The Loop

Monday, May 01, 2006

Torah From Zion

In honor of the upcoming chag, here is a dvar Torah from R' Mann, a Dati Leumi Rabbi.

This year, the 5th of Iyar is being looked at as a turning point. Many are asking if we should celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut this year, after the destruction of Gush Katif, and the plans of the government to destroy more of our country. Is a country that destroys shuls something we should celebrate?
There are many possible answers, here is one point I would like to focus on. Yom Ha'Atzmaut is a chag that we celebrate the rebirth of our country for the third time. What is the implications of the concept of a "country" by Jews? By any other nation, a country is a means to accomplish goals. If our country doesnt advance our goals, or works against them, then there is no reason to celebrate. This is a more "Charaidic" view. So why have we been celebrating all these years? Did we just not see the light as the charaidim have? Did we think that secular zionism is the realization of our two thousand year old dream? If so, maybe we should admit we've been wrong for celebrating.

The Ramban finds a different way of viewing our country. He says that the fact that there is a country is a mitzvah in itself. The mitzva of settling the land is from the mitzva "Do not leave the land in the hands of other nations or desolate." After two thousand years we have accomplished what our father's couldnt, even those that came here individually. The Maharal describes redemption like this: When the majority of Jews are centered in Eretz Yisroel, and ruling themselves, this is the geulah. When Jews are scattered throughout the nations, this is galut. When Jews are living as individuals, that is galut. When Jews are living as a nation, this is redemption. A living nation means living in our land, ruling ourselves, meaning, to a living nation there needs to be a country.
On the 5th of Iyar we merited to stand together as a nation. R' Tzvi Yehuda Kook used to point out that first "He raised us from amongst the nations", and then "Gave us the Torah". Our country's purpose isnt to be a tool that we can use to do mitzvot. The country is the substance of our lives as a group. The fact that our country has been reborn and given life is the reason to celebrate.
This doesnt mean we don't care what has been done this year. Of course we care, and it hurts. But that has nothing to do with the existence of our country. The Rambam says we celebrate Chanuka because of the miracle of oil, and also because "Israel was saved from their hands, and the kingdom of Israel was returned to us for more than two hundred years." This kingship, for the most part, was much worse than anything we have today, yet that doesnt stop the Rambam from saying we should be joyous over it.
Until today, the joy of Yom Haatzmaut was easy. It was patriotism like in any country. But it's much harder to be a patriot when you're being kicked down by your own country. That makes this the perfect time to truly understand what we are celebrating.
May we all have a retrospective Yom Hazikaron, and a joyous Yom HaAtzmaut.

4 Comments:

  • Is he saying that this is a geula or that it is a form of geula?
    I haven't heard any rav voice what so many are thinking now, thats very interesting.

    By Blogger Rolling hills of green, at 3:31 AM  

  • is he comparing channukah to yom haatzmaut??

    By Blogger docyaak, at 12:37 PM  

  • RHoG-he doesnt seem to be focusing on the geulah aspect as much as he's quoting the Marahal.
    Boston-Yes. Why does that shock you? Do only things that have happened over two thousand years ago have importance, but not more recent things? Our nation returning to our homeland is of great religious importance, and needs to be celebrated as such.

    By Blogger stillruleall, at 1:07 PM  

  • That was my last question last year, according to this the celebration isnt about our winning the war, it's about Jews ruling our country. From the moment we declared independence we finally were able to rule in our land, and that is what we are celebrating. the miracle of winning the war is just more of a reason to celebrate.

    By Blogger stillruleall, at 3:11 AM  

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