Page 27 - HaMizrachi Yom HaAtzmaut AUS 2021

ISRAEL AS A JEWISH STATE HOLIDAY READING

Lt. Colonel (res.) Rabbi Yedidya Atlas Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander

Torat Eretz Yisrael

and the Vision of a Jewish State

e are told in the Midrash for the many in light of our country’s marking the fall of the Second Com-
(Bereishit Rabbah 16:4) religious diversity. We need to remove monwealth, the letters of the Torah
Wthat ל ֵ א ָ ר ְ ׂשִי ץ ֶ ר ֶ א ת ַ רֹות ְּ כ ה ָ רֹו ּ ת ןי ֵ א, 2,000 years of dust from the texts that ascended toward heaven. With sover-
“there is no Torah like the Torah of the discuss the moral and religious guide- eignty lost, elements of the Torah itself
Land of Israel.” In what sense is the lines that must inspire our national became inapplicable, and were sent
Torah studied and taught within the policies in areas such as the plight of into heavenly exile to await our peo-
confines of the Land of Israel meaning- asylum seekers, the needs of migrant ple’s return. Today, Torat Eretz Yisrael
fully distinct from the Torah of other workers, and national support for those is the recognition that only in Medinat
locales? Did G-d not give one single who suffer economically. We need to Yisrael does Torah have the capacity to
Torah to the entire Jewish people? 1 courageously muster halacha and the fully engage the private, communal and
With the birth of the State of Israel judiciary system on both the local and global arenas of Jewish life and outlook.
Here in Israel, we have the opportunity
73 years ago, Torat Eretz Yisrael took international levels to end the scourge and ability to restore the Torah to its
on a whole new meaning, or, better of the agunah crisis. And as citizens rightful prominence.
yet, a renewal of a meaning that had of a state that is both Jewish and dem-
been fossilized. As Rav Soloveitchik ocratic, we must explore the halachic The Torah is no longer orphaned from
described in remarks delivered on June principles that can and should guide us its engagement with the rest of the
12, 1967 before the RCA, “In the last in fairly engaging the minority popula- global community. Today’s Torat Eretz
2000 years, the Jewish people played tions who live among us, particularly Yisrael has the capacity to be holistic
no role in the historical arena. Now, with those who pledge allegiance to this and visionary, confidently confront-
the great miracle has happened, that country and even serve in our armed ing the needs of Am Yisrael in its own
our people somehow emerged from the forces. sovereign state. It is a calling to forsake
shadows, from anonymity, and are now The purview of Torat Eretz Yisrael is neither our ancient traditions nor the
in the center of the universal stage.” The not limited to what happens within our ever-changing realities around us, but
Jewish people finds itself today not as national borders. With more nations to find the interconnectivity between
a small, minority community dispersed ready to establish bilateral relations them. This is the Torah of Eretz Yisrael!
across the earth. Rather, we are now an with Israel, and with governments and May we merit to study it, to teach it and
independent, sovereign nation, bound regimes the world over committing to bring it to life.
together by a shared destiny, and a atrocities against their own populations
full-fledged member of the family of and those of their foes, how will we be
nations. guided by the Torah’s eschatological 1 In addition to the contemporary idea I will be
suggesting, there are many other interpreta-
What does the return to sovereignty vision of a lasting, harmonious world tions of this statement including Rav Yehuda
Aryeh Leib Alter of Gur (Sefat Emet, Beshalach
mean for Torat Hashem and for the peace? Perhaps like no other time in 5656) concerning the development of Mitzvot
observant Jew, as we build not just a history, we can explore the role the Hatluyot BaAretz, and others who point out
state for Jews, but a Jewish State? Torah Jewish State should play in facilitating the differences in the paradigmatic construc-
tion of the Jerusalem Talmud vs. Babylonian
now has a renewed responsibility to and advancing a more just and equitable Talmud.
deal with a government and an army, world order. These questions and so
and the repercussions of such power. many more are what make Torat Eretz
We need to discuss how Shabbat and Yisrael unique, rich and expansive. And
Chagim look in the public sphere – by engaging in these issues, the Jewish
how we operate our hospitals, army people are propelled onto the world
bases, power plants and recreational stage, with the opportunity to make a Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is the Pres-
spaces. We must ensure that religion global impact. ident & Rosh Yeshiva of the Ohr Torah
is not a political tool of the few but a We are taught that as Rabbi Akiva Stone Network and Rabbi Emeritus of the
portal of ethical and spiritual entry was martyred, a key moment of defeat Boca Raton Synagogue.