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Israel is always searching for a savior, a messianic figure that can and will solve all of our problems and make us beloved amongst the nations of the world, united at home and at peace with ourselves and our neighbors. So, anyone or any party that advertises itself as being that savior will naturally attract votes and support from a populace that is trained to ignore the realities of Jewish life and of the historical attitude of the world towards us. So, I am also convinced, that since the inception of the state of Israel the guiding hand of Heaven thwarts our follies and somehow does not allow the repetition of catastrophic mistakes made by us in the past. The Bible records for us a verse that states: "He Who dwells in heaven laughs at us; God mocks us." I do not pretend to know the opinion of Heaven as to our forthcoming election. In fact I think that invoking God’s name in this purely secular exercise is itself wrong if not even blasphemous. But I do have the feeling that Heaven is at least chuckling over the election campaign currently being waged by our erstwhile saviors, both new and old.
I have often recounted the anecdote attributed to Abraham Lincoln about the horse thief who was apprehended in his act of burglary. He was subjected to instant frontier justice and was tied to a rail, dipped in tar, covered with feathers and was being carried out to be deposited in a nearby swamp. Lincoln said that the man was heard to mutter that if were not for the honor he would forgo the pleasure. I think that that is a good description of what we are experiencing in the current election campaign. It is the honor that allows wise and good people to be subjected to the indignities that this type of election campaign produces. Some parties will increase their representation in the Knesset, some parties that were previously powerful and influential will wane and almost disappear. There will be many ups and downs as there always are in elections. Nevertheless probably very little will change in our daily personal lives and perhaps even in the overall national life of our wonderful little country. The savior will not yet have arrived and our problems are not likely to disappear in the immediate future no matter what the results of the election may be. This does not mean that we should despair of positive change are of good leadership. But it does mean that we should be realistic, rational and we should try to retain our emotional equilibrium and good sense in judging the parties and personalities involved. I make no recommendations or predictions regarding the election. I only think that it will always follow the pattern of previous elections and that the ups and downs of Israeli political life will continue in the future as well.
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Hosha'ana Rabba FLYDUBAI & HOSHANA RABBA- ANI VAHU HOSHIA NA- I & HIM SAVE US
"Ani vaHu Hoshia Na", "I and Him, Save Us". We don't just pray to Him, but we also pray to and for ourselves that we should emulate and educate our children to have that instinctive altruism with which He created the world. President Trump seemed amused about Yaniv Hayon, our PLUMBER who confidently worked with G-d like Superman (he learned from a pilot on a TV show!) to save 174 lives on the Dubai hijacking, but we in Israel are totally accustomed already 78 years to our plumbers, teachers, garbage-men, rabbis, farmers & doctors being Hashem's shlichim! This is what Zionism is about.
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
