Moreshet Shaul: What Connects Us as a Nation – part I | Various Rabbis | Beit Midrash

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[These ideas are from a letter of greeting to the author of a book.]
The older a talmid chacham (Torah scholar) becomes, the more settled his mind becomes (Kinim 3:6). The same viewpoint that started in his youth accompanies him into old age, without deviation and zigzagging, without failures and the need to repent. Rather the scholar started off on the right path and just became increasingly settled. Matters started as a first thought and then become increasingly confirmed. It starts off, "It should be correct because it must be," and it later becomes crystal clear. "And Yosef was in Egypt" (Shemot 1:5), about which the Rabbis says that he was the same Yosef in Egypt as he was in his father’s house (Shemot Rabba 1:7). Yosef in hard times and at the height of success was the same, because the truth is one and unchanging.
In this time (1985) of confused philosophies, it is good to find clear presentations, without cloudiness and doubts. [The book] answers two questions: How are we as a nation? What role does the [Zionist] movement have within the nation?
The Zionist ideology that guided the aliya to the Land from the beginning of the Zionist movement has put the stress on our cohesiveness as a nation, and as such, on our connection to the Land and everything that relates to it. Although this seems generally correct, it is unclear what the essence of this nationalism is. Are we united by our genealogical origin, and the rest is up to everyone’s free will? Are there other ways to coalesce? For example, perhaps language is critical. In Diaspora lands, we became fluent in the national language or some dialect of it, due to our having come from a different country, so we spoke some seventy languages.
Only the stubborn will deny the feeling of connection to others who are of the same origin, as a strong feeling that beats in the heart of the Jew. What else pushes a liberal American millionaire to be interested in Israel or to speak to his powerful leaders about obtaining the freedom of refuseniks in Russia? It is this connection that understandably pushes him to action.
But if this is it, is it not possible that in a generation or two this recognition will fade until it disappears totally? Ben Gurion once spoke of purpose and uniqueness, on the claim that the heart of a Jew beats with a deeper feeling of morality. But one must still ask: Does this feeling of being special give the power to willingly accept all of the difficulties the state needs to struggle with on a daily basis? What prevents the young man or woman from looking for contentment in other countries, especially those that are stable, rich, and secure?
We must add on to these questions. What is the image of our nation in its land if there is nothing constant that unites its members with our brethren in the diaspora? Consider especially that if somehow a peace treaty will be implemented, which is what we are looking forward to, will we not have intermarriage with a foreign nation? Then, there will be no unity left with the nation in the diaspora. These are thoughts that can drive us mad – it raises the possibility that the formation of the State of Israel, would not be one that solves problems, but that arouses bigger problems for our existence as a nation.

We will continue next time.