Articles

by Yosef Ben Tzion (Joel Busner) — Oct. 2001

Until the current intifada began last year, the B'Ahavat Yisrael Organization often traveled deep into the Shomron area to distribute food, clothing, and other essentials to needy families in isolated communities.  At our peak we were able to help out about twice per month.  The latest uprising changed all that.

We felt compelled to visit with many more injured soldiers, terror victims, and their families.  The additional visits always with gifts, required more funds and more volunteers and was an added burden for our already over burdened staff.  Of course, our other regular activities in the center of Israel had to go on as our head office is located in Ra'anana.  In addition, it has become more and more dangerous to travel to the Shomron communities especially in light of the fact that none of our people here in the center of Israel possess weapons permits.

We were forced to cut back on our services to these embattled communities.  Instead of regularly sending aid, we were forced to load up with larger packages for holidays only.  Of course it helped, but it is no way enough.  Without a large enough budget to purchase a bulletproof vehicle we sought out other ways to help.  Persistence has paid off!  From this point we have trustworthy volunteers who live in these very same communities.  All of them have weapons permits and they know how to navigate with the least amount of risk.  Nothing is perfect and obviously these men and women demonstrate tremendous self–sacrifice and courage.  They are prepared to come to our head office in Ra'anana twice per month and pick up all supplies which we prepare for the Shomron needy families.  They will then immediately head off to the respective communities and deliver to each family, house by house.  No middle people, no mistakes.

Dear fellow Jew,

We're not dealing with ideology alone here.  We're dealing with a humanitarian problem as well.  While I personally believe that all of Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish People and the Jewish People only, and while we are working at aliya counseling with the hope and dream of bringing all of our brothers and sisters home, this issue goes even beyond that.  Many of these families have lost jobs because the bus services are so poor and car travel has become a game of Russian Roulette.  In addition, many of these families have mortgages and no one, not the banks, and not the government of Israel who built these communities, has offered them any alternative housing arrangements or release from their mortgage obligations.  With no existing rental market in these communities, these families are basically stranded.  While much money has been raised for much–needed defense and protective equipment, none of it will be necessary for the families who have nothing to eat!

Please give generously.

by Rabbi Yisrael Kaniel — Aug. 2002

In mid–1929, after Jews in Eretz Yisrael were subjected to a rash of Arab rioting, destruction and killings and it became apparent that the British condoned the Arabs' lawlessness, the then Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Avraham Y. Kook called the representative of the British mandate Charles Loch demanding that the British deal sternly with the rioters.  Upon being questioned what he expected to be done, Rav Kook exclaimed, "Shoot the murderers", to which the British representative replied, "I have not received an order to that effect".  In response, Rav Kook thundered, "I order you!  I demand it in the name of human conscience!".

Later at an official reception that the British government arranged for the leaders of the Jewish community, Mr. Loch extended his hand to shake that of Rav Kook.  However, in light of their earlier strained conversation, Rav Kook refused, stating emphatically that he would not shake a hand dripping in Jewish blood.  Further on in that meeting Loch warned Rav Kook, "You Jews protect yourself, but don't attack others", to which Rav Kook responded, "You who transgress 'Do not kill' should not preach to us!".

Jews began to heatedly quarrel over Rav Kook's bold stance towards the British diplomat.  While many lauded the proud and courageous stance of Rav Kook, others feared the repercussions that may arise from the British ruler.  Wherever Rav Kook would arrive, heated debates would break out as to the correctness of Rav Kook's stance.

One day not too long after Rav Kook's exchange with Mr. Loch, at a brit milah to which Rav Kook was invited, as had become customary, a heated debate again broke out concerning the exchange.  Seeing the quarreling, Rav Kook motioned to his trusted, scholarly and clever assistant Meir Shutland to calm the tensions.

Shutland hopped to his feet and asked the unruly crowd in a powerful voice: "Soon a newborn will be ushered in to fulfill his entering the covenant of our forefather Abraham and we will all greet him with our rising and calling out 'Blessed be the one who enters'.  This matter puzzles me twofold.  First, why do we not greet in the same way a bar–mitzvah boy or a groom at his wedding?..Second, why do we not part from the newborn after his circumcision with 'Blessed be the one who leaves'?"

As a hush purveyed among the crowd, Shutland continued: "Now I will answer the two questions I raised.  To our chagrin and embarrassment, Jews are impressed by every uncircumcised individual and gentile and attempt to honor him at every opportunity — if necessary or not.  Consequently, we rise in honor of the newborn who is yet uncircumcised and we warmly greet him.  But after the newborn is circumcised and has entered the camp of Israel, he warrants no more greeting."  The crowd understood the message.

While Jews should not be needlessly inconsiderate of their gentile neighbors (assuming they have not expressed sworn hatred towards us), and, in fact the Rabbis of the Talmud (Gittin 61a) enjoin us to perform certain acts — called by the Rabbis "paths of peace" — in consideration of gentile sensitivities for the sake of keeping the peace with our gentile neighbors (assuming they are basically on good terms with us), we often forget our Jewish neighbors and their sensitivities, despite the rabbis' also enjoining us to perform various acts — "paths of peace" — in special consideration of the sensitivities and needs of our own brethren for the sake of keeping the peace among our own people.

Jewish society today, especially in Israel, has become a patchwork of backgrounds, countries of origin, affiliations, shades of color and levels of religiosity.  So many different types of Jews can be found: Non–religious, modern religious, hareidi, of Ashkenazi origin, of Sephardi origin, Yemenite and Polish, American and Iraqi, Indian and Argentinian, devotees of one rabbi or rebbi or another, fair–skinned and dark, shop–keepers and physicians, plumbers and lawyers, gardeners and accountants.  We the Jewish people have it all, except for one very important thing — peace and unity among ourselves.  We are so quick to ignore and/or belittle individuals or entire groups of Jews who do not think as we do.  Certainly, we have our differences — in thought and behavior — and we cannot all be right.  But there is a world of difference between disagreeing with a fellow Jew and not caring for him.  There is a major difference between disagreeing honestly and intellectually with our fellow Jew and calling him derogatory names.  There is a monumental difference between disapproving of a fellow Jew's behavior and letting his family and children starve.  Yet we too often overlook this.  Instead of appreciating and respecting the finer characteristics in our fellow Jews, we are quick to denigrate and belittle the poorer characteristics that we find and those that are outside our clique or do not behave or look just the way we do are brushed aside or treated with disparagement.  We forget that when G–d addressed the Jewish people, He commanded us to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Vayikra 19:18).

At B'Ahavat Yisrael, we have taken it upon ourselves to do whatever we can to stem this tide of division in Jewish society.  Whether by bringing together Sephardi and Ashkenazi, secular, religious and hareidi to visit wounded Jewish soldiers or terror victims of all backgrounds in hospitals throughout the country or by having Jews of all persuasions participate in providing sandwiches and drinks to Jewish soldiers — religious or secular, Yemenite, American or Russian — who are stationed at checkpoints throughout Israel, we attempt to chip away at the schisms in Jewish and Israeli society bit by bit.

Sure, this is a massive undertaking.  It is not easy.  And we may not succeed in fully restoring Jewish unity.  But that does not absolve us from trying.  As the rabbis of the Talmud say, "You are not required to complete the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it" (Avot 2:21).  If we have even one or two hours per month that we can devote to visiting or helping a fellow Jew but we refrain, we are withdrawing.  If we have money to spare, whether it be a thousand dollars or five dollars, that we can donate each month towards a gift to put a smile on the face of an injured Jewish soldier or towards a deli sandwich for a hardworking Jewish soldier guarding a dangerous checkpoint or towards legal fees for a Jewish woman harassed by her ex–husband but we refrain, we are withdrawing.  Withdrawing, we must not.  We dare not.  We dare not sit back with a fatalistic gesture claiming that the task is impossible.  This is the attitude of a coward or a sloth.  This is not the attitude that allowed such Jewish luminaries as King David, King Hezekiah, King Joshia, Ezra and Nehemiah, Judah Maccabee and others to bring about an upheaval among the Jewish people.  These luminaries also could have sat back and tended to their own business claiming that correcting the problems of the day was an impossible task.  They did not sit back.  They undertook to do the impossible because it was necessary and important.  If they had not, then we as a Jewish people would not exist today.  It is up to us to ensure that the Jewish people exist tomorrow.  Are we going to make the attempt and participate in improving our society or are we going to just sit back and bemoan the inadequacies of our society but do nothing?  We must try to do whatever we can to bring more and more unity, more and more peace to our Jewish people.

And if anyone questions our intentions, let him or her visit us.  Let them meet our modern–religious Executive Director, formerly a successful caterer and portfolio manager, whose eyes and face betray the many sleepless hours of the night that he spends thinking of how to better fulfill the organization's goals.  Let them meet the organization's hareidi Associate Director, who left a 14–year career in hi–tech to work three times as hard.  Let them visit a non–religious young man who circulates in stores and businesses throughout the Central region of Israel to raise funds for the organization.  Or let them visit a couple of very bright and idealistic young men who are helping us in the North.  Or a wonderful Yemenite mother of four who volunteers of her time to help solve the problems of many a Jew who approaches us with one problem or another.  Or a fine lawyer who gives of his time to help the organization help our fellow Jews.  Let them visit some of the various volunteers from various walks of life who donate of their time to help the organization achieve its goals.

If anyone questions our efforts, let him or her come along with us for a hospital visit and speak to the soldiers and terror victims whose spirits we lift.  Or let them join us in handing out sandwiches and drinks to soldiers at checkpoints throughout Israel.

Let us make the effort to instill "paths of peace" among ourselves, the Jewish people, and play a role in fulfilling the blessing of the kohanim: "May G–d bless you and guard you.  May G–d illuminate His countenance toward you and endow you with grace.  May G–d lift his countenance to you and establish for you peace."

by Yosef Ben Tzion (Joel Busner) — Sep. 2002

Every myth about the 'Oslo–Israel–to–Pieces–Process' has been exposed.  No, it did not bring peace.  It didn't bring security.  It certainly didn't bring any positive economic benefits.  It has totally demoralized the Jewish Nation in the Land of Israel.  The giving away of huge parts of Eretz Yisrael to a Gang of Arab murderers has brought the country to its knees.  600 Jews have been murdered in less than 2 years and about 1,000 since the signing of Oslo.  Thousands more have been injured, many permanently.  More and more reservists have been called to serve for longer and longer periods.  Tourism is dead and with it the Hotel industry.  Foreign investment is a pittance.  Jobs are scarce in every part of the country.  Budget cuts are hurting almost all segments of the population except for the politicians and their lackeys.  And the list goes on and on.

Of course, any honest historian or political scientist will admit to you that the Grand Daddy of 'Land for Peace' otherwise known as Camp David 1, had to inevitably lead to a process such as Oslo via Madrid.  Anyone who ever read Camp David knows full well that it was Menachem Begin who 1st recognized on paper a 'Palestinian People' about whom he signed and agreed should have autonomy and their own police force.  At the same time it was Begin who buckled before Carter and refused to annex any of the conquered lands with the exception of the Golan in 1981.  It was Begin and Sharon who together set the precedent of throwing Jews physically out of their government sponsored homes (see Yamit) after previously campaigning to do the opposite (Begin said he would purchase a home there).  It was the Likud government under such hawks as Ariel Sharon and Moshe Arens who initiated the policy of door to door searches for terrorists in Lebanon instead of blowing up the buildings leaving many Jewish soldiers dead from unnecessary sniper fire and booby traps.  It was that great general, Rafael Eitan, who refused to give the order in Lebanon to one of his own snipers to snuff out the life of grand master terrorist Yasser Arafat (an admission he made in a book about his life).  Then it was the former Lehi commander Yitzhak Shamir who after successfully orchestrating the banning of the rapidly growing Kach Party, won a right wing majority election in 1988 and refused to take the necessary steps to put out the intifada.  It was the same Shamir who sat on his hands while his master George Bush Sr. forced Israel to humiliate herself in front of the world by allowing Sadam Hussein to launch 39 scud missiles into the heart of Israel without a Jewish response.  This eventually led to the Madrid talks that opened the door for Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin to continue with Oslo.

By 1996 it was becoming abundantly clear that Oslo was making Israel a much less safe place for Jews.  It was security and security alone that put Bibi Netanyahu over the top in the 1996 elections.  And how they forget.

—It was Bibi who cleared the way for the construction of the airport in Gaza.
—It was Bibi who broke the right wing taboo and not only shook Arafat's hand but later said, "a healthy Arafat is good for Israel".
—It was Bibi who gave away Hebron after Arafat's soldiers murdered 14 of our soldiers and burned Joseph's tomb.
—It was Bibi who continued to allow the Palestinian Authority to arm itself with more and more weaponry.
—It was Bibi who signed the Wye Agreement, which meant another 13% of the Shomron to Arafat (Sharon accompanied Bibi and signed the agreement even though a few days prior to the trip to the US the ex general said that 13% would permanently endanger the security of the state).
—It was under Bibi that the Knesset put up its 1st Mosque.
—It was Bibi who coined the term 'reciprocity' in negotiations with the murderers.  "They give, they get", he was quoted over and over again.  What does that mean exactly?  If they behave then we'll keep giving them?  And, Bibi, if after you give them our holy land, what do you do if they are much stronger with the acquired land and they decide not to behave?

All of the above and plenty of open lying, led to Bibi's downfall in the 1999 election.  After all, why vote for the right wing guy when his positions aren't much different from the left wing guy?  Of course the left wing guy Ehud Barak turned out to be so pathetically weak and so willing to give up all of our G–d given assets that the nation turned on him the 1st chance they got.  What happened to Bibi the great nationalist?  Soon after his defeat in 1999 he packed his bags and went to the States to make millions pitching high tech companies for a year and a half until the political winds began to blow his way again.

Now Bibi is very upset with Sharon.  He claims that Sharon isn't doing the job that he was elected to do: To bring security to the Jewish State.  I agree.  It is his proposed solutions and his disingenuous character that I have problems with.

Most of us who have any money left after the vicious and unfair government tax policies get through with us (a subject for a future article), try to spend our disposable income on Israeli products, restaurants and hotels.  Where's Bibi?  He's off vacationing in the French Riviera with his Israeli taxpayers' paid security.

Bibi's proposed solution: Throw Arafat out and dismantle the Palestinian Authority.  Then set up borders all around the large Palestinian areas in order to keep the terrorists away from the Jewish populated areas.  Afterwards, wait for a new and more moderate Palestinian leadership to emerge and then negotiate with them a final peace agreement that will never mean a full fledged state that could physically cause havoc against Israel.  How nice.  I wonder with all of his education if he's really stupid or if he thinks the vast majority of Jews are?  Let us look at the facts and judge for ourselves.

Expelling Arafat.  Only if you kill him or he kills himself.  I have no problem with either.  However, if Bibi thinks he's going to arrest him and expel him, it's not happening.

Dismantling the Palestinian Authority.  How?  Door to door like Jenin?  How many parents are going to enjoy watching their sons getting blown to bits via booby trapped buildings that should be bombed from the air?  How much stupid so–called purity of arms should the Jewish Nation accept at the cost of young Jewish lives?  Of course Bibi will never answer such questions.  How much door to door searches did the Allies do in Berlin in 1945?  How many door to door searches did Truman order in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?  Even better, how many US soldiers are getting booby–trapped or ambushed right now in Afghanistan?  Tell me something else Bibi: What do you propose we do with the Arab citizens of the State of Israel?  You who said in 1996 that their children have just as much right to computers as your own son.  These 'good Arabs' have thanks to Oslo, been finally exposed as to what they are, vicious Jew Haters no different from their cousins on the other side of the imaginary green line called Palestinians.  With the overwhelming majority of so–called Palestinians staunchly supporting the destruction of the Jewish State the answer isn't taking apart the Palestinian Authority.  The answer is us or them.

IN G–D WE TRUST

Many nations have come and gone believing that their god was right.  Many bad things have happened to the Jewish People as well as many good things.  None of the experts could have predicted the establishment of a Jewish State a scant 5 years before our independence.  Until last week the Kinneret was constantly losing water and all of a sudden against all the experts' dire predictions, it started filling up again without a trace of rain.  G–d took the Jews out of Egypt but they still didn't believe, at least not enough.  It took a believer, Nachshon Ben Aminadav to jump into the water before G–d actually split the Red Sea.  It takes real belief that indeed we are G–d's chosen People who have been bequeathed his land, the Land of Israel.  It takes real faith and trust in G–d to stand up now to the Nations and say, enough!  Enough inquisitions, crusades, and holocausts.  Enough Jewish blood in the streets of Israel.  There's a time for war and a time for peace.  When Jews are getting killed in the Land of Israel because they are Jews it is not a time of peace.  Let us remove the hostile Arabs from the land and trust in G–d.  He and he alone will then bring us peace.

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