Rabbi Bentzion Grossman of Migdal Haemek: We were silent as the Gush was destroyed; the time has come to make a reckoning
Do Not Sit Back with Folded Hands
"Yosef HaTzaddik′s brothers said: ′ ′We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.′ When the state destroyed tens of settlements, abandoned thousands of Jews and ceded their lands to murderers who burned shuls, the charedi public was silent. Many of them said to themselves- it will never happen to us. Nevertheless, here it is, happening in real time. Today, there is no construction in Yerushalayim, and homes are being destroyed in the charedi settlements.
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Rabbi Grossman, Netanyahu has begun proximity talks with the Arabs to establish a Palestinian state, and froze the construction in Yerushalayim, while the charedi/Orthodox religious parties are occupied with their own agendas.
"The Lubavitcher Rebbe warned immediately after the Six Day War 43 years ago or more, that waiver would lead to additional concessions. He cried out loudly about the religious parties that support a government that is ready to give up territories in the Holy Land and warned hundreds of times that eventually they will give up Yerushalayim, may G-d save us. I′m surprised how religious Jews can give a hand to such a terrible situation, as we have never had before.
"Who would have believed two years ago, that they would freeze construction in Ramat Shlomo, demolish homes in Modi′in Illit and freeze all construction in Beitar Illit? In an interview here in ′Our Land of Israel′ on the eve of the elections, I warned of the terrible dangers of the situation. Unfortunately, everything is coming true, since the words of the the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Tzadik and Wonder of the generation do not return empty-handed. What is left to do is that all the Rabbis and activists should rise up, and not allow negotiations to progress further, bringing bloodshed of millions of Jews in the Holy Land, G-d forbid. "
The terrible destruction of houses in the Modi′in Illit settlement by the Civil Administration inspectors reminded many people of the Gush Katif destruction. Is there a connection between the two?
"Yosef HaTzaddik′s brothers said: ′ ′We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.′ When the state destroyed tens of settlements, abandoned thousands of Jews, and ceded their lands to murderers who burned shuls, the charedi public was silent. Many of them said to themselves- it will never happen to us. Nevertheless, here it is, happening in real time. Today, there is no construction in Yerushalayim, and homes are being destroyed in the charedi settlements with a vengance.
"Obviously, we must do a piercing soul-searching, and acknowledge that the words of The Lubavitcher Rebbe about Eretz Israel are actual words of prophecy; a ′single hair from his words did not fall to the ground′. Each and every individual is obligated , according to Torah ruling, to do everything in his power, be it protest or action, to halt further political process and the attempt to give more land to the Arabs.
In the Laws of Fast Days (chapter 1, Halacha 3) the Rambam writes: ′However if they do not cry out and do not sound the trumpet, rather say that this is the way of the world and this misfortune is happenstance, behold- this is a cruel approach, causes them to cleave to their evil deeds, and this calamity will bring about other calamities.′
Therefore, everyone must learn a lesson from what happened in Gush Katif, to mend his deeds and realize why this calamity happened to us.
"I would like to take this opportunity to praise Rabbi Sholom Dov Volpo, Chairman of the Eretz Yisroel Shelanu movement, who dedicates himself, body and soul, to the issues and needs of Eretz Yisroel, as per the Rebbe′s personal instructions. He is a true role model, and everyone should learn from him and do as he does. Each of us is obliged, according to Torah law, to all that is in his power to help."
In which areas do we need to strengthen ourselves?
"First of all, we must strengthen our Torah learning and fulfilling commandments and doing good deeds, for they will protect us from tragedy. Secondly, we must eagerly anticipate Moshiach′s coming , speedily in our day. However, it is our duty, as Jews who merit living in the Holy Land, to do all that is imposed on us for the Land of Israel, and not to rest on laurels and say ′peace unto my soul.′ Ultimately, the terrible danger will reach us all, and no one is exempt from protesting and acting to save the land of Israel and help the settlers in any way possible. This applies to foreign residents, as well as tHose of us living in Eretz Yisroel. This is required of each individual, and so I call on every one to help and support all the holy activities of SOS- Israel and Our Land of Israel. "
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