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
many subsequent letters is the following:
"In this century, the rays of light shine forth with a great awakening through theSource: HaKetufah HaGedolah, Pg.174, HaRav Menachem Mendel Kasher
channels of the great men of action such as Montefiore and those like him; and
from the rabbis, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh (Kalisher) from Talyron, and Rabbi Eliahu
(Guttmacher) from Gridetz, to build and to develop Jerusalem, and to remove its
desolation, almost to the extent which the enthusiasts' (the nonreligious Zionists)
have widened the cause. Many rabbis stood in opposition, and even many rabbis
who praised the matter (Zionism) in their hearts, put their hands on their mouths, in
fear of the enthusiasts' zeal, and in fear of the Three Oaths which Hashem made the
daughter of Jerusalem swear. (The "Three Oaths" which Hashem made Israel to
swear when it went into exile are: Not to rebel against the nations of the world; Not
to hasten the End; and Not to go up to Israel like a wall (Ketubot 111A.)) Now,
however, Divine providence has brought together the League of intelligent Nations
in San Remo, and a dictate was established that the Land of Israel shall be for the
Jewish people. Since the fear of the Oaths has been removed with the permission
of the nations, the mitzvah of settling the Land of Israel arises, a mitzvah equal to
all of the other precepts in the Torah, and this mitzvah returns to its place. It is a
mitzvah on everyone to help with all of their power to observe this mitzvah, and if
Hashem, may His Name be blessed, will allow this to come about, and if the matter
will increase and expand, then surely it is a matter which stands at the zenith of the
universe."
