Rabbi Meir Mazoz Shlita in an Exclusive Interview: "Soldiers Enlisted in the Israel Defense Force, and not in the Israel Expulsion Force"
Is There Atonement for the Gush Katif Expulsion?
On the occasion of the 100th edition of our publication, Rabbi Meir Mazoz Shlita, well respected Rabbi and head of the Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, granted "Our Land of Israel" an exclusive interview. Rabbi Mazoz addressed the issues of the day, the Three Weeks mourning period, and the situation of the Jewish Nation * The Rav warns: beware of public apathy, and of the Yesha settlers′ situation ("he who will be apathetic to the plight of his brothers in a different part of the land, will end up in the same plight") * The moral to be learned from Gush Katif: "Don′t believe any leader- not rightists and not leftists"
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Rabbi Mazoz, we are commemorating the 100th issue of the "Our Land of Israel" publication.
"I congratulate you, and bless you to be able to double the issues. May your publication influence the readership, both Jews and –lehavdil- non-Jews, to realize our G-dly right to the Holy Land."
The past year has been fraught with difficulties, notably the construction freeze. What message do the Rav have for the residents of Judea and Samaria?
"May all the difficulties of the outgoing year dissipate, and may the coming year- 5771- bring a bursting forth (Ufatatzta- based on the gematria of the coming 5771 year) to the West, East, North and South. I bless the residents of Yehuda and Shomron that they should be able to remain peacefully in their homes, and may the posuk ′He stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?′ be fulfilled in them.
Why is it so important to take part in the activities for Shleimus Haaretz (the integrity of the Land) and how can we integrate the public in this undertaking?
"Shleimus Haaretz is the integrity of the Torah and the Nation. In Birkas Hamozon (Grace after Meals), we say: ′May the Merciful One lead us upright in our Land (according to the Rishonim). Our nation′s power is in our mouths- in prayer to the One on High, and in explication to our brothers and us. It must be clear that he who will be apathetic to the plight of brothers in any part of the country, will find himself in the same plight. I refer to the Cheftziba affair as an example.
During the course of the year, soldiers declared their refusal to expel Jews from Eretz Yisroel. What is the Rav′s opinion?
"The soldiers were very well aware that they enlisted in the Israel Defense Force, and not the Israel Expulsion Force, G-d forbid."
Yerushalayim is on the present agenda, and danger lurks in every corner. Does the Rav feel that this will happen?
"We can′t say that no one said it first. The Lubavitcher Rebbe foresaw this with his holy eyes from the very first time that there was talk about so-called ′peace′. Woe is to us that we are witnessing this. Despite the bleak outlook, with G-d′s help, we, the eternal nation, will be victorious, and Yerushalyim will remain in our hands forever and ever, until Moshiach comes.
We are commemorating five years since the expulsion from Gush Katif. It is a well know fact that the Rav was a great leader in the struggle for the settlers. What are the conclusions that you came to?
"The conclusion is simple: we cannot believe any ′leader′ – whether from the leftist or rightist camp. We must treasure every single grain of earth, and not give up even one tiny bit. The leaders speak sweetly of peace, but carry a double -edged sword. The Gush Katif Museum in Yerushalayim reminds of what we had, and lost, due to our sins."
The public was indifferent to the fate of our brothers in Gush Katif. What can be done to atone for this?
"They should help the expellees by supporting them financially, emotionally, and personally. Among the kinos- lamentations- that we recite on Tisha B′Av (possibly authored by Rabbi Yitzchok ben Giat 900 years ago) there is one beginning with the words ′expelled from their houses of pleasure′- which expresses so perfectly the feelings of our brothers who were expelled on Tisha B′Av 5665."
We find ourselves in Bein Hametzorim. How can we bring the Geulah, and what is there to rectify?
"The second Bais HaMikdosh was destroyed because of random hate. We have not healed from this hate, 1940 years after the churban. ′And they deceive every one his neighbour; and trust ye not in any brother (Yermiyahu, 9/3,4-the Haftora recited on Tisha B′Av). Unfortunately, there is disaccord between brothers, neighbors, communities, people of status, political factions, various religious factions between themselves, and religious groups against religious Zionist groups. Sadly, we recently lost a beloved and unforgettable figure- Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, z"l, who was a model of great love for every Jew, and taught love and unity amongst all Jews. We will tread on the path that he set for us, and merit the complete Geulah imminently, with G-d′s help.
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