Page 43 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy Rabbi Jesse Horn

Patient for the Truth

he Radak offers an inspiring and important spiritual process called
and insightful perspective into Jewish history. For the ת ֶ מ ֱ א, will only be
Ta well-known verse we recite in clear once the redemption has arrived.
Hallel. The verse states, ֹו ּ ד ְ ס ַ ח ּוני ֵ ל ָ ע ר ַ ב ָ ג י ִּ כ
ּ ה־ָי ּול ְ ל ַ ה ם ָ לֹוע ְ ל ‘ה ת ֶ מ ֱ א ֶ ו “For His kindness Yom HaAtzmaut is a day that celebrates
has overwhelmed us and the truth of the highs. It reminds us that something
the L-rd is eternal” (Tehillim 117:2), worldly and mundane, like the declara-
and is describing the final redemption tion of the State, feels like a monumental
as both ד ֶ ס ֶ ח, kindness, and ת ֶ מ ֱ א, truth. ד ֶ ס ֶ ח, but it actually fulfills a promise,
This is seemingly strange, because the an ת ֶ מ ֱ א.
two descriptions are mutually exclusive,
for one is not entitled to a ד ֶ ס ֶ ח, yet one Rav Soloveitchik astutely summarizes:
is entitled to an ת ֶ מ ֱ א. Is G-d’s bringing “Our history is a strange one: it consists
the redemption ד ֶ ס ֶ ח or ת ֶ מ ֱ א? It cannot of Divine promises, but at a slow pace.
be both! G-d promised Avraham the Land; it was
not given to him. Hundreds of years
Resolving this problem, the Radak bril- passed but eventually it was indeed ful-
liantly explains that due to the profound filled” (Festivals of Freedom 137).
pain the exile has caused us, it is easy
for Am Yisrael to become skeptical or Rav Dessler (Michtav MeEliyahu) notes
doubtful. Because of this uncertainty, we that we should not go through the
perceive the redemption as a ד ֶ ס ֶ ח, as if holidays but rather allow them to go
we are unsure whether it will come. Yet, through us. We should leave every hol-
once the redemption has arrived, look- iday religiously advanced and spiritually
ing back, it will be clear that it is, in fact, elevated. This Yom HaAtzmaut should
an ת ֶ מ ֱ א. After all G-d has unmistakably inspire us to continue looking forward,
promised it in the Torah (Vayikra 26:46). knowing that the ultimate promise, the
ת ֶ מ ֱ א, will be fulfilled.
This beautiful insight lays out the theo-
logical outlook for modern Religious
Zionism. It requires patience and per-
spective. In any transformative process,
there are ups and downs, moments of Rabbi Jesse Horn is a Senior Ra”m (Rosh
idealism and those of setback. Unclar- Metivta) at Yeshivat Hakotel and director of
ity and even skepticism are normal and the Mizrachi/Yeshivat Hakotel Mechanchim
anticipated human emotions in this long program.

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