Accountability of Leadership: Israeli and American

During the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot we are commanded to count every day and make a daily blessing. The significance of performing this mitzva of counting the Omer, is to illustrate the process of advancing up along the ladder of freedom which began by G-d redeeming us from Egypt, and came to its culmination at Mount Sinai where the holy Torah was given. The Torah guides us in the expression of true freedom in every aspect of life; it provides direction towards a life according to divine principles of kindness, purification and sanctity.

In our recent history, we were privileged to experience another special aspect of this period of time between Pesach and Shavuot, and just as then, in those days of redemption from Egypt, we too were given days of celebration by Hashem on the way to our redemption. The 5th day of Iyar is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, and the 28^th of Iyar is Yom Yerushalayim, the day the eternal Jewish capital of Israel was liberated and reunited. This week, we again remember and experience those days of powerful injections of faith brought upon us by the G-d of Israel in the Six Day War. The weeks before the war were days of fear, as the ruler of Egypt threatened to throw the Jews into the sea. Then, within a mere six days, the Israel Defense Forces miraculously destroyed the armies of our enemies on the ground, while our Air Force incredibly wiped out the air forces of Egypt, Syria and Jordan while they were still parked on the tarmac. Once again, with the help of the Almighty, our people were delivered from the threat of annihilation by our wicked enemies. This astounding victory paved the way for the renewed and vibrant establishment of Jewish settlement within the heart of the Land of Israel. The physical bond with the Biblical cities of Jerusalem, Hebron, Beit El, Shilo and others, was restored, and all of Judea and Samaria was reunited and returned to the Children of Israel. Again, just as in the years of the Zionist process, the divine phenomenon of revitalization of the Jewish homeland and the Jewish people emerged. The ancient Jewish towns, and the hills of Judea and Samaria could now be brought back to a life of faith and Jewish values by the devotion of the Children of Israel. We, as people of faith, were not only elevated spiritually by witnessing this great step forward in our redemption process, but even more so, we recognized the divine mission and responsibility that was bestowed upon us. We realized it was our duty to proudly and persistently reinstate Jewish life on the barren hills of Judea and Samaria, re-establishing modern towns in the heart of Biblical Israel. More than 41 years ago, we returned to Hebron and from there the seeds of resettlement of Judea and Samaria sprouted. Today, it is gratifying to witness the phenomenon of 300,000 Jews living flourishing and thriving lives in Judea and Samaria, restoring Zionist faith and pioneering spirit to the State of Israel.

All this success has occurred despite the difficulties, pain and suffering inflicted upon us by Arab terror which is aroused and driven by the evil goal of uprooting Israeli independence and the complete destruction of the Jewish people. We thank G-d every day for living in this generation, and acknowledge the privilege of being a part of this process of spiritual renewal of the Zionist redemption process. Despite the demands of all the nations of the world, including our ally the United States of America, to return to the boundaries of 1967, the Jewish people have succeeded in re-establishing Jewish presence, whose roots are deeply embedded in the holy soil of Judea and Samaria. The nations of the world blindly demonstrate rejection of the basic justice and truth of the Balfour Declaration and resolution of the League of Nations, which declared that Palestine should be a Jewish Homeland. These nations of the world are willing to appease and negotiate with the powers of evil and destruction emanating from Iran and their wicked disciples, the Hezbollah and Hamas, as they make great efforts to establish an independent entity of these criminal powers in the heart of our homeland, in Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights.

Thank G-d there is a new leadership in Israel; our new Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu and his coalition members received the support and trust of a majority of Israeli voters in order to reinstate national pride, imbued in our rights to live peacefully by developing and strengthening the life of our people in all of its homeland. These words are being written before the meeting between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Obama, the newly elected President of the United States. I pray and hope that the inspiration of these special miraculous days of Omer will permeate the mind and heart of Mr. Netanyahu, with the self assurance of the truth of his position. This self confidence of a Jewish leader, realizing his responsibility and carrying with him the backing of generations of Jews who dreamed of a return to Zion, will transmit a clear and powerful message, which cannot be ignored by the practical intelligence of Mr. Obama.

Our faith and experience have taught us that the success of Jewish leadership in Israel is dependent upon its recognition that the Zionist path is directed and guided by the G-d of Israel. Any weakness, hesitation or retreat from this path will result in the failure of the leadership and endangers the very existence of the State of Israel. In the same manner, American leaders who wished to create a new world order in their struggle against evil, did not succeed in achieving their goal by pressuring Israel and denying her basic prerogative to defend and ensure Jewish rights. It would be absurd and counter-productive if a proud American leader like Mr. Obama yields to the dictatorial powers of evil and destruction, while twisting the arm of Israel, a close ally and champion of democracy.

Allow me to declare clearly and faithfully, that the only one creating new world orders is the Creator of the world, the G-d of Israel; He has begun to create a new world order by bringing His Chosen People back home, renewing their lives as an independent people with the same goal as presented to our father Abraham:

“The Lord said to Abram “Go on……to the land I will show you. And I will make you into a great nation……and you shall be a blessing…..and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you” [Genesis, 12:1-2].

Only those who go hand in hand with the Almighty, following in the path of redemption of Israel, will succeed in receiving the divine blessing of authentic world leadership.

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