Two Disengagements Rabbi Sholom Dov Volpo

The holy demonstration against the High Court decision in the Immanuel affaire brought many to reflect and come to conclusions concerning many aspects of our daily lives.  Exactly 36 hours after the judges′ verdict to jail the parents was announced, hundreds of thousands of people came out to the streets to demonstrate, protest and cry out.  Their obstinacy opposite the authorities, with no fear at all, taught those holding the reins of law and sovereignty a lesson or two, and forced those perched high in the ivory tower to climb down from their summit. 

Today the identity of our nation′s enemy is clear: the High Court is the true enemy of the People of Israel.  This High Court, only five years previously, infringed on all the basic rights of the Gush Katif settlers and threw them like dung to the caravans ("caravillas").  Five years ago we found ourselves in a similar situation, when the predatory rulership threw tens of families into jail, evicted thousands of people from their homes, abandoned entire regions of Eretz Yisroel to murderers, and put the lives of the entire population in danger from the Chamastan state with its missiles shooting at the entire Negev. 

Tragically, the voices that were heard during that struggle were meek and along the lines of: "We have love and it will prevail." The government didn′t see any signs of immovable leadership, and we were sold for a bowl of lentil soup. We have much to learn from the last demonstration regarding all struggles against the government and its deeds. We must disengage from the fake and dangerous statehood, and comprehend whom we are up against.  All the above is in preparation for the struggles that loom ahead of us.  

The Immanuel Disengagement  

A word or two directed to the charedi populace, especially the Yahadut HaTorah party heads, who were partners in Sharon′s unforgivable crime. The charedi public, who was apathetic to the plight of the Gush Katif residents, understands today what it feels like when a father is cut off from his family and thrown into jail. Sadly, we didn′t see any black headlines then in the charedi newspapers. Despite the fact that many shuls and batei midrash were torched and were consummed by fire, they received no mention in those newspapers. They viewed the Gush Katif residents- "Mizrochnikim"- as fourth-class citizens. The charedi activists collaborated with the government, and therefore Disengagement #2 came upon them. 

We all cried with the Immanuel prisoners; they are our flesh and blood and are at the forefront, strengthening the Shomron settlement. The dear Slonimer Chassidim supported the struggles for the integrity of Eretz Yisroel.  We saw MK Mozes shed bitter tears at the sight of babes being separated from their parents. He cried out from the depths of his heart, "This is Disengagement!" 

At that moment, I wished to pose a question to him: Where were all these hundreds of thousands when thousands of observant Jews were being cruelly evicted from their homes? Is MK Mozes aware that many of the Gush Katif youth are dysfunctional and receiving psychiatric treatment? Is MK Mozes aware that their lives will never be the same again? 

There is more to come: Today it is clear that the Bibi government is about to release hundreds of murderers- which in itself is an incentive to carry out more kidnapping in the future. In addition, it is clear that Bibi and his ministers are determined to apply the Gush Katif verdict on Judea and Samaria.  This verdict includes the destruction and burning of shuls and batei midrash, G-d forbid, and the abandonment of tens and hundreds of thousands of residents.  May G-d protect us from this evil plan. Therefore, we ask: where are all the activists and visitors of "Shaagas Immanuel"? 

My question is not directed to the Slonimer Chassidim, for their Rebbe spoke up sharply and with resolve against the disengagement.  It is aimed at all those public activists and elected officials that jumped up on the Immanuel bandwagon with glee and basked in the honor and publicity: why don′t we hear your voices in the struggle against the next expulsion? Why are you not calling the masses out to the streets to demonstrate, and prevent the endangering of millions of Jewish lives? 

Construction was frozen in the charedi housing projects, as well as in other places.  You continued on with daily life as if this is the norm. There is serious talk of establishing a Palestinian state, yet you remain silent.  When will you wake up?? Will you wake up only when the Special Police Unit (Yasam) starts expelling the Kiryat Sefer, Immanuel and Beitar populations by force?