(continued)
The National Religious (Dati Leumi) Sector
Of all the sectors, none love Eretz Yisrael more than the National Religious sector. If the Charedi sector have the Torah as their flag, the National Religious sector's flag is Eretz Yisrael – settling the land, farming the land, defending the land. Although Torah is ever present, it mostly takes second place to the "primary" flag of Eretz Yisrael.
There is some parallel between the Charedi/National Religious divide and Beit Shamai/Hillel. If the Charedim did not despise the National Religious sector (more than they despise the secular Jews), this parallel would be true. The defining characteristic of the machloket between Bet Hillel and Shamai is that it was fierce in the Bet HaMidrash, but they married each other and invited each other to their weddings.
They certainly did not call Bet Hillel מִסְרוֹחְנִיקִים. (I experienced this after once giving a Lechem HaPanim workshop to a Charedi audience, someone came up to me and asked me if I was a misruchnik), or seek every opportunity to belittle the Gedolei HaDor of the National Religious sector. I will not generalize though, there are many Charedim who marry Dati Leumi and vise-versa, but there remains a distinct animosity, directed by the Charedim against the National Religious.
Perhaps the reason for this animosity toward the National Religious sector, who follow the shita of HaRav Kook, is because the Charedim see something in the National Religious sector that is lacking in themselves, an elevated awareness of Klal Yisrael. It is as if we are exposing a raw nerve in them.
That is not to say that the National Religious sector (of which I am a part) is blameless. Many National Religious are not as devout in clinging to HKB"H as they could be. Many of us have become too comfortable in our comfortable lives in modern Eretz Yisrael and have let some things slide. This can often be seen by the rising number of "datlashim" - dati children who have lost their way and stray from Yiddishkeit (it is not only in the Dati Leumi sector, it is also in the Charedi sector, but to a lesser extent).
Without realizing it, the Dati Leumi sector themselves became separatist, by establishing "settlements" (I call them towns and villages) in Yehuda and Shomron and Gush Katif, comprised almost entirely of homogenous Dati Leumi residents, like themselves. In so doing, they de facto ended up doing what the Charedi sector had been doing in Bnei Brak, Meah Shearim and Kiryat Sefer.
Unlike the Charedim, who had no intention of using their "separatism" as a means to lead the way for the rest of Am Yisrael, the National Religious "settlers" fully intended that their pioneering activity would lead the way for the rest of Am Yisrael – like an officer in the army leads his men – קָדִימָה אַחֲרַי. The problem was that while we were leading the way, we did not glance back over our shoulder to see if anyone was following. Then came the expulsion from Gush Katif and spotlighted this flaw.
The National Religious were quick to realize their mistake and have subsequently shifted focus to more balanced "settlement", not only in uncharted territory in Yehuda and Shomron, but also inside large existing Jewish population areas, like Tel Aviv, Haifa, Lod, etc. establishing גַּרְעִינִים in these places to shine Torah outwards and be mekarev.
As with the Charedi sector, the National Religious sector is also increasing disproportionally compared to the secular population, although not as fast. The result of this is that the National Religious sector has ever increasing representation in the Knesset and unlike the Charedim, they are not averse to becoming involved in "national" areas, like education, national security, finance ministry etc.
The problem is that we have little experience in governing, since our tenure is only recent and relatively short, compared to the Likkud, Labor and other ruling parties, who ran the country for the last 70+ years. Also, being the "bridge", Beit Hillel, in Israeli society, we are continually trying to find the middle road and appease both sides. You cannot always appease both sides.
The National Religious sector needs to appoint representatives who know how to lead, not only be populistic, loud and provocative. A perfect example of this is the failed attempt at judicial reform in the recent government. The National Religious sector (and their counterparts in the Likkud) lacked the experience in how to affect a change of this magnitude. We tried to do it in too short a time, instead of having the same patience as the "other side" who achieved the opposite effect over a number of decades.
As with the Charedi sector, with our ever-increasing demographic influence, comes increased responsibility, for Klal Yisrael, not just our own sector. This has not yet fully sunk in, as can clearly be seen by the TV channel 14 and בשבע, which instead of becoming beacons to lead the way and improve the way, have become the mirror image of the "other side" and equally guilty as they are, of all the wrong things. Instead of being a beacon of light that attracts the entire nation, channel 14 and בשבע have turned into a slinging match.
I dream of a true Dati Leumi media channel that leads Am Yisrael with shining light, not one that perpetuates machloket and sinat chinam. Right now, it does not yet exist.
The Secular Sector
There is one thing that nobody can take away from the Secular sector – they built this country physically. They drained the swamps, they built railways and highways, they built the economy, the technology, the brainpower and the startups, they established a judicial system equipped to address a modern country (when the religious sectors came up short in this regard). They established universities and cultural institutions in music, art and theatre.
The major problem with the Secular sector is that, while they have the physical body, they are lacking the "soul".
Instead of embracing our historical soul and heritage, the heritage of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Moshe, Aharon, Yehoshua, David HaMelech, Shlomo HaMelech, the Beit Mikdash, R' Akiva and Bar Kochba … they tried to "import" a heritage from the goyim. This became their flag – to be a nation like all the other nations, a refuge and safe haven from persecution.
They too did not grasp the historic enormity of the moment when establishing the state and instead of embracing their historical heritage, they tried to create a new one, a man-made heritage lacking true Jewish soul. Traumatized by centuries of Diaspora and the Holocaust, and rejection from the majority of the Torah world, they shunned the eternal Torah values and instead embraced the transient heritage of Marx, Lenin etc.
When we recaptured Har HaBayit in 1967, instead of rejoicing and beginning to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash, as we should have, Dayan gave the keys to the Waqf. It was a shared failure with the Charedim, who also did not seize the moment … and it was lost. HKB"H handed it to us on a plate and we were not grateful. What price in blood have we paid since then!
Until Menachem Begin was elected in 1977, this country was established and run by secular Mapai/Labor. They built this country and its institutions and they ran them for decades. 1977 was the turning point. It signified the waning of the Secular movement and the waxing of the National/Religious movement. This was when the inner "civil war" we are currently experiencing truly began.
Foreseeing the change in demographics and electoral power, those who had until then held positions of power in all the institutions, plotted to retain that power by gradually, slowly and surreptitiously, instituting laws and realities that despite the demographics, would ensure their continued control – in the courts, the academia, the military, the industry, the media – all institutions where democracy is absent, where continuation is on the basis of חָבֵר מֵבִיא חָבֵר.
47 years later we find ourselves in an absurd reality where those who are democratically elected in the "only democratic country in the Middle East" cannot implement the policies of the majority who elected them, because the "old-guard" has castrated the Knesset of its power and relocated it in all the non-democratic institutions they previously and continue to control (what some call the "deep state"). As a result, when the majority in Israel vote right wing, you still get a de facto left wing governing body.
Recognizing this surreptitious "coup", too late, the recent democratically elected right-wing government mistakenly tried to stage a "coup" of their own, to replace all the institutions with more balanced democratic representation – overnight. This resulted in the old-guard flexing their muscles, giving a show of strength, the enormous de facto political strength they wield, and shutting the entire country down. The right wing had to admit defeat, because they have not yet acquired the steel and the mettle required to rule, something the left have acquired over many decades.
Many say that the struggle between the left and the right is a "religious" battle, over the future character of the State of Israel. However, one cannot escape the feeling that this, in fact, is simply a weaponization of "ideals" to brainwash the masses and achieve the true purpose – power! There are players who are directing this debacle who care nothing for ideals, only for power and personal revenge against those who they feel have wronged them (Bibi). They will balk at nothing to achieve this power, including crossing any "accepted" red lines that were once the fabric of Israeli society.
Another element at play here (with the masses, not the leaders, of the left) is an inexplicable fear of the State of Israel being run according to halacha. The fact that any fear exists at all is a failing of the Charedi and National Religious sectors to reveal the true nature and beauty of the Torah. There have been, Rachmana litzlan, too many chilulei Hashem by leading figures in the Torah sectors that repel the uneducated masses.
The liberal left has adopted the destructive "woke" philosophies of the goyim which are foreign to Am Yisrael – they need to wake up and see the destruction they are wreaking.
The Diaspora Jews
It is unlikely that the State of Israel would have survived without the Diaspora Jews. In the Zevulun-Yissachar relationship, the Zevulun burden is predominantly borne by the Diaspora Jews. I am referring to those Diaspora Jews who still have affiliation with Am Yisrael (not those who have fully assimilated and not those radical Charedi elements who have long since ceased being part of Am Yisrael).
One cannot escape the feeling however, of how different things might have been, or might still be, if the Diaspora Jews would have instead chosen to make aliyah and become an integral and primary influence on the State of Israel, from within and not without.
If they would have brought their business and economic skills to bear within the State of Israel - how different Israeli society would be today. What an economic power it would be. Parnasa is not an excuse. HKB"H is mefarnes every creature מִקַּרְנֵי רְאֵמִים עַד בֵּיצֵי כִּנִּים and they would be as successful, or more, in Eretz Yisrael than out of it.
If the entire Torah world in the Diaspora would have made aliyah, the Lubavitch Rebbe together with all his talmidim, running the worldwide operation from Jerusalem, not Brooklyn – how much Torah they would have injected into Israeli society and how different we would look today!
History aside, what was – was, and cannot be undone. Right now, however, Diaspora Jewry have reached a crossroads and need to make a choice. As the Geulah rapidly approaches, it is ultimately going to become a call of מִי לָה' אֵלַי. Diaspora Jewry are right now being faced with this call. HKB"H is sending every possible message that He can, to get them to make the right choice. Those who don't learn from their own history will be doomed to repeat it. It is impossible to forget those Jews back in Egypt who did not answer the call. This is the true test of bitachon in HKB"H, requiring a leap of faith. HKB"H is clearly showing Jewry worldwide where they truly belong.
Regarding the Reform, I have little to say about the Reform except this. The Reform definitely had a role to play as the last line of defense against total assimilation. If they would have fulfilled their true role – saving Jewish souls from oblivion – all would have been well and good. If they would have recognized their role in the Jewish world as Judaism for beginners, to attract lost souls into the fold – all would have been well and good. It is very unlikely that the Orthodox/Charedi world could have achieved that - the chasm between them and souls on the verge of assimilation is like between Earthlings and Martians.
But the Reform failed to realize their true role – to attract lost souls into the fold, and then, when these became interested and part of the fold, to bump them upwards to the next level. Unfortunately, Rachmana litzlan, Reform came to regard themselves as ALL of Judaism.
Who gave them (or anyone) the right to "cut and paste" parts of Hashem's Torah? Fundamental parts of the Torah, clearly stated in the Torah without any interpretation necessary – like observing Shabbat, like not lighting fire on Shabbat (driving, electricity, etc.), like not eating non-Kosher foods. Who gave them the right to think they could perform "conversions" to such an adulterated form of the Torah?
Even if they suddenly, miraculously begin assuming their true role, however, this role is rapidly becoming redundant. The "mouth of the funnel" of the Geulah is narrowing and those that are in are in and those that are not are not. The very least their leaders can do is have the honesty and integrity to preach to their followers that Reform is only the start! And that they must take the next step up and continue, until they are completely חוֹזֵר בִּתְּשׁוּבָה.
The reality in the world and in Am Yisrael right now is highly complex and I truly believe that no single person or sector has the ability on their own to fix the mess. The only way to a path of reconciliation and hope is if each sector stops trying to fix the ills in the other sectors and rather concentrates on fixing the maladies within their own sector.
If each individual, instead of trying to change others, rather makes a concerted effort to improve themselves, to take an honest look at themselves and discard the arrogance and the misconception that they are better than anyone else … perhaps then we will have some light at the end of the tunnel.
The most amazing thing is that all the above sectoral differences evaporate – you know where? On the front line with our troops in Gaza! Back here, in the rear, Am Yisrael is not mamash face to face with Amalek trying to kill us, so we feel we have the "luxury" to continue our prior shenanigans. Out there on the front line, where the real enemy is totally imminent and clear, all these differences fall away. If we don't learn our lesson, Rachmana litzlan, HKB"H is going to bring the front line closer to each and every one of us, until we do.
As often happens (too often unfortunately), we tend to forget the "G-d Factor", that things are at play that are far beyond our understanding and human capability, that despite our faults, HKB"H loves us anyway and will redeem us anyway.
What better time could Hashem have given Iran and Hezbollah to attack us than during the 9 days, if He so willed? The 9 days are notorious in history for bad things to happen to Am Yisrael. Iran and her proxies in fact vowed they would retaliate against us on Tisha Be'Av, but it never happened. HKB"H did not allow it to happen, because He loves us, He has mercy on us and sees how deeply we are suffering already.
HKB"H is fighting for us. What are the chances of the prime minister and foreign minister of Iran, at the same time, crashing with a helicopter into a mountain and being wiped out? There are a lot of mountains in Iran (and in Lebanon and Yemen) and G-d's hand is long.
Things may seem complicated, unclear and confusing, but in fact, they are surprisingly simple. To be saved from this current crisis from within and without and be redeemed, we simply have to follow the last 3 psukim in the parsha –
וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי ה' אֱ-לֹקֶיךָ הוּא הָאֱ-לֹקִים הָאֵ-ל הַנֶּאֱמָן שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד לְאֹהֲבָיו וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָו לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר. וּמְשַׁלֵּם לְשֹׂנְאָיו אֶל פָּנָיו לְהַאֲבִידוֹ לֹא יְאַחֵר לְשֹׂנְאוֹ אֶל פָּנָיו יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ. וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת הַמִּצְוָה וְאֶת הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם לַעֲשׂוֹתָם (דברים ז, ט-יא).
We all need to reconnect with the "mother ship", do tshuva and reestablish our connection with HKB"H. And we will eventually. If out of choice, then it will be less painful.
This is the true comfort.
נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי יֹאמַר אֱ-לֹקֵיכֶם.
Shabbat Shalom
Eliezer Meir Saidel
Machon Lechem Hapanim
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