3 Kislev 5778
Let it be known that as soon as a commenter stops addressing valid points in an argument or expressing an opinion on a subject and degenerates to bashing fellow Jews who follow a different shita, that's when the comments will be rejected. I declined to be drawn into the Religious Zionist vs. Chareidi contest twenty years ago and nothing has changed.
Speaking of comments, I continue to be surprised, although I don't know why, that there are Jews who read this blog who can say or imply that Jewish existence in Eretz Yisrael is dependent upon anything other than the will of HKB"H.
Prepare for it people, the IDF and the State it protects, are anti-Torah and idolized by a large part of the public. As such, they will, of necessity, have to fall. Neither are sacrosanct.
(And for those who claim we can't exist here without the money of US Jews, well, that's going, too.)
The Hasbarites have a favorite saying: "If all the Arabs laid down their weapons tomorrow, there would be peace. If Israel laid down its weapons, it would be destroyed."
So speak those with no faith and no understanding. We will have another Yam Suf moment and then you will know.
I'll finish this with a personal revelation which may help you understand my position better. When I was seventeen years old, I stood with my homeroom class for the pledge of allegiance to the flag and the reading of scripture that started every school day. I stood at attention, kept my right hand firmly at my side and my mouth firmly closed. I could not pledge my allegiance to America because all of my allegiance was already pledged to HKB"H. Nothing has changed there either.
As far as I am concerned, until Mashiach comes, we are still being ruled by a foreign power. The fact that it goes by the name Israel just makes it that much more dangerous to us spiritually.
Excellent analysis. I wish more of my fellow yidden here in the U.S. understood these concepts. Even the very frum here are hopelessly addicted to the protection and benefits of the U.S. and it's alliance. It says in Yeshaya -- הִנֵּה בָטַחְתָּ עַל-מִשְׁעֶנֶת הַקָּנֶה הָרָצוּץ הַזֶּה, עַל-מִצְרַיִם, אֲשֶׁר יִסָּמֵךְ אִישׁ עָלָיו, וּבָא בְכַפּוֹ וּנְקָבָהּ: כֵּן פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ-מִצְרַיִם, לְכָל-הַבֹּטְחִים עָלָיו. Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it; so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust on him.
ReplyDeleteThat part where Devash kept her mouth firmly shut during the pledge of allegiance was to me sorta cute, because I'm coming from the opposite end of the spectrum, where I attended one of the most frum schools in America at that time. And our 3rd grade secular studies teacher was also very frum, and she was the most favorite teacher I ever had, because she turned the curriculum into a colorful and interesting experience. She used to make us memorize Longfellow poetry such as "The Children's Hour" and "Stopping by the woods", as well as the Midnight ride of Paul Revere.
DeleteAnd... YES!! We'd all have to stand at attention and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and then sing Oh Say Can You See, My Country 'tis of thee, and Oh Beautiful for spacious sky's.
And why not? Aside from enjoying it, we all adored her. She gave us the best Pesach brownie recipe, as a surprise before Pesach, which our mothers loved.
She was also a tzadeket who let all her neighbors use her backyard which was in a strategic location. At her levaya, one of her neighbors whom I knew, was choked up in tears. And fond hespedim were written about her.
M.M.
Where do you live today, M.M.?
DeleteSee Here, Here, and Here.
ReplyDelete"It’s already becoming routine in the Israel Defense Forces. Missionaries sent by evangelical churches in the United States are given free rein over IDF bases, openly preaching Christianity and seeking to convert Jews out of their religion.
The most startling recent example that came to Yad L’Achim’s attention was an evening of appreciation that was organized for soldiers who fought in Operation Protective Edge this past summer in Gaza. The evening was arranged by the International Christian Embassy, which operates in Israel. What makes it particularly severe is that the soldiers were bused directly from their bases to the missionary event."
That is just one complaint. There are many, many. This is not David and Yonatan's army!
Devash,
ReplyDeleteWould that more and more of us would wake up to the Truth of HKB"H and get beyond the physical trappings and seethe Spiritual war that is going on. Thanks for all you do.
Yitzchok
Kol Hakavod! Well said! Hashem Yeverach Escha!
ReplyDeleteHadas
I wasn't drawing you into any contest. As a Baal Tshuvah, I'm trying to learn and understand what faith in Hashem is. I learned that Hashem works through nature, and tefila. You have a wonderful blog, but perhaps take the opportunities presented by commentators to offer information and your knowledge...what's wrong if I want to understand and learn from Torah observant Jews of different 'circles.' i think some of your responses to commentators are too abrupt. Maybe give the benefit of the doubt that people just want clarification to grow???
ReplyDeleteNechama, this was not directed at you. I don't even know what you are referring to, sorry.
Deleteeverything is the will of Hashem, but doesn't Hashem work through people and nature? I don't have an opinion about army or Torah learning...I think everyone has to do what he feels is right for his soul. as a baal teshuvah , what's confusing to me is what exactly are the differences between the religious zionists and the chareidi? obviously their dress, degree of integration into secualr society, and army service vs. torah learning. but isn't that due to people choosing what they need to satisfy their jewish souls in fullfilling their tasks in life? both groups are still torah jews..i see more articles available in english explaining the religionist zionist views. would you be willing to explain the hareidi view? i understanding living apart, dressing more modestly, and from your comment, it seems that everything is betachon in Hashem...so does israel need an army at all? i lock my door at night, but then i say shema to keep me safe??can you just offer insight into the approach of the charedi world. i feel better knowing that there are yeshivas filled with learners of torahs. i have 2 nephews who are learners. i am very proud of them. i also have 2 nephews who are religious/yeshivaish in the army. and i am proud of them also. does israel need an army? does hashem want us to have one? what are the charedi views. i'm being sincere in my questions because i do hear charedi bashing over the protests and i think its terrible. if someone wants to learn, he should be able to .and if someone wants to serve in the army, in a religious unit, he should be respected as well. so what's going on? your a wonderful blogger, please help with information so people can respond to the vnegative criticicm going on back and forth...even within families.
ReplyDeleteWhatever I have to say about the IDF is directed to it as an institution, not to individuals.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honest and heartfelt questions, Nechama, and for your continuing support. Please see my next blog post.
ReplyDeleteIt's understandable that people tend to believe that IDF is the protector of State of Israel and people,who live here. But the main question remains, who is giving orders for this or that military operations. Maybe 30 years ago it was a human factor and personal responsibility. Now in our age of technology It's becoming more computerized. Especially, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, which goes officially online in the year 2020 as a global network like Skynet, it will be ethically problematic to follow the orders of computer, which was created by the criminals.
ReplyDeleteChana
Well said, Chana. Devash is referring to the ones running the IDF today. Those in the higher eschelon are mostly athiests, even maybe pagans and have lost or never had any connection to Torah and the Jewish people. At first, the IDF was doing the job as H's Army, even if he they didn't know it; it was totally idealogical and had a Jewish soul. They have lost it now = let's face it, the country is run by Erev Rav with a tinge of some Jewish people in leadership. Not surprising as this was all foretold. We are almost there, the complete Redemption.
ReplyDeletemoishe