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Davka because our childern in the IDF are so careful (statistically more than any other army in the world, just Google: IDF minimize civilian casualties) not to attack civilians and our army camp is truly holy, it is especially aggravating and offensive that some American Jews (most of who don't even live in Israel), who never served a day in their lives in an army base, and surely have never been endangered through the Gazan's use of their own children & hospitals as human shields, dare to condemn our kids. With 0 Israeli political experience, it's no less than chutzpah to preach mussar to our elected and experienced government as to how is the best way to pressure our enemies to free our kidnapped. Golda Meir, a lioness in orthopedic shoes, ended the Yom Kippur War WITHIN DAYS by withholding food and water from the surrounded Egyptian Third Army. To consume Hamas propaganda as fact, like the Pope and UN without even verifying the facts and without knowing what pressures the Hamas, and without first PRAISING the MORALITY of Israel and the IDF is not "keeping sanctity in the Jewish army camp", but rather profaning it FALSELY in front of Israel's enemies in Europe, Australian, Canada etc. at time of war.
I am proud to be one of the half million "settlers" whom Rabbi Blau offends through his indecent generalizations, where as opposed to him and his American cohorts, I can personally testify that 99% of us settlers are not "exploding violence" towards Arabs, and have never even once done so (he can check with his own children). If even 1,000 (by far an overstatement according to the police) of the 530,000 settlers have done violence, it doesn't even reach 1% of the settlers, and not even a half or a quarter of 1%! It would be much more statistically accurate to generalize that R. Blau's students in Yeshiva university are violent because some individual graduates there have beaten their wives or children! Similarly to quote the extremist Ben-Gvir as an average settler, is like citing R. Meir Kahane, a YU high school colleague of R. Blau, as a mainstream representative of Yeshiva University.
Instead of unity among Jews, and collecting money for children in Sderot, R. Blau has inadvertently united with CNN, BBC, Al Jazeerah and the Gazans. Instead of blaming Hamas for the suffering in Gaza, he blames Israel.
May I suggest that these rabbis have the moral humility to clarify their words on these accounts, and fix the sin of the meraglim who spoke bad about Eretz Yisrael (the Meshech Chochma, P. B'Shalach, stresses that Hashem even forgave the sin of the Golden Calf, but not the sin of the spies, even though some of their words were true!). If they like writing, these rabbis should at least publish a similar letter, already today, PRAISING the morality of Israel & the IDF. If the NY Times quoted and applauded him, that's a sign that they celebrate the anti-Israel sentiment Rav Blau raises, and he can try correcting it through complimenting Israel regarding true moral facts. It's not difficult, especially during Elul, to say "I was wrong" for tarnishing innocent & righteous people of Israel. We have enough enemies, and better to publicize the genuine holiness of the IDF camps where G-d says He truly "walks", as well as the altruistic kidney donation among "settlers" (by far the highest in the world! Google: Altruistic Kidney Religious Zionists Settlers) instead of providing our enemies with support during war, especially when false or exaggerated! Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
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.
