Page 24 - HaMizrachi Chanukah 2021 - USA

1968 1971
Led by Rabbi Chanan Porat, Bnei Akiva activists re-establish the Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein makes
settlement of Kfar Etzion, 20 years after the Jordanian Arab Legion Aliyah and joins Rabbi Yehuda Am ital as
massacred 127 defenders of Kfar Etzion during the Independence War Co-Rosh Yeshiva ofYeshivat Har Etzion

F chambers as a normal event that need In a 1962 address to the Religious Zion-
or the first time in the annals
of our exile, Divine Providence
not be challenged. The antidote for this
ists of America, Rabbi Soloveitchik
has amazed our enemies with venom that poisoned minds and dulled explained:
the astounding discovery that hearts is the readiness of the State of
I was not born into a Zionist household.
Jewish blood is not cheap!... If we want Israel to defend the lives of its citizens.
My parents' ancestors, my father's
to courageously defend our continued Listen! My Beloved Knocks!
national and historical existence ... The house, my teachers and colleagues
• Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Kol Dodi were far from the Mizrachi Religious
Torah has always taught that a man
Dofek, Yorn HaAtzmaut 1956. Zionists ... My links with Mizrachi grew
is permitted, indeed, has a sacred
obligation, to defend himself ... Public gradually; I had my doubts about the
and one's honor. A people that cannot I n 1935, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveit- built an altar upon which I sacrificed
validity of the Mizrachi approach ... I
and private honor is dependent upon
the possibility of defending one's life
chik submitted his candidacy to
become the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv sleepless nights, doubts and reserva-
defend its freedom and tranquillity tions. Regardless, the years of the Hit-
as the representative of Agudath
is neither free nor independent. The lerian Holocaust, the establishment of
Yisrael. Less than a decade later, in
third of the phrases of Divine redemp- 1944, Rabbi Soloveitchik was the chair- the State of Israel, and the accomplish-
tion is "And I shall redeem you with ments of the Mizrachi in the Land of
man of the Central Committee of the
an outstretched hand and with great Israel, convinced me of the correctness
Religious Zionists of America. Rabbi
judgments" (Shemot 6:6). Thank G-d we of our movement's path. The altar still
Soloveitchik's shift in allegiance from
have lived to see the day when, with the stands today, with smoke rising from
Agudath Yisrael to Mizrachi resulted
help of G-d, Jews have it within their the sacrifice upon it ... Jews like me ... are
from a frank and painful reevaluation
power to defend themselves. required to sacrifice on this altar their
of his philosophy in response to the
peace of mind as well as their social
Let us not forget that the poison of Holocaust. Witnessing the destruction
relationships and friendships.
Hitlerite antisemitism (which made of European Jewry, Rabbi Soloveitchik
Jews fair game to all) still permeates came to believe that Mizrachi's activist • Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, The Rav
this generation, which looked with approach to building a Jewish future in Speaks: Five Addresses on Israel, His-
equanimity upon the horrible scene the Land of Israel had saved Judaism tory and the Jewish People (Judaica
of the suffocation of millions in gas and the Jewish people from extinction. Press, 2002) pp. 34-36.
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