publishing year, third edition) Among his<br />
many subsequent letters is the following:<br />
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"In this century, the rays of light shine forth with a great awakening through the<br />
channels of the great men of action such as Montefiore and those like him; and<br />
from the rabbis, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh (Kalisher) from Talyron, and Rabbi Eliahu<br />
(Guttmacher) from Gridetz, to build and to develop Jerusalem, and to remove its<br />
desolation, almost to the extent which the enthusiasts' (the nonreligious Zionists)<br />
have widened the cause. Many rabbis stood in opposition, and even many rabbis<br />
who praised the matter (Zionism) in their hearts, put their hands on their mouths, in<br />
fear of the enthusiasts' zeal, and in fear of the Three Oaths which Hashem made the<br />
daughter of Jerusalem swear. (The "Three Oaths" which Hashem made Israel to<br />
swear when it went into exile are: Not to rebel against the nations of the world; Not<br />
to hasten the End; and Not to go up to Israel like a wall (Ketubot 111A.)) Now,<br />
however, Divine providence has brought together the League of intelligent Nations<br />
in San Remo, and a dictate was established that the Land of Israel shall be for the<br />
Jewish people. Since the fear of the Oaths has been removed with the permission<br />
of the nations, the mitzvah of settling the Land of Israel arises, a mitzvah equal to<br />
all of the other precepts in the Torah, and this mitzvah returns to its place. It is a<br />
mitzvah on everyone to help with all of their power to observe this mitzvah, and if<br />
Hashem, may His Name be blessed, will allow this to come about, and if the matter<br />
will increase and expand, then surely it is a matter which stands at the zenith of the<br />
universe."</blockquote>
Source: HaKetufah HaGedolah, Pg.174, HaRav Menachem Mendel Kasher<br />
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Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-70047395732840424722014-05-20T16:31:00.000-04:002014-05-21T02:21:31.044-04:00Yechezkel HaNavi - Ezekiel the Prophet<blockquote>
But you O mountains of Israel, will give forth your branch and bear your fruit for My people Israel, for they are soon to come. For behold, I am with you; and I will turn to you, and you will be tilled and you will be sown. I will make people numerous upon you, the entire House of Israel, all of it; the cities will be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt. I will multiply man and animal upon you, and they will multiply and be fruitful; I will make you inhabited as in your earlier times, and I will make it better than it was at your beginning; then you will know that I am Hashem. I will cause man to walk upon you - My people Israel - and they will inherit you. Then you will be theirs for a possession, and you will no longer be bereaved of them. - Yechezkel 36:8-12</blockquote>
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Rav Abba:<br />
<i>There is no clearer End [of Days] than this: "But you O mountains of Israel, will give forth your branch and bear your fruit for My people Israel, for they are soon to come."</i><br />
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Rashi:<br />
<i>When Eretz Yisrael gives forth its fruits in abundance, the End will be near, and there is no clearer sign of the End of Days. </i><br />
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How zocheh are we that we live in the times when we get to witness the words of Yechezkel HaNavi being fulfilled. We see with our own very eyes how the Land is yielding its fruits in over abundance. For thousands of years the Land remained desolate and now that the Jews have returned the Land has once again come alive. What is truly shocking is how people could look straight at the Land and deny the words of Yechezkel HaNavi. If we arent supposed to be living in this Land at this time then why is it bearing its fruits?<br />
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Both Rav Abba and Rashi state very clearly that when Eretz Yisrael gives forth its fruits "<i>there is no clearer sign of the End of Days". </i>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-69404669443099841312014-05-15T14:54:00.000-04:002019-05-19T04:44:29.519-04:00Zionism Is Not The Cause Of Anti-Semitism<b id="internal-source-marker_0.19239701190963387" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.19239701190963387" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The thought that Zionism is responsible for the current conflict between Jews and Arabs and the reason why there is instability and a lack of peace in the world is ridiculous. Unfortunately, ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionist have successfully convinced thousands of people around the world that Zionism is responsible for modern day anti-Semitism. The anti-zionist have written articles upon articles on the issue, have blogs, websites, and even created Youtube videos to educate the masses about the evils of Zionsim. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are two popular videos on Youtube of members of the Neturei Karta telling people that before Zionism Jews and Muslim Arabs got along very well together. They attended each other’s celebrations and took care of each other’s childrens etc... But all that peace and harmony came to a tragic end with the rise of Zionism. </span></b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vqBJTBIUtM8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most tragic events that occurred in the Land of Israel over the last 100 years was the 1929 Hebron massacre where barbaric Muslim Arabs slaughtered 67 members of the Hebron Jewish community. Many people, including the Ultra-Orthodox put the blame on the rise of Zionism. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it really fair to blame Zionism for turning Muslim Arabs into barbaric savages? Does that really make any sense? </span></span><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jews living in Hebron at the time werent even Zionists and even if they were can one really justify the slaughter of 67 men, women, and children and blame Zionism? Am I missing something here? To suggest that Zionism is responsible for barbaric Islamic behaviour is preposterous!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me provide you with three points as to why the Neturei Karta, Satmar, and other anti-Zionists fanatics are wrong for blaming the past and current episodes of Arab (and the world) hostility towards Jews on Zionism. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I. Anti-Semitism preceded Zionism by centuries</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its fascinating and frustrating how anti-zionist blame anti-semitism on Zionism. Anti-Semitism has been around for thousands of years. Thousands of Jews were massacred during both the First and Second Crusades. Tens of thousands of Jews were either forced to convert to Christianity or were tortured to death and slaughtered during the Spanish Inquisition. </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tens of thousands of Jews were massacred during the Khmelnytsky Uprising in 1648. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what about the treatment of Jews in Arab lands? While the Jews faired off better in Arab lands than they did in Europe they were by no means free from persecutions and massacres. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 627 after Jews rejected Muhamed, his followers massaced 900 men. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banu_Qurayza" target="_blank"><i>wikipedia</i> </a></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1033 and 1465 Fez Massacres</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1033, the forces of Prince Abu-Alquemal Tamim, part of the Ifranid dynasty, perpetrated a massacre of Jews in Fez, Morocco following their conquest and plunder of the city. The Prince's forces killed over six thousand Jews, appropriated their belongings, and captured the Jewish women of the city. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1033_Fez_pogrom"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1033_Fez_pogrom</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1465 another massacre took place resulting in the slaughter of thousands of Jews leaving only 11 alive. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1066 Granada massacre</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On December 30, 1066, a Muslim mob stormed the royal palace inGranada, which was at that time in Muslim-ruled al-Andalus, assassinated the Jewish vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela and massacred many of the Berber Jewish population of the city. - </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1066_Granada_massacre"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wikipedia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1107: Forced conversion of all Jews in Morocco</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1165: Mass conversions in Yemen</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1333: forced mass conversions in Baghdad</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jews were massacred throughout Arab lands from the 6th century all the way to the 19th century. Decrees were ordered for the destruction of Synagogues in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, and Baghdad throughout the centuries. Jews were forced to wear special articles of clothing such as yellow badges or different colored turbans to seperate them from Muslims in Morocco and Baghdad. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the early 19th century, the Jews of Morocco were forced to live in Ghettos called </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mellahs. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jews were forced to walk barefoot outside this ghetto. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellah"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellah</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The list goes on and on. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a complete list of Anti-Semitism see this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_antisemitism" target="_blank">article</a>: </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a thorough coverage on the topic of the treatment of Jews in Arab lands click <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Jews_in_Arab_lands_(gen).html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Treatment of Jews in Palestine</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point its important to discuss the treatment of Jews in Palestine before the onset of Zionism. Poor treatment of the Jews of Palestine didn’t begin in the late 1800s or early 1900s as a result of the rise of Zionism, it actually predates Zionism by 400 years. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the late 15th century a pilgrim in Jerusalem wrote:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Muslims know that the Jews think and even say that this is the Holy Land which has been promised to them and that thos Jews who dwell there are regarded as holy by Jews elsewhere, because i</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">n spite of all the troubles and sorrows inflicted on them by the Muslim</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, they refuse to leave the land. (1)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the 16th Century the Jews of Tsfat (Safed) and Jerusalem were constantly persecuted. The Sultan of the time Murad III decreed that all Jews be executed. Althought the decree was never fulfilled the Jews were still subject to constant persecution. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1625, the Jews of Jerusalem were persecuted mercilessly:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It was not unusual, when the countryside suffered a drought for the Muslim mob to attack “Jewish sinners who drank wine and thus caused the rains to stop!” To buy off the attackers, Jews had to borrow money from rich Muslims at compound interest, under threats of further attacks if they failed to repay.” (2)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1660 the entire Jewish community of Tsfat (Safed) was massacred as Arab muslims destroyed the town. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the next hundred years the Jews of Palestine continued to suffer harrasment and constant persecution. In 1775 a blood libel spread throughout Hebron resulting in violent mob attacks by the local muslim arabs. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even the Christians suffered tremendously at the hands of the Muslim Arabs. In the early 1800s, the Christians of Ramla were slaughtered by the gangs of Muhammed Djezzer aka The Butcher:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Even as late as 1801 Djezzer sent troops to destroy the standing crops in the environs of Nazerath. Ramle, however, bore the brunt of the Muslim wrath. During the three days of pillage, the local Latin Christians were either murdered, or lost all their property and fled.” (Dr. John Martin Augustus Scholz, Travels 1821, as seen in From Time Immemorial pg 180)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1834, forty thousand Muslims attacked Jerusalem. “The mob entered and looted the city for five or six days. The Jews were the worst of sufferers, their homes were sacked and their women violated.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1837, as a result of an earthquake that hit Tzfat, the surviving Muslims took out their rage on the Jewish quarter. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Blood Libel of 1840 resulted in the persecution and murder of Jews throughout Palestine by Muslim Arabs. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1839, British Consul Young reported: </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Scarecely a day passes that I do not hear of some act of Tyranny and oppression against the Jew - chiefly by the [Turkish] soldiers, who enter their Houses and borrow whatever they require without asking any permission-sometimes they return the article, but more frequently not. Like the miserable dog without an owner he is kicked by one because he crosses his path and cuffed by another because he cries out.” (Wm. T. Young to Viscount Palmerston, Jerusalem, 1839)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1847 a traveller to Palestine reported: </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They do not have any protection and are at the mercy of policemen and the pashas who treat them as they wish.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1858 a Muslim in Hebron commented after theft and vandalism of Jews and their property that it is “his right from time immemorial in his family to enter Jewish houses, and take toll or contributions at any time without giving account.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next several decades from 1848 - 1878 The Jews of Palestine including the Jews of Hebron were subjected to constant anti-semitism, opression and persecution. All these anti-semetic attacks were thoroughly documented by the British Consulate in Jerusalem. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just like the list of attrocities against Jews in Arab lands, the list of poor treatment of Jews in Palestine goes on and on. Suggesting that Zionism is responsible for anti-semitism and violence against Jews shows a clear lack of knowledge of Jewish history. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bottom line is that Muslim Arabs simply do not need an excuse for killing or persecuting Jews. Its been happening for centuries. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">II. Zionism was founded because of anti-semitism</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is well known amongst knowledgeable historians that one of the main reasons for the birth of modern Zionism as a political movement was a response to modern day anti-semitism. It was believed that the only way for the Jewish people to be able to live freely as a people would be in their own homeland under their own control. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following is an excerpt of Theodor Herzl’s “A solution of the Jewish Question:”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Two phenomena arrest our attention by reason of the consequences with which they are fraught. One, the high culture, the other, the profound barbarism of our day. I have intentionally put this statement in the form of a paradox. By high culture, I mean the marvellous development of all mechanical contrivances for making the forces of nature serve man’s purpose. By profound barbarism, I mean anti-Semitism. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The Jewish Question still exists. It would be foolish to deny it. It exists wherever Jews live in perceptible numbers. Where it does not yet exist, it will be brought by Jews in the course of their migrations. We naturally move to those place where we are not persecuted, and there our presence soon produces persecution. This is true in every country, and will remain true even in the most highly civilised - France itself is no exception- till the Jewish Question finds a solution on a political basis. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The force we need is created in us by anti-Semitism. Some people will say that what I am doing is to kindle anti-Semitism afresh. This is not true, for anti-Semitism would continue to increase irrespective of my project, so long as the cause of its growth are not removed. “ - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Solution of the Jewish Question. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jewish Chornicle, January 17, 1896 as seen in “The Jew in the Modern World”, Mendes-Flohr and Reinharz pgs 420-422.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">III. Jihad and Radical Islam </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Radical Islam and Jihad versus Western entities has absolutely nothing to do with Zionism. This is a perfect example of the phrase: “A lie told often enough becomes truth.” As mentioned above persecution of the Jews in Palestine existed for centuries before the rise of Zionism. Muslim hatred of the Jews has even existed since the beginning of Islam. The following is an excerpt of Muhammad's writings called The Hadith:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews , when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdullah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (a certain kind of tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Palestinian television Dr. Muhammed Madi stated the following in March 2001:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This Hadith clarifies to us the characteristics of the campaign between us and the Jews. The tree and the rock do not say 'Oh, Palestinian', 'Oh Arab', or 'Oh resident of the Middle East'. Rather they say: 'Oh, Moslem, Servant of Allah'"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(as seen in http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/jerusalem/jerusalem42.htm)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its interesting to note that the tree and rock also do not say “there is a Zionist behind me, come and kill him” but rather it states “there is a Jew behind me...” </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the below video and hear for yourself.</span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kDoV8ZL9Xkc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is very clear from the above statements that hatred towards Jews has very little to do with Zionism. Just doing research on the overall attitude of Islam towards Judiasm would reveal that this negative sentiment has existed for thousands of years. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its important to note at this point that radical Islam also harbors animosity towards western entities primarily America. While people often point the finger at America’s support for the State of Israel as the number one reason for the ongoing conflict between the West and radical Islam the fact is its the Western presence in the Middle East that is the cause for these conflicts. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following is a quote from Osama bin Laden prior to the 9/11 attacks:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For more than seven years the United States is occupying the lands of Islam in the holiest of its territories, Arabia, plundering its riches, overwhelming its rulers, humiliating its people, threatening its neighbors, and using its bases in the peninsula as a spearhead to fight against the neighboring Islamic peoples.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The ruling is to kill the Americans and their allies is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it, in order to liberate the Al Aqsa mosque [Jerusalem] and the Holy Mosque [Mecca]... This is in accordance with the words of Almighty God...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We call on every Muslim who believes in God and wished to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its important to notice that Osama bin Laden is reflecting the overall Islamic attitude towards America and Israel. Its not about Zionism or America’s support for it but rather its about the struggle between Islam and the West. Between Islam and Judiasm. Its about the Jewish and Western presence in what they consider should be an Islamic Middle East. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furthermore, take a look at all the conflicts going on around the world today. Most of the conflicts today involve radical Muslims. Churches are bombed, woman are raped, men are slaughtered. </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately this is an ongoing theme involving radical Islam and has absolutely nothing to do with Zionism. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) </span></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin Kabtanik, J<i>ourney to Jerusalem</i> 1491 as seen in <i>From Time Immemorial</i> by Joan Peters page 176</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) A.Y. Brawer, Haaretz, 1929, page 169 as seen in From Time Immemorial pg. 178</span></b>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-52211658432930553452014-05-04T18:32:00.000-04:002014-05-04T18:32:31.536-04:00Rabbi Yisroel Zev Gustman and Yom Hazikaron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The following excerpt is from Aish.com article titled "<a href="http://www.aish.com/h/imd/48961346.html" target="_blank">The Rabbi and the Professor - A True Story of Israel Remembrance Day</a>"<br />
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The year was 1982. Once again, Israel was at war. Soldiers were mobilized, reserve units activated. Among those called to duty was a Reserves soldier, a university student who made his living as a high school teacher: Shlomo Aumann, Professor Yisrael Aumann's son.<br />
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On the eve of the 19th of Sivan, in particularly fierce combat, Shlomo fell in battle. Rav Gustman mobilized his yeshiva: All of his students joined him in performing the mitzvah of burying the dead.<br />
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At the cemetery, Rav Gustman was agitated: He surveyed the rows of graves of the young men, soldiers who died defending the Land. On the way back from the cemetery, Rav Gustman turned to another passenger in the car and said, "They are all holy." Another passenger questioned the rabbi: "Even the non-religious soldiers?" Rav Gustman replied: "Every single one of them." He then turned to the driver and said, "Take me to Professor Aumann's home."<br />
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The family had just returned from the cemetery and would now begin the week of shiva -- mourning for their son, brother, husband and father. (Shlomo was married and had one child. His widow, Shlomit, gave birth to their second daughter shortly after he was killed.) Rav Gustman entered and asked to sit next to Professor Aumann, who said: "Rabbi, I so appreciate your coming to the cemetery, but now is time for you to return to your Yeshiva."<br />
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Rav Gustman spoke, first in Yiddish and then in Hebrew, so that all those assembled would understand: "I am sure that you don't know this, but I had a son named Meir. He was a beautiful child. He was taken from my arms and executed. I escaped. I later bartered my child's shoes so that we would have food, but I was never able to eat the food -- I gave it away to others. My Meir is a kadosh -- he is holy -- he and all the six million who perished are holy."<br />
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Rav Gustman then added: "I will tell you what is transpiring now in the World of Truth in Gan Eden -- in Heaven. My Meir is welcoming your Shlomo into the minyan and is saying to him ‘I died because I am a Jew -- but I wasn't able to save anyone else. But you -- Shlomo, you died defending the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.' My Meir is a kadosh, he is holy -- but your Shlomo is a Shaliach Zibbur – a Cantor in that holy, heavenly minyan."<br />
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<br />Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1119455084891844142013-06-02T16:39:00.000-04:002013-07-08T04:08:50.742-04:00Welcome to Jews for Zionism<blockquote>
<i>"In redeeming the Land, the beginning must come from us, and Hashem will finish the rest. It is of prime importance to devote ourselves to this, since the satan works hard even on the greatest tzaddikim to oppose this work."</i> - <i>Rabbi Eliyahu Gutmacher of Greiditz (Nefesh Chaya)</i>[1]</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The love for Zion and the strong desire to return to the Holy Land of Israel has existed for thousands of years amongst the greatest <i>gedollim</i> (Sages) in history. Unfortunately over the last hundred years, as a result of the rise of secular Zionism, the ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionists have severely downplayed the great <i>mitzvah</i> (commandment) of <i>Yishuv Eretz Yisrael </i>(settling the Land of Israel). Nowadays, even after thousands of Jews have returned to their homeland, Jerusalem is being rebuilt, Torah is flourishing, and great miracles have occured and continue to occur, anti-Zionists, through publishing books and creating websites, continue in their campaign to delegitimize religious Zionism and dismiss miracles and wonders performed by G-d as the work of the <i>Satan.</i><br />
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In response to those who refuse to recognize G-ds hand in the recent miracles and wonders of the Land of Israel as stated above, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, the author <i>M'chtav M'Eliyahu, </i>wrote in 1948: "Is this the ordinary course of events? Is this natural? Woe to him who will reach the Judgment Day still oblivious to this obvious reality!"<br />
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Unfortunately the internet is full of anti-Zionist websites. One such website called jewsagainstzionism.com offers a comprehensive list of true Torah Jews - Gedolei Yisrael – who have rejected Zionism entirely. This website is full of distortions and half truths. Many of the quotes of the gedollim especially, the Chazon Ish, Or Sameach, and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld were either taken out of context, distorted, or completely fabricated. It is a well known fact that Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was not only very supportive of mass religious Aliyah but he actively encouraged it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">As a result, JewsforZion.com has been created. The purpose of this site is two fold. One, to show what true Torah Jews really thought about Zionism, Aliyah, and Eretz Yisrael. We have done and continue to do extensive research, interviews, etc... to collect information on gedollim who have supported aliyah and Yishuv Eretz Yisrael throughout history in order to present their perspectives on this site. And two, to provide articles discussing how the Three Oaths no longer apply and the creation of the modern State of Israel is in fact not a sin but rather a gift from the Almighty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">For starters, please take a look at the list of <a href="http://jewsforzion.blogspot.com/2006/06/gedolim-you-wont-read-about-on.html">True Torah Jews you won't find on jewsagainstzionism.com </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Please Note: This site is constantly being updated and it may be awhile before its complete.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-28993358196480524272013-05-02T17:44:00.000-04:002013-05-02T17:44:38.729-04:00Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin - The Netziv of Volozhin <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"We already demonstrated our Sages' opinion that as long as G-d's curse of desolation does not pervade our Land, the Blessed One want the land to be settled by His nation Israel...<br />
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"Behold, the sound of our Beloved, the Holy One Blessed be He, is presently upon us. After all, we see several causes emanating from the blessed Cause of all Causes, [indicating] that He wants the dispersed of Israel to settle the Land, little by little. He, therefore, swayed the hearts of the king - the Kaiser, may his glor increase - and his ministers to allow [the Jews] to create a committee and an organization to collect funds to support our brethren, the farmers and artisans of Eretz Yisrael and Syria...<br />
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"<b>This is a sign that Hashem wants to establish a settlement of Jews in our Holy Land. </b>We must, therefore, arouse and evoke a spirit of love for the Land and fulfill G-d's desire in any way it happens to present itself... Thus, at a time like this when we see how Hashem has aroused the hear of the generous one [i.e. Baron Rothschild] to do wondrous things for the sake of the Yishuv, persuading the Sultan and his ministers to content, these signs are His very words, as it says, <i>They placed among them the words of His signs (Tehillim 105:27). </i><b>And we must not be overly wise and say that it has to happen in a different way...</b>(1)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(1) Shivat Tzion section 1, pages 17-18, as seen in <i>Rise from the Dust, </i>pages 62-63. Translated by R. Moshe Lichtman of the original Hebrew version <i>MeAfar Kumi</i> by Tzvi Glatt Hy"d.</span><br />
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<br />Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1148617108094308982012-08-16T16:10:00.001-04:002022-06-27T03:16:31.896-04:00Chazon Ish on The State of Israel<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The article below has been reprinted in its entirety from the 1979 TRADITION: A Journal of Orthodox Thought with written permission from R. Zvi Yehuda the author of the article.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAZON ISH ON THE FUTURE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(From a letter responding to a question</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on Hazon Ish's attitude to the State of Israel.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">". . . Your second question concerns the Hazon Ish's perception of the State of Israel and its future. The style of your question implies that Hazon Ish, so to say, "predicted" the impending destruction of the State of Israel in the near future: You just want to know the precise date: When is it going, God forbid, to happen?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Let me make it perfectly clear from the onset: Hazon Ish never said such an ominous thing, nor was he the kind of person to do so. Based on my intimate closeness to Hazon Ish at the time, I am in the position to deny categorically such a libelous and disastrous rumor. Hazon Ish was the paradigm of a halakhist; he never assumed the role of prophet or soothsayer. In fact, he disdained any pretense of "heavenly" gifts and metaphysical knowledge. All claims to the contrary notwithstanding, the highly hailed "wondrous" acts of Hazon Ish only demonstrate his authentic and ingenious way of viewing and applying to all aspects of reality, exclusively and phenomenally, the rules and norms of Halakhah. Halakhah is concerned with human duties and responsibilities - "ma hovato shel adam be-olamo" -not with hazy and fanciful speculations on Divine plans: What God is going to do and exactly when-Halakhah does not engage in predictions about the fate or future of historical events, institutions or States (not even of Israel).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Nor was the great sage Hazon Ish (and claims to the contrary by partisan ideologians notwithstanding) imbued with any negative or hostile attitude to the State of Israel. He genuinely loved Jews and welcomed indeed anything that may save their lives or improve their lot. The current "oral tradition" circulated within some yeshiva (or "kollel" ) coteries, that Hazon Ish was against the State, and even proclaimed its doom and decreed its fall within a prescribed span of time, is no more than a vicious lie - perpetrated by the zealots through a deliberate distortion, and received by the naive on the basis of an unfortunate misunderstanding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Let me therefore state the facts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Soon after the establishment of the State of Israel, there were many discussions among various rabbis and authorities as to the proper theological response and halakhic stance to this renewed state of Jewish independence in the holy land. One of the overt issues was the celebration of Yom Haatzmaut and the recitation of Hallel, with or without a berakhah. It is well known that the Chief Rabbinate and other- rabbis close to the Zionist ideology were very enthusiastic about recognizing the State of Israel as the opening of the Messianic Era, "the beginning of redemption," and strongly felt that a new holiday should be added to the Jewish calendar, which officially was already done by the government on a secular level, to be celebrated in a religious manner, with thanksgiving to God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"On the other hand, the majority of the rabbis and roshei yeshivot did not accept this position. Some were hesitant, some reluctant, some opposed, and some - extremists and anti-Zionists - openly attacked the idea and reality of the State as an infringement upon and impediment to the traditional messianic conception and expectation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What about the position of Hazon Ish?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is a well known fact that Hazon Ish, who continued to live only five years after Israel's independence, did not go along with the idea of Yom HaatZmaut. In this respect, he, like most rabbis of his day, did not join the decision of the Chief Rabbinate. Nor did he publish or say (to my knowledge) anything degrading against those who did follow that decision.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Contrary to the new myth now emerging and circulating, remodeling his image and reclaiming him to a narrow camp of State negators, Hazon Ish was neither antagonistic to the State nor opposed to its hailers. He was very positive and hopeful about the presence and prospect of the State and encouraged any way of supporting and upholding it. Nonetheless, he was not yet ready - soon after the declaration of independence, under a fierce war, harsh conditions and hazardous borders - for this revolutionary move (halakhically) of instituting a new holiday, enacting changes in ritual and liturgy, affecting the customary gloomy mood of the Sefira season, eliminating Tahanun, permitting haircuts and weddings, and requiring the saying of Hallel. To all this he then said no.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"At this time I wondered why. During this exciting and critical period of the establishment of the State and the War of Independence, I was very close to him; and we discussed the issues thoroughly. He was then my only teacher, and I was then totally immersed with a pervasive conviction that the realization of the State is a glorious Divine sign opening a new era of greatness and dignity for the Jewish people, and I yearned to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. I asked my teacher, eagerly and point-blank, why he disagreed. In his usual manner, he gave me a precise, illuminating answer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish's answer comprises two complementary points, each in itself significant, none of which can be fully appreciated without the other.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halakhic Authority</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In principal, apcording to Halakhah, we certainly do have the authority to establish a day of joy and Hallel for a saving event of this magnitude. Moreover, if we appreciate the event as such, we have a duty to do so Hazon Ish was very specific and explicit in emphasizing that there are no `technical' objections to it, on the ground of the restriction of tradition or the inadequacy of our rabbinic authority.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is only with regard to fast days, fixing them for posterity, that Halakhah poses fundamental restraints. (That is why Hazon Ish was also against instituting an official mourning day to commemorate the Holocaust.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"As far as our inherent halakhic duty to express, properly and publicly, our gratitude to God for His redemptive providence, in ritual and liturgic ways, as enactment for future generations, we have both the right and authority to do so. Now what about our response to the State?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish felt that Yom Haatzmaut is considered by its upholders not as a regular thanksgiving day for a specific redemptive event, but as pregnant with definite messianic meaning: as a day which heralds and constitutes an element of the Messianic Era. This is the core of the problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish was very alarmed by undue messianic overtones. In line with the rabbinic trend, fostered and confirmed by the calamities of false messionism during the ages (especially the Sabbateanism of the 17th century), he feared and fought hasty and unqualified messianic fervor and indulgence. Historical reality, insisted Hazon Ish, must be assessed with clarity and objectivity, not with blind and willful passion. Divine promises are His domain. Divine demands are ours. Our duty must not be affected by our reliance on His promises but must express our compliance with His demands. For example: There is a Divine promise that on the Sixth year of the Sabbatical cycle, God will provide a special blessing of bounty to suffice for the Seventh (Lev. 25:20-22). Nevertheless, this blessing promised by God is of no concern for the halakhist, who must make his decisions concerning the feasibility of conducting Sheviit purely on mundane economic calculations without any reliance on any supernatural factors, even when promised by God. If the natural conditions, seen by human eyes and understood by human reason, are not conducive to the fulfillment of the Sabbatical law, we must not rely on any miracle, even if it was Divinely promised (cf., his work on Sheviit, 18:4). We are not privy to the inscrutable domain of prophetic promises, nor of the nature of their fulfillment. Our only way of evaluating reality is with cold and bold objectivity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Concerning Yom Haatzmaut, is it the beginning of messianic fulfillment or not? Here too, insisted Hazon Ish, we must apply hard and cautious examination It all hinges on the way we perceive and sense the State, its historical significance and endurability for generations to come, in political, realistic terms, without being influenced one way or another by prophetic or messianic terminology. Halakhah must consider only the obvious, not the mysterious. The mysteries belong to God; we deal only with what is revealed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thus we examine the meaning of the State of Israel by halakhic categories: Is it really, from the point of view of our limited human judgment, the beginning of redemption? Is it certainly and clearly a positive, constructive redemptive act?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" `Time will tell.' This is the gist of Hazon Ish's response, that by malice or stupidity (or both) is now distorted and repeated as if it were a terrible pronouncement of doom. Here are the words of the great sage, the way I heard them myself from his holy mouth. They constitute the second point of his overall reply:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historical Evaluation</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is impossible to properly evaluate a great historical event, while we are still very much a part of it. We need the advantage and vantage of time and the benefit of its perspective." So claimed Hazon Ish with his typical humility and remarkable insight. Who knows, mused he with grave trepidation and deep concern, what may transpire after such an unprecedented, revolutionary stage in the long history of Jewish dispersion and suffering. We are still amidst this revolution; within war and conflict. We still pay with tears and blood, with heroic victims and bereft survivors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish pointed out that political, economic and international situation is not yet closer (it was then around 1950) : The recognition of the State is not yet settled; its borders insecure, and not yet finally delineated; its wars not yet over; its relations with its neighbors not yet resolved. In short, with all our joy and hope, we must be somberly aware that the present is still fulll of hazard and complexity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Objectively - and only objectively, not emotionally is the way the pure halakhist must respond, insisted Hazon Ish - it is very possible that the declaration of independence, we are at this moment so deeply moved to celebrate., may be just that: a declaration. In theory, we must admit, it is quite possible that after a few years we may, in tragedy and horrible disappointment, lose this independence and things will turn back the way they were, if not worse. Even while we hope and pray for the best, we must always be apprehensive and ready for the worst. We must never react to historical events euphorically or rashly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is premature today, said the sage, to posit any official rabbinic position, theological or halakhic, on the validity, meaning and significance of the State of Israel. At this moment, there is no point in establishing a holiday and requiring the recitation of Hallel. When, then, will this be possible? Only after a decade or two may we be able to tell. Then, we hope, the wars will be over, peace achieved, the borders enlarged and secured, prosperity prevail, and the State recognized by all as an unshakable fact, unquestionable sovereignty. Meanwhile, we must wait and see, pray for redemption, but also be prepared for any other eventuality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish, contrary to current claims, did not "predict" nor "proclaim" any destruction of the State. He ardently prayed for its success and continued growth. But, clear-minded and cautious as he was, he felt we must give the State some time to prove its firmness and endurability. Like good and clear wine, historical events too must undergo distillation; let the ferment calm down, and the wine emerge in its clarity and potency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We must never be oblivious to disastrous possibilities inherent in any new "birth" in history. Even with regard to the birth of a new human baby, Halakhah recognizes a month period of "waiting," to make sure the infant is not a "nefel" (a premature "failure") . For the birth of the State, however, Hazon Ish allotted a reasonable waiting period of a decade or two, not in antagonistic anticipation of its disintegration, but rather with tender and fervent prayers and yearnings for its sure and safe continuity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish did not live to see his dream come true: the constant growth and progress of the State of Israel during its crucial formative three decades. Hazon Ish did not live to witness the glorious victory of the Six-Day War, nor the miraculous liberation and unification of Jerusalem. I can only imagine his exuberant joy. Would he have then changed his mind about Yom Haatzmaut and Hallel? Probably not. With the increased wisdom of his old age, I surmise, he would have still postponed his final decision. He would have still waited for complete peace, security, for cessation of bloodshed and danger - for which we are still yearning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But one thing is perfectly clear: The State of Israel successfully passed the halakhic test of Hazon Ish. It is thriving and approaching, with renewed vigor and faith, its fourth decade It is an incontestable reality. And with trembling supplication in our hearts, we feel confident that with God's help, it will remain so forever, until the coming of Messiah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Now that the State did survive the period of "waiting" assigned to it by Hazon Ish, his initial, incisive diagnosis is still valid. We must always be alert; we must constantly face historical reality with both open eyes to see the dangers and an open heart to appreciate the unfolding redemptive possibilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hazon Ish often said to me that we need not indulge in defining the era of redemption nor its exact "beginning." If this is not included in the prohibitive category of hishuv haketz (eschatological calculation), it is certainly a waste of time. Since the commencement of Galut, and throughout our heroic journey on the road of the messianic `Two Millennia' (AZ 9b), each and every day is a new "beginning" of redemption, leading and bringing us closer to it. Now, as far as the era of redemption itself, all definitions and theories are futile. If our eyes are open, our hearts beating, and our minds alert, when the great day will come - we will know."</span>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-34134293226744095892012-08-12T16:52:00.000-04:002012-08-19T16:57:13.596-04:00Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin 1888-1978
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Harav Shlomo Yosef Zevin was the author of <i>HaMoadim b’Halacha - The Festivals in Halacha. </i>His tremendous work was translated into English and published by Artscroll.</div>
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Unfortunately the English version of his work left out a very key section of the Hebrew version related to the establishment of the State of Israel.</div>
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Here is the excerpt from <i>HaMoadim b'Halacha:</i></div>
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כתבו הפוסקים: חורבנן של ערי יהודה הוא, שעכו”ם מושלים עליהן. (בית יוסף, ב”ח ,ט”ז ומגן-אברהם שם). מסתבר, שעם שיחרורן של ערי יהודה משלטון נכרים והקמת מדינת ישראל (<span class="s1"><b>אשרינו שזכינו לכך</b></span>!) בטל דין הקריעה על אותן הערים.</div>
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</b>Volume II page 542. Jerusalem תשמ</div>
<br />Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-86258938107576675072012-06-18T16:15:00.001-04:002012-06-18T16:18:16.317-04:00Rabbi Aryeh Levine - Tzaddik of Jerusalem (1885-1969)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The sections below are excerpts from Simcha Raz's book titled "A Tzaddik In Our Time" published by Feldheim</span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.49804526357911527" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the six day war, one of the deputy mayors of Jerusalem met him in the street. Reb Aryeh took his hand and murmured, “Hayenu K’Cholmim, Hayenu K’Cholmim” - (“We were like those who dream, we were like those who dream”). “It is characteristic of a dream,” Reb Aryeh continued, “that in a few brief moments a man can see events occurring over a long period. It is just so right now. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the time of our redemption. Here lies the mystic root of the redemption. we have seen the events of the redemption, the hopes of generations, coming true before our eyes in this brief time of six days.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is what R. Yehuda HaLevi meant when he said ‘The rescuing help of the Lord comes in the twinkling of an eye.’ Yes, we have certainly been like those who dream.” </span>(</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">pg 368)</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a ride to Hevron he began pleading anew with the people who accompanied him: “Please take me to Gush Etzion (the religious settlement which had been wiped out in the 1948 War of Independance and returned after the Six day war.). I must see the new settlers there. I will bless them and take a blessing from them.” … “This visit will give me strength and energy. Blessed be the G-d who establishes the boundary of the widow” (referring to Zion that was left forsaken for so many years.) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(pg. 370)</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Our entire generation is meritorious for it has beheld more than the generations before us ever witnessed, even the generation of Moshe our Master</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. All the miracles that were wrought for Moshe, and for the generations after him were unnatural occurrences. The miracles in our generation happen for us in a perfectly ‘natural’ way...” </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;">(</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pg 371)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Source: A Tzaddik In Our Time - by Simcha Raz. Translated into English by Charles Wengrov titled Ish Tzaddik Haya; Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publications; 1976</span></span></div>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-72241967697065754412012-05-10T16:38:00.000-04:002019-05-14T03:12:41.309-04:00Jews Against Zionism (TrueTorahJews) on Theodor Herzl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jews Against Zionism (now called TrueTorahJews) believe that they are disclosing the truth about Theodor Hertzel by revealing the following:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">While Herzl claimed that the establishment of a "Jewish" state would cure anti-Semitism, he also promoted anti-Semitism to further his cause.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Herzl stated in his diary</span><br />
“So anti-Semitism, which is a deeply imbedded force in the subconscious mind of the masses, will not harm the Jews. I actually find it to be advantageous to building the Jewish character, education by the masses that will lead to assimilation. This education can only happen through suffering, and the Jews will adapt. ”. (From his Diary, Part I, pp. 68)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">While it </span><u style="line-height: 14px;">is</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> true that Herzl made such a statement, the question is when he made it</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. Hertzel initially believed that the only cure for antisemitism was assimilation. However after the Hertzel witnessed the events of the Dreyfus affair in 1894, and the antisemitic Karl Lueger's rise to power in 1895 he came to the conclusion that the only way to truly avoid antisemitism would be to create a Jewish State. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">According to Wikipedia</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">It was the rise to power of the anti-Semitic demagogue <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Lueger" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Karl Lueger">Karl Lueger</a> in Vienna in 1895 that seems to have had a greater effect on Herzl, before the pro-Dreyfus campaign had fully emerged. It was at this time that he wrote his play "The New Ghetto", which shows the ambivalence and lack of real security and equality of emancipated, well-to-do Jews in Vienna. Around this time Herzl grew to believe that anti-Semitism could not be defeated or cured, only avoided, and that the only way to avoid it was the establishment of a Jewish state.(1)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Contrary to the TrueTorahJews belief that Zionism is the cause of world wide antisemitism, the truth is that not only did antisemitism precede Zionism by thousands of years it also led to the formation of the Zionist movement and the push to create a Jewish State in Palestine. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">A simple study of Jewish history throughout the years would reveal that no matter where the Jews lived they suffered. The Jews flourished in Babylon until they were oppressed and forced out. Thousands of Jews were butchered during the first and second crusades. The Jews thrived in Spain until they were forced to convert, kicked out or slaughtered during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Tens of thousands of Jews were viciously murdered during the Khmelnytsky massacres in 1648 (T'ach V'tat). And then of course there was the ultimate explosion of anti-Semitism that resulted in millions of Jews being killed during the Holocaust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">A fact that one should be aware of is that Theodore Herzl was raised completely secular in an assimilated family. He had no connection whatsoever to Torah Jewry. This detail must be taken into account before attacking him for his secular "anti-Torah" beliefs. For someone so removed from Judaism as he was to come and suggest the Jews build a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine is pretty remarkable taking into consideration his assimilated background. He literally devoted his entire life to the cause bankrupting himself in the process. If anything Hertzel should be praised for his tremendous mesiras nefesh instead of being criticized and denounced by the Torah world. In his zechus thousands and thousands of secular Jews moved to Palestine to build up the Land and pave the way for the rebuilding of Torah that was lost to the land for thousands of years. In his zechus Eretz Yisrael is now the Torah center of the world. We may not agree with the secular visions of Hertzel or the anti-Torah attitude of many of the secular zionists who came to build up the land after thousands of years of desolation but at the same time we have an achraius to recognize the long term good for klal yisrael in Eretz Yisrael that his vision created. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">(1) </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Kornberg, Jacques (December 1, 1993). <a class="external text" href="http://books.google.com/?id=31LMY9S8IBIC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=%22Karl+Lueger%22+herzl&q=%22Karl%20Lueger%22%20herzl" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #3366bb; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><i>Theodor Herzl: From Assimilation to Zionism</i></a>. Jewish Literature and Culture. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomington,_Indiana" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Bloomington, Indiana">Bloomington, Indiana</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_University_Press" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Indiana University Press">Indiana University Press</a>. pp. 193–194 as seen in Wikipedia entry </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2200c1; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 19px;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Theodor Herzl</em> </span>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-31782322634988090772012-05-03T16:26:00.000-04:002012-05-17T16:47:39.002-04:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">(1902–1979)</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeshivas Mir was attacked during the six day war. No one was hurt. After the war Rav Chaim gave a Sicha (talk or speech) to the Mir Bnei Yeshiva. Rav Chaim was one of the Gedolei HaDor, so a lot of Bnei Torah outside of Mir attended that Sicha. The point he wanted to drive home was his Shmuelevitz Hakaras HaTov to the Bnei Torah, the spiritual army whose Torah learning contributed to the safety of the Yeshiva during the six day war, and to the Israeli Defense Forces for the physical protection they provided. He said both were necessary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reaction of Briskers who attended was total rejection of this point of view. They could not countenance any HaKaras HaTov to the Medina and disparaged Rav Shmulevitz because of it. In other words their contempt for the Medina was so great that disparaging a Gadol was justified.
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<a href="http://haemtza.blogspot.com/2005/12/hakaras-hatov-to-state-of-israel.html">http://haemtza.blogspot.com/2005/12/hakaras-hatov-to-state-of-israel.html</a><br />
<br />Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-24893868610171690652012-01-23T15:20:00.000-05:002012-01-23T15:26:25.123-05:00Bahya ben Asher - Rabbeinu Bachya<i>This (rejuvenation of the land) is a great sign for the Jewish people, for ever since they were exiled from their Land, no other nation settled there. Rather, it is destroyed and desolate until its children return to it.</i> - Rebbeinu Bachya, Bereishis 17:8
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Rabbeinu Bachya shares a similar opinion to the Malbim and the Ramban. According to Rabbeinu Bachya the land rejuvenating and yeilding its fruits once again to its people is a clear great sign that the redemption (Geulah) has begun. Today we are very fortunate to see with our own very eyes that this is indeed happening all over the Land of Israel. Unfortunately people are simply in denial. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that the redemption has indeed begun.Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1128833536029217732011-12-01T00:43:00.000-05:002012-07-24T15:02:51.931-04:00Agudas Yisrael Request To United Nations in 1947Rabbi Itzchak Meir Levine Chairman of Agudas Yisrael stated to the UN investigative committee in 1947 the following:<br />
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“We must first declare that which the entire Jewish people agree upon: Eretz Yisrael and the Jewish people are bound to each other forever. It is our land and we therefore request that the doors of the holy land be opened to every Jew and that a political regime be created which can guarantee free immigration and will have the capacity to absorb the immigrants. You have seen the barren places which await the return of their sons and builders. The Land is waiting for the Jews, and the Jews are waiting for the land. You must not leave them scattered. It is your moral duty to help them to unite. We believe in the ultimate redemption which will come from G-d. He alone can free us from exile. But you the nations of the world also have responsibility.”<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Source: Friedenson, A History of Agudath Israel, New York, 1970 p.46 as seen in To Dwell In the Palace Ehrlich-Klein, Tzvia 1991 Feldheim Publishers page 311</span>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-58919527387650730682011-08-07T16:00:00.002-04:002011-08-07T17:17:21.688-04:00Rebbe of the Sochatchov - Rabbi Shmuel BornsteinIn response to the League of Nations ratification of the Balfour Declaration's decision to establish a Jewish homeland in Palistine, Rabbi Shmuel Bornstein, the son of the Avnei Nezer, declared the following:<br />
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<i>"Until now we saw no heavelny sign proving that Hashem desires us. On the contrary, we encountered obstacles every step of the way.... Now however we have seen the fulfillment of the verse The sound of my Beloved knocks and Hahsem has inspired the kings of the earth to designate the Holy Land for us. A number of Rishonim assert that the future redemption will begin just like the Second one did, when the Jews were remembered through Cyrus. (Abir Haroim vol I p. 106)"</i><br />
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Bergman, R Yaakov Moshe: A Question of Redemption; 2004, p.135 translated by R. Moshe Lichtman of the sefer <i>HaMedinah HaYehudit</i>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-53428900723966416612011-08-07T13:59:00.000-04:002011-08-07T13:59:23.517-04:00Rabbi Meir Leibush - The MalbimIn contrary to the Satmar's position that the Mashiach will precede the redemption (geulah) the Malbim states the following:<br />
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יש לי כמה ראיות מפשוטי הכתובים בפי פרושי, כי הגאלה תצמח לאט לאט, כשחר נכון מוצאו הולך ואור עד נכון היום. ושתחלה יתישבו אנשים מבני ישראל בא''י ברשיון מלכי הארץ הישרים והחסידים ויהיה ישוב א''י קודם ביאת משיח. וכמ''ש בפירוש ישעיהו על פסוק "בטרם תחיל ילדה" (ישעיה ס"ו).<br />
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<i>I have several proofs from the simple reading of the Scriptures (Kesuvim), according to my interpretation, that the redemption will sprout very slowly, like the dawn whose emergence is certain, growing brighter until midday. <b>At first, people from Bnei Yisrael will settle in Eretz Yisrael</b> with the permission of the upright and pious kings of the earth, and the Land of Israel will be settled before the coming of Mashiach, as state by Yehoshua Hanavi (chap.66:7)</i><br />
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שיבת ציון, 1892 Warsa חלק ב, page 3Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-29568346898034012822010-12-25T17:06:00.000-05:002011-12-26T17:17:10.046-05:00Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler 1892-1953“It is hard to label our presence in the Holy Land now as the beginning of the redemption. It is, however, a great kindness on G-ds part. After the extreme destruction of six million of our brothers, we have the opposite extreme of our nation settling in its own state in the Holy Land. We must learn and take faith from this. Woe to him who will reach the Judgment Day still oblivious to this obvious reality!” Michtav MeEliyahu part III pg.352<br />
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“Out of the sea of hatred in which we were drowning, the nations of the world suddenly reversed themselves, agreeing to settle the Jews in their Land! “Is this the ordinary course of events? Is this natural?” [1]<br />
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[1] Zion Today - A Torah Perspective by Rabbi Yoel Schwartz pg 350. Translated from the hebrew version titled Tzion Beis Chayeinu by R. Steinberg 1986Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-13609264835732624992010-12-21T16:45:00.002-05:002011-12-21T16:53:05.314-05:00Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1838-1922)Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger was a disciple of the Kesav Sofer and served as Rabbi of Pressburg. <br />
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He writes that if those whom we call “sinners” work so hard and give so much for Zion, then how much more should we be expecgted of the tikun chatzos sayers? Perhaps the Zionists have great merit, since they are after all, like “ a tinok shenishba (an infant captured by gentiles)” [1]<br />
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One cannot deny what one’s eyes see. Praise G-d, the words of Shmuel, which the Rambamcodified into law have come to fruition only here in Eretz Yisrael. Namely, “There is no difference between this world and the days of Mashiach other than Israel’s subjugation to the kindoms.” Praise G-d the glorious government here does not opress Jews at all, nor does it prevent them from serving Hashem. Praise G-d, everyone can do as he pleases, to “gaurd the path of Hashem” in the best possible way. Without a doubt , this is the beginning of redemption, with the help of Hashem. (Kollel HaIvrim pg. 19)[2]<br />
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[1] Zion Today - A Torah Perspective by Rabbi Yoel Schwartz pg 95. Translated from the hebrew version titled Tzion Beis Chayeinu by R. Steinberg 1986<br />
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[2]Bergman, R Yaakov Moshe: A Question of Redemption; 2004, p.130 translated by R. Moshe Lichtman HaMedinah HaYehuditJews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1147468740906222132010-05-17T17:40:00.001-04:002011-07-07T17:14:27.092-04:00Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin<div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgvmc6AFJz4/ThYgXLE79LI/AAAAAAAAAGU/2c6PR_d8XAg/s1600/Henkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgvmc6AFJz4/ThYgXLE79LI/AAAAAAAAAGU/2c6PR_d8XAg/s1600/Henkin.jpg" /></a></div>1880-1973</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><b></b> </div><div align="left"><b>"Our Responsibility Towards Eretz Yisrael" </b>(written in 1968)</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">"I should like to begin with a word about the the chareidi attitude towards the government. Chazal long ago insisted that one must show honor unto those who represent a government (memshala) even non-Jewish governments.[This is so since we are taught also that] when honoring even those who are not like-minded that honor rebounds unto us [for acting in such a manner]. This being the case, acting honorably even in times of strife one should act peacefully."</div><br />
<div align="left"><b>Rav Henkin wrote the following in 1959 in response to the anti-Zionist position of the Satmar Rebbe and the Neturei Karta:</b></div><br />
<div align="left">"I was shocked to read in Chomoteinu of Cheshvan 5719 the slanderous notion that we are required to give our lives (limsor nefesh) to frustrate and resist the efforts of the State of Israel in its struggle against those who would rise up against them. This was stated as a p'sak din based on what we learn that Israel is restricted from rebelling against the nations (Ketubot 111a). This opinion is clearly not in keeping with halacha [and which can result] in imminent dangers for millions of Jews....</div><br />
<div align="left">"Now all the rabbis who were opposed to Zionism and the establishment of a state took up that position until the time that it was officially founded. Once the state was declared, anyone who plays into the hands of the nations of the world even where there is no imminent danger, is clearly a moseir and rodeif. ...to proclaim that anyone who aids the state is a rodeif, well such talk is the severest form of redifa.</div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.youngisrael.org/Divrei_Torah/Rabbi_s_Letter/index.htm#Rav%20Henkin%20ztz%E2%80%9Dl%20on%20Eretz%20Israel%20and%20Medinat%20Yisrael"></a> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1151611656264493992006-06-29T15:20:00.004-04:002023-05-17T09:05:34.671-04:00True Torah Jews Not Found on JewsAgainstZionsim.com<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
The following is a partial list of Rabbis and Sages who were either Zionists or who were <b>not</b> Anti-Zionist, many of whom you would not read about on TrueTorahJews.org (originally jewsagainstzionism.com): </div>
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<li>Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi (The Kuzari) </li>
<li>The Netziv</li>
<li>The Avnei Nezer </li>
<li>The Vilna Goan</li>
<li>Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman (The Ponevezh Rav)</li>
<li>The Aderes</li>
<li>Rabbi Elchonon Spector</li>
<li>Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer </li>
<li>Rabbi Yaakov Kamanetsky</li>
<li>Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik</li>
<li>Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (M'chtav MeliYahu)</li>
<li>Rabbi Moshe Feinstein</li>
<li>Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Aurbach</li>
<li>Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer)</li>
<li>Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charlop</li>
<li>Rabbi Aryeh Levine</li>
<li>Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog</li>
<li>Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank</li>
<li>Rabbi Avraham HaCohen Kook </li>
<li>Rabbi Yosef Henkin</li>
<li>Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook</li><li>Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kasher</li><li>Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli</li>
<li>Rabbi Aharon Soloveitchik</li>
<li>Rabbi Modechai Eliyahu</li>
<li>Rabbi Ovadia Yosef</li>
<li>Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein</li>
<li>Rabbi Shlomo Goren</li>
<li>Rabbi Avraham Shapira</li>
<li>Rabbi Chaim Druckman</li>
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Important to note that not all these Rabbis were Zionists. They were for the most part pro shivas tzion in our time. Some of them celebrated Yom Haatzmaut - Israel Independence Day and some did not. </div>
Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1128831029443307122006-05-28T16:15:00.055-04:002012-08-15T16:27:19.641-04:00Daas Yachid - The Satmar Rebbe and the Three OathsThe Satmar Rebbe's position that mass aliyah to the Land of Israel and the establishment of the State of Israel are transgressions because they violate the infamous Three Oaths is an isolated opinion, i.e. a Da’as Yachid. It is clearly not Halacha.<br />
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None of the great Halachic authorities of the 19th and 20th centuries shared this opinion. Neither the Gra (Vilna Gaon), Chafetz Chaim, Chazon Ish, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, or Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Aurbach felt that the Three Oaths were still in effect today. None of them held in any way that mass Aliyah and establishing a national homeland in the Land of Israel was a sin.<br />
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In addition, the Rambam does not mention any issur of violating the oaths anywhere in the Yad Chazkah. It doesnt appear in any codes of law. Its not mentioned in the Rosh, Rif, the Tur Shulchan Aruch, or in the Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Yosef Kairo.<br />
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Already in In 1890, as recounted by his son, the Chafetz Chaim (R. Yisrael Meir Kagan), who was the foremost halachik authority of modern times and one of the most important Orthodox figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, felt that after hundreds and thousands of Jews were making aliyah and establishing settlements throughout the land of Israel, that it was “<i>very probably the beginning of the in-gathering of the exiles (which precedes the coming of the Mashiach) and was therefore proper to buy land and make Aliyah.”</i><br />
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In addition, Rabbi Zev Leff of Moshav Matisyahu discusses this very topic in response to a question he received on his online Q&A section of his website. A submitter asked the following:<br />
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<i>"...According to the Satmar Rav Z”tzl whose sefer VaYoel Moshe I have looked at this day may be quite negative. He also writes that the sefer is meant to clarify Halacha. His case there is well backed up with sources cited from Talmud, midrash commentary etc. Is there a counter argument as halachically sound as his?"</i><br />
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Part of R. Leff's response is as follows:<br />
<i>"...the Satma Rav who has his way at looking at the entire question of the State of Israel in general, also my Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Boruch Zorotzkin zt'l, said very clearly that the Satmar Rav's opinion is a das yachid, its a minority opinion. The opinion of most gedolim is that the State of Israel is not a representation of the ideology of Zionism. It is a pareve thing and therefore one should be involved in guiding that state to be the way that it should be...."</i><br />
<a href="http://www.rabbileff.net/shiurim/answers/0250-0499/0436.wma">http://www.rabbileff.net/shiurim/answers/0250-0499/0436.wma</a><br />
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In addition, Rabbi Yaakov Kamanetsky himself stated the following:<br />
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<i>"It is incumbent on us to understand that the establishment of the state of Israel in our day, after the the great destruction and despair that overtook the remnant, and given the desperate and destroyed status of Russian Jewry, <b>God caused the establishment of the state of Israel</b> in order to strengthen the connection to Judaism and to sustain the link between the Jews in exile and the Jewish nation." Emes Le-Ya'akov Al Ha-Torah (Exodus 12:2 n. 17)</i>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1147468824905614382006-05-12T17:19:00.002-04:002010-08-06T13:52:08.642-04:00Rav Yaakov KamenetskyEmes Le-Ya'akov Al Ha-Torah (Exodus 12:2 n. 17):<br />
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"It is incumbent on us to understand that the establishment of the state of Israel in our day, after the the great destruction and despair that overtook the remnant, and given the desperate and destroyed status of Russian Jewry, <b>God caused the establishment of the state of Israel</b> in order to strengthen the connection to Judaism and to sustain the link between the Jews in exile and the Jewish nation."<br />
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<a href="http://hirhurim.blogspot.com/2005/05/religious-zionism-debate-v.html">http://hirhurim.blogspot.com/2005/05/religious-zionism-debate-v.html</a>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1130647468947182072005-10-30T00:32:00.001-04:002011-08-07T16:40:00.927-04:00Rav Samuel Mohiliver (1824-1891)<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7454/1187/1600/ravmoh.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7454/1187/320/ravmoh.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever learned in the famed Volozhin Yeshiva and became Rabbi of Bialystock in 1883. He was among the first founders and leaders of the Hibbat Zion movement and served as the force behind the religious faction within the movement. His lifework planted the seeds which would later germinate into the Mizrachi movement under Rabbi Jacob Reines.<br />
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<i>"Almost all of our sages (poskim) have agreed with the opinion of the MaHaRit that even in our times we are commanded to go up to Eretz Yisrael. Therefore I was much surprised at some of the great leaders of our nation who are learned in Torah and Hasidut, when they expressed opposition to living in the Holy Land and causing its reclamation by buying field and vineyards for Jewish farmers to settle upon it. They based such opposition on the fact that a majority of these farmers, specifically the young ones, don't adhere to the Torah. <strong>Their words are not correct, for it has already been written that the Holy One Blessed Be He would rather His children remain in the land, even though they do not keep His commandments, than reside in the Diaspora and keep the commandments</strong>.</i>"<br />
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Address to the First Zionist Congress (1897)<br />
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<i>"The basis of Hibbat Zion is the Torah, as it has been handed down to us from generation to generation, with neither supplement nor subtraction. I do not intend this statement as an admonition to any individual regarding his conduct, for, as our sages have said: "Verily, there are none in this generation fit to admonish." I am nevertheless stating in a general way, that the Torah, which is the Source of our Life, must be the foundation of our regeneration in the land of our fathers.<br />
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In conclusion, I lift up my voice to my brethren : Behold, it is now two thousand years that we await our Messiah, to redeem us from our bitter exile and to gather our scattered brethren from all corners of the earth to our own land, where each shall dwell in security, under his vine and under his fig tree. This faith, strong within us, has been our sole comfort in the untold days of our misery and degradation. And even though in the last century some have arisen in our midst who have denied this belief, tearing it our of their hearts and even erasing it from their prayers, the masses of our people hold fast to this hope, for the fulfillment of which they pray morning, noon and night, and in which they find balm for their suffering. Of late certain orthodox rabbis have arisen in western Europe, among whom one has even declared that the promises of future bliss and consolation made by our seers were in the form of symbols and parables. </i><br />
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<i>The coming of the Messiah, they say, will not be to bring Israel back to the Land of its Fathers and put an end to its long dispersion and many sorrows, but will be to establish the Kingdom of Heaven for all mankind, while Israel continued in exile as a light to the gentiles. <strong>Others of these rabbis assert, without qualification, that nationalism is contrary to our belief in the advent of the Messiah. I am therefore constrained to declare publicly that all this is not true.</strong> Our hope and faith has ever been and still is, that our Messiah will come and gather in all the scattered of Israel, and instead of our being wanderers upon the face of the earth, ever moving from place to place, we shall dwell in our own country as a nation, in the fullest sense of the word. Instead of being the contempt and mockery of the nations, we shall be honored and respected by all peoples of the earth. This is our faith and hope, as derived from the words of our prophets and seers of blessed memory and to this our people clings!"<br />
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Source: The above information and photo was taken from the World Mizrachi Website <a href="http://www.mizrachi.org/elearning/View_history.asp?id=121">http://www.mizrachi.org/elearning/View_history.asp?id=121</a>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1130646456858738032005-10-30T00:03:00.000-04:002012-01-31T15:21:07.383-05:00Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer (1795-1874)<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7454/1187/1600/ravkal.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7454/1187/320/ravkal.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
Rabbi Kalischer, a talmud of R. Akiva Eiger, saw an intrinsic connection between the national aspirations of the Jewish people and the traditional messianic belief. He viewed the developments of rising nationalism among the Jewish people as one of the first stages in the process of natural redemption, i.e., that process by which man himself would help bring about the beginning of redemption in which at least some Jews would return to Eretz Israel.<br />
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In 1862 Rabbi Kalischer published his work <strong>Drishat Tzion</strong>. The purpose of this work was to make people aware of the beginning of the redemption through natural means and it was time to return to Eretz Yisrael.<br />
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"<strong>The Redemption of Israel, for which we long, is not to be imagined as a sudden miracle. The Almighty, blessed be His Name, will not suddenly descend from on high and command his people to go forth. He will not send the Messiah from heaven in a twinkling of an eye, to sound the great trumpet for the scattered of Israel and gather them into Jerusalem. He will not surround the Holy City with a wall of fire or cause the Holy Temple to descend from the heavens. The bliss and miracles that were promised by his servants, the prophets, will certainly come to pass – everything will be fulfilled – but we will not run in terror and flight, for the Redemption of Israel will come by slow degrees and the ray of deliverance will shine forth gradually</strong>.<br />
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"What straining of our faith would there be in the face of the miracles and wonders attending a clear heavenly command to go up and inherit the land and enjoy its good fruit? Under such circumstances what fool would not go there, not because of his love of God, but for His own selfish sake? <strong>Only a natural beginning of the Redemption is a true test of those who initiate it.</strong> To concentrate all one’s energy on this holy work and to renounce home and fortune for the sake of living in Zion before the voice of gladness and the voice of joy are heard – there is no greater merit or trial than this.<br />
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"Another great advantage of agricultural settlement is that we would have the privilege of observing the religious commandments that attach to working the soil of the Holy Land. The Jews who supervised the actual laborers would be aiding in the working of the land and would therefore have the same status as if they had personally fulfilled these commandments.<br />
But, beyond all this, <strong>Jewish farming would be a spur to the ultimate Messianic Redemption.</strong> As we bring redemption to the land in a this-worldly way, the rays of heavenly deliverance will gradually appear.<br />
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"<strong>Let no stubborn opponent of these thoughts maintain that those who labor day and night will be taken away from the study of the Torah and from spiritual to secular concerns. This counter argument is shortsighted. On the contrary, the policy we propose will add dignity to the Torah. If there is no bread, there can be no study; if there will be bread in the land, people will then be able to study with peace of mind</strong>.<br />
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"If we strengthen ourselves and go to the Holy Land to plant, build, establish and grow, our eyes will see the blessing upon our fields, and we will have blessing to no end, and we shall be praised with praises of the Holy Land – and through this the redemption of Israel will come!<br />
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Source: The above information and photo was taken directly from the World Mizrachi Website <a href="http://www.mizrachi.org/aboutus/leaders/ravkalischer.asp">http://www.mizrachi.org/aboutus/leaders/ravkalischer.asp</a>Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490882.post-1130645011113715902005-10-29T23:59:00.000-04:002005-12-12T23:55:57.403-05:00Rav Moshe Avigdor Amiel (1883-1946)<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7454/1187/1600/ravami.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7454/1187/320/ravami.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Born in Lita, Moshe Avigdor Amiel was first taught by his father at the Telz yeshiva before proceeding to the Vilna yeshiva to study under the two greatest Talmudic scholars of the time - Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky. He received his ordination at the age of eighteen and in 1905 was appointed Rabbi of Swieciany, where he founded a large yeshiva. In 1913, he became Rabbi of Grajewo located on the border between Russia and Germany.<br /><br />It was during this time that Rabbi Amiel was acknowledged as a great public preacher and his oratorical qualities were said to affect the most hardened hearts. He became one of the first Rabbis to publicly join the Mizrachi movement and Zionist organization, applying his speaking and writing abilities to the cause of Religious Zionism and national questions. In 1920 he was elected as one of the delegates to represent Mizrachi of Poland at the Mizrachi World Convention in Amsterdam. There he made such an impression upon the Jewish community that he was given the post of Rabbi of Antwerp, one of the largest and richest Jewish communities of the time. He set up a system of lower yeshivot for girls and boys by creating the Jewish Day School (as it came to be known in America), as well as religious institutes of higher learning.<br /><br />Realizing that he must actively fulfill his Zionist ideals, in 1936 Rabbi Amiel made aliyah in order to serve as Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. This area had the largest concentration of Jewish population in the yishuv and presented a great deal of challenges for Rabbi Amiel. Particularly hard was the constant need to engender good relations between the religious and non-religious segments of the community. During his leadership he set up a yeshiva high school which taught religious subjects in the morning and secular in the afternoon. This yeshiva, named Yeshiva Ha'Yishuv Ha'Chadash, was used as the pattern for the B'nei Akiva yeshivot which were subsequently established. After his death the yeshiva was renamed Yeshivat Ha'Rav Amiel.<br /><br />Source: The above information and photo was taken directly from the World Mizrachi Website <a href="http://www.mizrachi.org/aboutus/Leaders/ravamiel.asp">http://www.mizrachi.org/aboutus/Leaders/ravamiel.asp</a> (permission pending)Jews for Zionismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805157921368785534noreply@blogger.com0