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An especially nice and intelligent Jew, after seeing the Academy Award winning anti-Israel movie portraying the IDF as continuously tearing down the homes of innocent Palestinians, wrote "I'm embarrassed to be a Jew!". On the other hand, upon verifying the facts, it turns out that under the Oslo Accords (which the Palestinian leadership agreed to), Israel has full control over that Masafer Yatta area- known as Area C, and it was those Arabs and their illegal building who were the ones breaking the law, as opposed to the IDF who was simply upholding it.
This unfortunate situation for which those Arabs themselves are clearly the ones responsible, leaves us no choice but to implement the law as every other country would do, and protect ourselves, even if it doesn't film well. What is the alternative? To let them do whatever they want and let ourselves be run over by that immoral and law-breaking ideology?
I was then asked: "But why would people build in an area and spend so much money, where they know their homes will be legally torn down?" It's a great question for a rational situation, but when it turns out that the anti-Israel European Union supplies most of that building money, it makes more sense.
A second point is that a similar question can be asked on a larger scale: why do the Gazans and Palestinians in general constantly start wars and use terror against Israel which is much stronger, where they bezH "lose" time after time? The answer is clearly connected to their religious concept of Shahid (holy martyrs) and Jihad war, where even if they are killed and lose, they see it as a ticket to Heaven, so they believe they always gain! I've found that this mindset is so different from a western way of thinking, and that's why many American politicians simply can't understand that the Arabs are the aggressors, for it really doesn't make sense, why they keep starting up?
On the other hand, the IDF is comprised of normative, democratic and nice educated Jewish people like our children, who are altruistic enough to volunteer leaving their families for months on end, but instead of thanks, some (even Jews, like Yuval Avraham that movie's producer) are not even willing to present our side of the story (he knew very well that the easiest way to win awards in Berlin & Hollywood is "Israel-bashing", especially by an Israeli!). To start showing any scenario from just one lens, and without seeing the law, or the beginning of the story and the decades of irrational war and daily Arab attacks on innocent Jews, is inevitably going to misinform and be very very biased. Accordingly, the Arab producers at the Academy Awards couldn't even mention (!) our innocent kidnapped hostages, and some got angry at Yuval Avraham who did, which testifies to their selective "humanism".
A more objective movie which I myself cannot stomach to watch but is apparently important for the internationally confused (especially Jews!) to personally see, is the real-time Hamas self-videos which can be found online, where they proudly present and even brag about their sadistic attacks and mutilation of 1200 innocent Israeli citizens on one (!) day! Some of the seemingly unfortunate "No Other Land" scenes were fabricated (see proof on YouTube, but they couldn't even fabricate similar accusations against the IDF doing such "atrocities" that Arabs have been doing to us for over 50 years), but the Oct. 7th ones are unfortunately real and not fabricated. If you wish to see the whole picture, the latter is surely more real and objective, and it is our boys in the IDF who have been giving their lives day and night for 17 months, who are precisely the "good guys", and definitely not the "bad guys".
Ironically "No Other Land", would be a much more fitting title for a movie about Israel, as opposed to the other 22 Arab lands, but the first thing one must verify is which side are the victims and which side, the "bad guys", for it makes a 180-degree difference. See Chad Gadya. Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
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.
