The Bostoner Rebbe said: The Jews of the North Ran from their Homes in the Lebanon War as a Punishment for the Eviction of Jews in the South during the Expulsion
Last Shabbos, World Jewry sustained a great loss with the passing of the Bostoner Rebbe. He was one of the last Rabbis of the previous generation, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, a fierce fighter for the integrity of Eretz Yisroel and all that is holy to us. He spearheaded all the struggles to save and protect the land of Israel, and always assisted greatly. During the deportation he went himself to encourage and strengthen the residents of Gush Katif. Eretz Yisroel loyalists lost one of their great fighters.
We are hereby publicizing part of a rare interview with Bostoner Rebbe that was originally published in the Kehilla Orthodox weekly a year after the expulsion from Gush Katif in the midst of the Lebanon War. The Bostoner Rebbe made a connection between the fleeing of refugees from the war and the brutal expulsion from Gush Katif a year earlier. We bring excerpts from the interview.
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According to the Rebbe's opinion, the connection between the disengagement plan and the current fighting in Lebanon is far beyond that. I.e.: not only the time that elapsed that allowed the Hezbollah to be fortified for the war but also the option given to join the fighting at the southern front when it was already burning.
"This is a double fault. We see today the damage caused by our departure from the Gaza Strip. If Gaza was now in our hands, there would be more military options; the army could more easily nip the terrorism in the bud. Now they are fighting against us from two fronts- north and south. What happened here was absurd and outrageous. We ourselves prepared the ground for Israel's enemies to prevail. We gave them the Gaza Strip without them wanting it. They had announced in advance that they will not stop fighting Israel even after the withdrawal. It's absolute madness that is unfathomable. "
The connection to the Bostoner Rebbe's opinion is so transparent, that it really can not be ignored.
"Before we start thinking about Hashem's works, it is plain that Hashem has dealt a measure for a measure. Through that miserable plan, thousands of children of Israel were thrown out of their homes and were forced to be in exile. Now, tens of thousands had to leave their homes and exile to different places, in many cases without minimal conditions. We always know that goodness is doled out in a greater amount than calamity. Now, Rachmana litzlan (may Heaven protect us), the opposite occurred.
"They are our brothers, kipah or no kipah!"
The Rebbe weighs his words carefully when he was asked by us whether the phenomenon of ultra-Orthodox refugees is also part of the measure for measure phenomenon mentioned in his earlier remarks.
"It's obvious. I do not want to use the phrase 'tit for tat', but it is perfectly clear that we had no permission to sit on the side when we saw what was being done to our brothers, children of Israel. If we know that they are our brothers and children of Israel, it matters not what kipah they wear or don't wear. They are our brothers. They are our flesh and blood."
Whatever was done or not done or not done by us, we must give an accounting. Hashem should have mercy on us that the judgment be in a positive fashion, that we should fulfill our purpose,that,' I may dwell in the house of the L-RD all the days of my life, to behold the graciousness of the L-RD, and to visit early in His Temple.' "
The Rebbe also absolutely negated joining a coalition of any government that engages in negotiations regarding displacement of Jews from their land. "Only if it will become necessary to establish a national unity emergency government, in order to save lives. As long as it's not on the agenda, should probably be careful of any negotiations with those who want to expel more Jews and give away more territories. |
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