Shalom Pollack: Jewish leaders

 I have been a close observer of Israel and its politics for over half a century, and I have formed opinions about many public figures and "leaders".

I want to share my favorites.

The questions I ask myself are:

Is he (or she) God-fearing?
Does he love his people?
Is he loyal in his private and public life?
Is he intelligent?
Is he consistent in his thoughts and beliefs (is he intellectually honest)?
Is he knowledgeable about what is important to our people and country?
Does he think outside the box and independently despite popular trends?
Can he communicate well?

The  current  litmus test cases  for a would-be leader  are:

What did or didn't they do, say, or not say about:

Oslo - 1993
Mass expulsions - 2005
The latest Gaza war ("round") and the hostage situation
Jonathan Pollard's grievous incarceration in the USA, 1985-2015.
Amiram Ben Uliel, serving a life sentence since 2015.
https://us.list-manage.com/O9CtKFdLnma?e=6fef771d7c&c2id=b7ab69906b3ece6eab394384ed3abb92

Considering the above, I have two candidates for my favorite Jewish leaders  in the last over  half a century:

The first on my list is the holy, martyred Rabbi Meir  Kahane. (1932- 1990).
The Jewish people were not ready for his courage and honesty and are paying the price to this very day, much as the Jews in the generation of Jeremiah the prophet.

The second leader is the head of the "Zehut" party, Moshe Feiglin, the only politician who does not fear to say publicly that 'Kahane was right".

Feiglin passes every one of my litmus tests and prerequisites for Jewish leadership.

He is the only politician who visited Jonathan Pollard in his cell and, from the day he was arrested, uniquely, never stopped fighting for his release and good name.

Amiram Ben Uliel, serving a life sentence based solely on an admission extracted by severe and continued torture, never leaves the lips and heart of Moshe Feiglin, who has attended all of his legal appeals and is his most vociferous defender against a corrupt legal and security system.

On the day after Oct. 7, 2023,  he pleaded that not one soldier be sent into Gaza to risk their lives because he predicted that it would just be another "round" with inconclusive results.
(His grandson was killed when he was ordered to search a house for terrorists while making sure not to hurt "innocent non-combatants.")

He repeats, "Victory means occupation, expulsion, and Jewish settlement, as in 1948. Nothing less. No more "rounds".
He was vehemently opposed to exchanging hostages for thousands of terrorists or other concessions to Hamas that would ensure their survival.
He demanded cutting off water, electricity, and food until every hostage was returned. (What would Churchill have done  had Germany demanded concessions  and  withdrawal from  liberated Europe in return for British hostages?)
He was accused of being indifferent to the plight of the hostages and their families. He understood the difference between the emotional concern of a parent for a loved one and the responsibility of a leader to the safety of seven million Jews.
He never publicized it, but it came out that, from the day that the first hostage was abducted until the day of the last one's release, he had a pebble in his shoe as a constant reminder of their plight.
Which leader does that?

He and his son both donated a kidney to Jews.
He was accused of racism when he insisted on only a Jewish recipient and not an Arab.
(I  wonder how many of his critics have donated a kidney to an Arab or anyone else).

Now that he is in the Knesset, I pray that God watches over him and that until the coming of Moshiach, he will lead our nation speedily in our time,

We are in great need.

shalompollack613@gmail.com