Friday, October 15, 2010

The Land of Israel: Destination and Destiny


By Moshe Feiglin

"Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from the house of your father to the Land that I will show you." (From this week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, Genesis 12:1)

The first Torah portion in the Bible is dedicated to creation and the second to humanity. From this week's Torah portion, we embark on the grand epoch of the Nation of Israel.

"
Go forth to the Land." From the very first sentence that defines the Nation of Israel, the Land of Israel is designated as the goal and the irreplaceable tool; everything passes through it and everything hinges upon it. The entire sojourn of the Nation of Israel to its destiny is played out on the backdrop of the Land of Israel. The Land is not only the stage. It is the final destination and the destiny.

"Have you already finished solving all of Europe's problems?" Foreign Minister Lieberman justifiably asked his European counterparts.
Technically, Lieberman is right and it is a relief to finally hear an Israeli official make a remark on an international stage that retains a bit of national pride. But in practice, Lieberman's remarks will make no difference. The drive of the nations of the world to snatch the Land of Israel from our hands has nothing to do with "peace" and not even with conflict resolution. They are simply afraid of the connection between the Nation of Israel and its Land. This connection poses a threat to the evil parts of humanity. They are afraid of the settlements like darkness is afraid of light.

National pride is a vital foundation. That is why the national camp that progressed from socialist universalism to the Israeli pride of Jabotinsky is our relevant arena. But whoever gets stuck in simple national pride finds himself at a dead end. Ultimately, he will do more harm to the connection with the Land of Israel than the Left. Nationalism alone is capable of motivating the nations of the world. But for Israel, it is a means to a holy end. When the holy goal is missing, the tool falls apart.

Manhigut Yehudit's goal is to bring the content into the tool. We look on in wonder at the sea change in the thought patterns of the faith-based public. We understand that the widespread registration for the Likud in the past few months is much deeper than simple political tactics.

With G-d's help, we will merit to speedily complete this process and to lead the Nation of Israel to its universal goal: "
And all the nations of the world will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3)

Shabbat Shalom

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