Medinat Yehuda : Is It All Hysteria and Conspiracy Theories?

20 Elul 5773

IS IT ALL HYSTERIA AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES?
(Originally written in 5764 and posted to the now-defunct Medinat Yehuda website.)

In reply to an email I received which was critical of my essay regarding the John Loftus lecture at the Israel Center, I have written the following which I would like to share here:

A Jew, learned or otherwise, is obligated to view the world through the lens of Torah. For centuries before the North American continent was discovered and before the word Zionism was invented, our sages identified "western civilization" as a perverse and powerful enemy of the nation of Israel. It is only in the last century that the United States of America arose to become the guardian and defender of that heritage. History and destiny (dare I say Hashem?) have put the two nations on a collision course and it is Torah that reveals that Eisav will, in the end, fall to Ya'akov, but not before he tries one last time to finish the job that Amalek/Haman/Hitler started. That is FACT, not hysteria. It was written ages ago. If anyone has a problem with it, take it up with the Creator of the Universe.

Anyone who can see the situation for what it is, who can see the monster behind the mask, cannot help but loathe and hold it in utter contempt. I will tell you this. John Loftus came with the appearance of Ya'akov, but the voice was Eisav. He claimed to be a friend, but he spoke as a patron. Let me tell you what a true friend would have said: "You are an eternal nation. Those who wish your destruction are many and diverse, both internal as well as external, but your G-d stands at your side. You must not fear the nations or tremble before your enemies. Fear only your Father in Heaven and he will deliver you. I count it an honor and a privilege to stand with you in your greatest hour of need. Tell me what I can do to help." Naive? Non- pragmatic? Not realpolitik? Such "realities" are too constricting to be consistent with a worldview based on Torah. Such "realities" are what form the foundations of the nations, but our "Rock" is not like their "rock." Is it?

As for "hysteria", I don't think anyone who actually knows me or has ever met me would use that particular descriptor. However, I freely admit that it can become an affliction of those who refuse to put their heads in the sand. All I can say is that if my purported "hysteria" is anything at all like that of Ze'ev Jabotinsky or Rav Meir Kahane Hy"d, then I am justified.

On a different, but related issue, I'd like to lay out my concerns regarding the now infamous 1st INTERNATIONAL JERUSALEM SUMMIT. To re-cap:

NATIONAL UNITY COALITION FOR ISRAEL TO CO-SPONSOR 1st INTERNATIONAL JERUSALEM SUMMIT

Taking a New Look at the Arab / Israeli Conflict

(WASHINGTON) –The 1st INTERNATIONAL JERUSALEM SUMMIT (jerusalemsummit.org) will be an historic and precedent-setting conference to be held October 12th - 14th. The conference will examine key challenges facing western civilization: terrorism, anti- Semitism, lack of morality in governmental actions, Islamic fundamentalism, and the role of Jerusalem in creating a morality based alliance against these threats. It will also explore alternative and pragmatic paths to peace for Israel and its Arab neighbors in a "post-Oslo, post-Roadmap" period.

The National Unity Coalition for Israel, along with Israel's Ministry of Tourism, the Jerusalem Municipality, and The Michael Cherney Foundation are co-sponsoring this inaugural Summit.

Over 100 leading thinkers and statesmen from the US, Israel, Russia and Europe will take part in the 3-day conference in Jerusalem, to be held at the King David Hotel.

American participants scheduled to make presentations include: Henry "Scoop" Jackson award winner RICHARD PERLE, recent Bush Administration appointee Dr. DANIEL PIPES, former UN Ambassador ALAN KEYES, syndicated columnist and TV commentator CAL THOMAS, FRANK GAFFNEY (President, Center for Security Policy), ZOA President MORTON KLEIN, ABC Radio's JOHN BATCHELOR and many others.

Israel will be represented by: Vice Prime Minister EHUD OLMERT, Ministers BENYAMIN NETANYAHU, UZI LANDAU, BENI ELON, EFRAIM EITAM, Jerusalem Mayor URI LUPOLIANSKY and many Knesset Members, academics and religious leaders.

A live video broadcast by satellite from Capitol Hill in Washington hosted by Senator Sam Brownback (R -KS) will highlight the final evening. Several Senators and Representatives will address the conference in Jerusalem from Washington.

Talk about chutspa! Jews didn't invent it. Something else learned in galut, obviously.

What other nation is so treated or tolerates such chutzpadik interference in its internal affairs? Can't you picture such a meeting in Moscow, London, Paris, New York? And who invited them? Anybody?

Who are these people...goyim, erev rav, corrupt politicians (sorry for the redundancy), leaders of an idolatrous religion? They will decide what is good for Am Israel? They will help her achieve her national destiny?

"Precedent-setting" is a dangerous idea and it is fortunate that they point it out. The fact that they call it the "1st" indicates already that they want this to become a habit. This will become "precedent-setting" as "Madrid" was "precedent-setting" and "Oslo" was "precedent-setting" and G-d forbid! as no doubt the "Geneva Accords" are going to become "precedent-setting."

I've already told you the problem I have with the term "Western Civilization." According to the sources as brought by Rav Aryeh Carmel:

"..., 'the kingdom of Edom' refers to the last of the four empires of the world foreseen by Daniel (chapters 4-5): Babylonia, Media, Greece, and Rome. Rome, as world power, is long since dead and gone. But its heritage, Western Civilization, rules the world. Our Rabbis indicate that the kingdom of the Messiah will grow up in the context of Western civilization. Indeed, the parable of 'the heel of Esav' signifies that the spiritual failure and moral bankruptcy of that civilization will be the catalyst for the coming of the Messiah."

Obviously, what is good for "Western Civilization" is not necessarily for the good of Am Israel in Eretz Israel. As for alliances, our prophets warned time and time again not to make alliances with the nations. Avraham Avinu did it and so did the kings of Israel and Judah, even the wise King Shlomo, but they were also chastised for it. It was wrong then and it's still wrong for us today.

Finally, "pragmatic paths to peace" sounds like code words for anything other than the Torah-mandated solution. It's just another way of saying "compromise," of lowering your sights, of giving up the "ideal" for what might be more easily attained. This is good for the nations, but it's bad for the Jews.

PS: This from an article written by Yoram Ettinger and circulated by Women-in-Green:

"The US-Israel unique bonds consist of mutual threats, joint interests, shared values, confluence of destiny and partnership in grief."

The sickness runs very deep.

Devash
24 Tishrei 5764