Page 30 - HaMizrachi #15 2019 Chanuka USA

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“ELECTIONS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE”

“Elections Belong to the People”

ith antisemitism on the miracle), few details about the nature values – which incorporate both
rise worldwide and BDS and content of the holiday are offered. the love of the State of Israel and
Wthreatening the legitimacy Some scholars claim that Chazal Torah teachings relevant to modern
of the State of Israel, it is imperative opposed the Hasmoneans, attempting society – be the guiding values
we come together, armed with the to ‘erase’ the memory of their actions, in the Jewish people’s National
spirit of struggle and pride and fight due to their strong differences in Institutions.
for our values as the Maccabees did in values and ideology. Nevertheless, the
the days of Chanukah. holiday is widely celebrated today. Every five years, the World Zionist
Organization (WZO) holds an inter-
More than ever, we need strong Reli- During the years of the fight for Jewish national assembly of Jews – The World
gious Zionist organizations cooper- independence and the establishment Zionist Congress (WZC). Delegates
ating with one another and with the of the State of Israel, the leaders of the from the United States are determined
State of Israel. Zionist secular movement saw Chanu- by public elections.
kah as a symbol of Jewish nationalism
The upcoming elections for the dele- The upcoming elections to the
gates of the World Zionist Congress in Eretz Israel – an idealization of Jews WZC are our way of influencing
present an opportunity for every one fighting for their liberty against for- the future of the Jewish people and
of us to ensure that this happens and eign rule and threats of annihilation. making sure that the Maccabean
that we have serious representation at Secular Zionism considered this holi- light – that the Mizrachi World
the World Zionist Congress. day only national, with no reference to Movement sees as combining a love
As Thomas Jefferson once said: “We religious values. In a song once sung for Torah, Halacha and the State of
do not have government by the major- in kibbutz schools, the words: “miracle Israel – continues to burn bright,
ity. We have government by the major- we did not have, we cannot find an oil and even stronger than before.
ity who participate.” tin” (loosely translated) hint at how
they considered the Chashmonaim THE OIC
By voting orthodox israel coa- a prototype of the new Jew, a fighter Recently, we have made history.
lition – mizrachi: vote torah in his essence and only spiritual in a Understanding the importance of the
you show your support for Orthodox national, cultural context. elections, leading Orthodox groups in
Judaism, the Jewish people and the Religious Zionism, led by the Miz- the US have joined forces, creating the
State of Israel. With your help, we rachi movement, bridged the gap Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC). This
can gain significant representation between halachic Judaism and the sec- is a broad-based coalition of the major
in the Zionist Congress.
ular approach to Chanukah. Over the Religious Zionist and mainstream
Chanukah is a holiday that resonates years, our Movement has shown the Orthodox organizations that have
throughout the Jewish people and value of renewed Jewish sovereignty represented Orthodox Jewry in the
even broadcasts its universal message while acknowledging the Divine mir- WZC for over 100 years. OIC serves
to all nations of the world. Though acle of the survival of Jewish values as the only Orthodox coalition with
that was not always the case. and the continuation of the Torah. operations and programs in Israel and

Early mentions of Chanukah can be We believe the State of Israel and throughout the world.
found in several places in the Mish- the timeless values of the Torah are The vision of OIC is simple. We are
nah and Talmud. Apart from the inseparable. dedicated to the timeless values of
instructions that the Chanukah can- Now the National Religious Move- Torah and Halacha, while maintain-
dles should be visible from the outside ment in Israel and in the US is facing ing strong relations with all Jewish
for “pirsum hanes” (publicizing the a real test. It is imperative that our denominations and having a firm and

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