Page 20 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Chief Rabbi David Stav

Praying for the State of Israel

n one of my first visits to the HaAtzmaut or not, one can spend hours the whole and not just a specific sector.
United States, at the end of discussing whether the State of Israel is It is specifically those of faith who must
OShacharit, the rabbi declared, the beginning of geula or not. But when stand at the head of the camp calling for
“And now we will pray for the safety of we see how many immigrants wanted to unity and togetherness, without mud-
our brethren in the Land of Israel.” I come to Israel from everywhere in the slinging on others, even if they are not
heard this with mixed feelings. On the world during the past year, regardless of exactly alike in their worldview.
one hand, I was very touched by a rabbi’s religious and social affiliation, it is easy
sense of involvement and solidarity of to recognize that the country has long The test Israeli society has undergone
this rabbi in a land thousands of miles since become a magnet for the entire during the past year of Corona did not
away from Israel with the people of nation. end in much success. I do not refer to
Israel. On the other hand, it bothered the exceptions, I refer to the tribal phe-
me that the Jews living in a remote com- I do not know a single ultra-Orthodox nomena. There were tribes that put the
munity, of which many of the children community that thinks that its future success of the people first in their eyes,
will probably be assimilated in is abroad. compared to others who sought
the next generation, feels he is to strengthen and strengthen
safe and that he is the one who ,וֹל ֲאוֹגְו ל ֵא ָרׂ ְ שִי רוּצ ,םִי ַמׁ ָשּ ַבּׁ ֶש וּני ִב ָא their own tribe. It’s no wonder
should pray for his brothers in that thi s year the hostility
Israel. .וּנ ֵתָלּ ֻא ְ גּ ת ַחי ִמ ְ צ תיׁ ִשא ֵר ,ל ֵא ָרׂ ְ שִי תַני ִד ְ מ ת ֶא ךְ ֵר ָבּ toward Judaism and religion,
,ךָ ֶמוֹלׁ ְ ש ת ַכּ ֻס ָהיֶל ָע שֹׁר ְ פוּ ,ךָ ֶדּ ְ ס ַח ת ַר ְ ב ֶא ְ בּ ָהיֶל ָע ן ֵ ג ָה
To be sure, it is of utmost and the r eligious social rift,
importance to continue to pray , ָהי ֶצ ֲעוֹיְו ָהי ֶרׂ ָש , ָהיׁ ֶשא ָרְל ךָ ְ תּ ִמ ֲאַו ךָ ְ רוֹא חַלׁ ְ שוּ increased to levels not known
for Medinat Yisrael and the Jews .ךָיֶנ ָפְלּ ִמ ה ָבוֹט ה ָצ ֵע ְ בּ םֵנ ְ קּ ַתְו here for a long time.
who live there. Nothing is taken
for granted, we must not allow If we want Israel’s chariot of
ourselves to become haughty of redemption to continue up the
our achievements here in Israel in the We are already in a different reality. We mountain, we must all mobilize for it.
last generation. But we must understand are already in a generation where the We must understand the needs and
that something very dramatic is happen- State is the main tool for the appearance pains of each “tribe,” strive to give each
ing to our eyes these days. I do not know of the Jewish people in the world, for group a reasonable answer and find the
if it will happen in the next Shemitta or better or worse. It is a huge merit to live critical common denominator for the
the one after it, but the Jews are quickly in such a generation, but like any merit future. Our existence as a people should
approaching the day when most of the in our world, it comes with great respon- overcome all other private values. We
Jewish people will live in the Land of sibility not to miss the opportunity that have no other way but to increase kid-
Israel. This is a phenomenon that hap- has come our way, lest we fail in the dush Hashem and the love of G-d by
pened more than 2,500 years ago. In laziness of the ra’aya who did not want demonstrating a personal example of
halacha it is called rov yoshveha aleha. to open the door for the dod (a reference the world of Torah that will be a magnet
This is a halachic concept with many to Shir HaShirim). In our situation, the and a source of inspiration for the State
implications regarding the level of mitz- dod is already here. What do we do so
vot hateluyot baAretz being de’orayta or that He does not run away? of Israel being built.
derabanan. But beyond that, this reality The State of Israel without spirit and
has implications for the perception of values is like a body without a soul. If we Rabbi David Stav is Chief Rabbi of Shoham.

the State of Israel as the center of Jewish want to affect spiritual change in Israel,
existence in our generation. One can we must show national responsibility for A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
argue whether to say Hallel on Yom mizrachi.org/speakers

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