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Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- A Nation and its Halachot
- The Israeli State and Goverment
The book was written after hundreds and thousands of classified documents from the period of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 were made public. Professor Herf delved into hundreds of documents, memorandums, and meeting minutes which showed the vehement opposition of senior U.S. administration officials from both sides of the political spectrum to the establishment of the State of Israel. Senior CIA officials, the heads of the Pentagon, and the US State Department objected, as did industrialists and financiers, who built the future of the American economy on the supply of Arab oil from the Persian Gulf.
The opposition was headed by US Secretary of State George Marshall, a World War II hero and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. He was convinced that a bloody war would break out between the Jews and the Arabs, and that the Jews would be disastrously defeated. As a general, he knew that the Jews did not have soldiers, weapons, knowledge or military experience to fight a war against ten countries experienced in warfare. The Jews also did not have the necessary courage and determination. In short, they had no chance of winning.
Another cause for concern in the US administration was the Soviet Union’s very surprising support of the establishment of the Jewish State. The Americans were very concerned that the State of Israel that would be established would be a satellite state of the Soviet government, which in those days was waging a very serious cold war against the United States.
In the face of all this stood American President Harry Truman, who used all of his influence on the senior bureaucrats who opposed the establishment of the State of Israel. He instructed the US representative to the UN to support the UN partition plan, and recognized the State of Israel ten minutes after David Ben-Gurion's declaration of the State.
Harry Truman drew his strength from the Bible. His mother had taught him the Bible every day. Thanks to her, he realized that an historic process was taking place during his administration and that he should be a partner in it and not stand along the sidelines. He felt that he was the messenger of the Divine in fulfilling the prophecies of Moses and all of the prophets after him. And he did not disappoint.
What is most amazing is that Truman had not been elected President, he was elected as the Vice President to President Roosevelt, who opposed the establishment of the Jewish State. Roosevelt died suddenly during his tenure, and unexpectedly Harry Truman was inaugurated President, thus paving the way for the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses: "the Lord your God will restore your returnees, and He will be merciful to you, and He will return and gather you from all the nations, that the Lord your God dispersed you there. Even if your banished will be at the ends of the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will take you. The Lord your God will bring you to the Land of which your fathers took possession, and you shall take possession of it; and He will do good to you, and increase you beyond your fathers" (Deuteronomy 30, 3-5).
The new, recently published book shows the extent to which we are not aware of the miracles that God does for us. Now we can get to know them a little more.
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.
