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Simha bat Hana
"There is no dispensation whatsoever when it comes to the Torah's prohibition against relinquishing portions of land to non-Jews—Heaven forbid!—and there never will be. Therefore, every Torah leader in Israel, and all military personnel, must act to prevent and obstruct this act with great courage and vigor."
He further affirmed that "Judea and Samaria will not go without a war . . . over our dead bodies and limbs."
I had the privilege, having been a student of Rabbi Tzi Yehudah, to study under him and to be in his company for approximately twenty-five years. As a result, I can say with complete confidence that if the Rabbi were with us here today, he would indeed call upon all soldiers, policemen and officers to disobey such orders. Such a stance was the result of his love for the state and the army, out of a recognition that the greater the number of resisters, the more the army and the state stand to be strengthened.
Rabbi Tzi Yehudah's love for the IDF sprang forth from his love of the Torah, the nation, and the land, for the obligation to follow military orders is based upon a Torah commandment, and the laws of the state likewise receive their authority from the Torah. Therefore, when military orders or laws of the state conflict with the Torah, they are null and void.
For Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah, Torah and the state were not disparate values which conflicted with one another. They constituted a single value—Torah. And by virtue of the Torah, the state receives its great and profound worth.
The state of Israel and the Israel's government are not one and the same. Governments rise and governments fall. The state is sacred, but an Israeli government is only sacred when it acts according to the Torah.
The IDF's strength derives from the great motivation of the soldiers, which in turn derives from a deep understanding of the value and sanctity of the nation of Israel and the land of Israel. The deeper this understanding, the better the solders. This is the reason that religious solders are of a distinctly high quality—they possess great faith in the sanctity of the nation and the land. This greatness of faith is what obliges them to refuse to participate in the uprooting of Jews from their ancestral inheritance in Israel.
The army will not be damaged as a result of such a dissent, even if the majority of the army refuses. To the contrary, the army will be strengthened and intensified. Whosoever claims that the army will suffer as a result of a refusal to carry out such orders is merely making a demagogic and completely unfounded accusation. Just as such an argument cannot be used to force a soldier to desecrate the Sabbath or to consume forbidden foods, so too no such argument can be employed in order to force a soldier to violate the commandment to settle the land of Israel.
There is no more democratic a cry than the call to disobey such orders, for if a majority of the soldiers heed it, it will prove that the people are opposed to the transfer, and the majority must be followed. Yet, even if only a minority refuse to carry out the dismantling, it is their democratic right to be true to their faith. Such people should not be forced to disavow their faith.
To the contrary, a blind application of force when it comes to such a weighty issue endangers the army. Any reasonable person can understand this. Applying blind force will weaken the motivation of the best soldiers to serve in the army and to continue in the higher ranks.
I therefore call upon all to abide by the words of the eminent Rabbi Avraham Shapira, who follows in the footsteps of Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah, to act in such a way that will reveal that the majority of the nation and the majority of the army are opposed to the uprooting of Jews from their homes. What this means is to prepare a mass list of signatures announcing opposition to the disengagement and refusal to take part in this forbidden act.
It goes without saying that my words contain no permission to actively injure any soldier, policeman, or public figure. One who behaves in such a manner weakens us in our struggle against the dismantling of settlements.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
