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Gary Fitleberg is a political analyst specializing in International Relations with an emphasis on Middle East affairs.
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By Gary Fitleberg
May 29, 2005
Manigut Yehudit is not mentioned in most of the the mainstream media. Moshe Feiglin, however, as its leader is sending a message that one man can and will make a difference.
The Jewish Leadership Movement is standing tall and trying to transform a State of Jews into a Jewish State. One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.
The founder and organization are committed and dedicated to achieving the dream and turning the G-d given Holy Land or Promised Land to the Children of Israel (descendants of Jacob) and thereby recognizing the two greatest G-d given gifts: The Torah (also called Bible, Chumash, Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch) and Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel, or today Medinat Yisrael or State of Israel). This was given in an eternal covenant that can never ever be broken. In other words, this land is precious and can not be given away by anyone or stolen by anyone.
We are all simply Jews -- with no added definitions. We should not call ourselves Orthodox, Conservative Reform or Reconstructionist -- neither "right-wing" nor "left-wing." Not Ashkenazic or Sephardic. Not Galitizianer or Litvak.
Whether we have been called Hebrews, Israelites, Jews (from the tribe of Judah and area of Judea), Palestinians (derived from the Roman conquerers who called the Jews and land Palestine and Palestinians as a derogatory term to insult them after their enemy the Philistines -- who incidentally are not one in the same people calling themselves "Palestinians" today) or in modern times Israelis, Jews or Zionists.
A Jew is a Jew. Nothing more. Nothing less.
One Klal. One family. All Children of Israel are descendants of Jacob. The rightful inheritors of the Holy Land or Promised Land as evidenced by the ancient biblical Deed of Trust to the land known as the Torah.
The aim is to create a genuinely Jewish consciousness in the Land of Israel, motivated by the awareness that our faith and our country are intrinsically woven together. An Israeli society predicated on Jewish faith -- the Torah -- is an ethical and loving society whose ultimate goal is to illuminate the entire world with God's benevolence.
A Right of Return for Jews appears to be completely denied and forgotten to their true G-d given ancient biblical and modern homeland.
The Zionist movement, which founded the modern State of Israel, was a product of the millennia of longing for return to the Land of Israel. However, it was also a product of the times in which it was born. Basing itself on secular 19th century Western values, Zionism came to fill the need for a safe haven for the Jews of the world. Miraculously, the Zionist movement succeeded in building the complete infrastructure of a modern state -- replete with a strong army, high tech, immigration absorption etc. out of the wilderness.
In its essence, though, the secular Zionism on which Israel was built negates holiness. In doing so, it has stripped itself of the tools necessary to reflect the Jewishness of Israel and its ultimate holy purpose.
We are now witnessing a complete unraveling of the fabric of Israeli society. The very Zionist ideology that built the modern state of Israel has now turned against itself as it seeks to counter its Biblical roots and Divine purpose. This self-destructive bent is the ultimate conclusion of the secular ideology upon which Zionism is based.
In 1994, Moshe Feiglin began the Zo Artzeinu ("This is Our Land") protest movement that opposed the self-destructive Oslo Accords with a massive civil disobedience campaign.
It became clear, though, that it was not enough to protest; we had to offer a fundamental alternative -- a new strategic objective -- in place of the process of collapse that gave rise to the Oslo Accords. Such an alternative would need to be based on both an alternative ideology that would inspire the nation and possess the means for implementation.
There is only one way to truly imbue the State of Israel with the meaning it deserves and needs: to promote an alternative leadership for the State of Israel that is based on Jewish belief. Only leadership motivated by an authentically Jewish vision will be capable of meeting all the challenges currently facing the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Only leadership of this kind will be capable of reinvigorating the State of Israel and the Jewish people and leading it towards the realization of the vision of the prophets.
In 1998, Manhigut Yehudit (The Jewish Leadership Movement) was established as the successor to Zo Artzeinu.
The aim is to enlist thousands of believing members in the Likud -- Israel's central ruling political party -- and to elect a party leader who will be motivated by Jewish ideals and values. As the Likud's candidate for Prime Minister, this candidate would be the natural leader of the national camp and would be elected as the Prime Minister of the State of Israel.
What began as a dream has become a reality. Already today, Manhigut Yehudit (The Jewish Leadership Movement) has the largest bloc inside the Likud's Central Committee. In a very short time the movement became known as the group which "does not come with a price tag." Our weapon is our ideology and tens of thousands of supporters have already joined our ranks. Many Israelis throughout the political spectrum believe that we are the future of Israel's political life and the path we have chosen is correct and viable.
With firm faith in the God of Israel, Manhigut Yehudit (The Jewish Leadership Movement) is confident that our future is bright. Indeed the totality of our strategic goals could be summed up in a single phrase from the traditional Aleynu prayer recited daily:
To perfect the world in the kingdom of the Almighty
One must ask itself an essential, honest, important, perplexing and very serious question.
Until now Israel has been a state of the Jews. It is vital to our future to transform Israel into a Jewish state. Israel's elected officials must lead the country with policies based exclusively on Jewish identity, values and ethics.
This grassroots campaign, led by the modern Moshe Rebbeinu, is designed to bring Jews back to their faith and religion as well as their G-d given Holy Land or Promised Land, today the modern State of Israel.
Israel must help heal and repair itself before it can do so for others.
Only when Israel becomes a Jewish state rather than a state of Jews can it fulfill its destiny and become a real true Light into the Nations in its role of Tikkun Olam.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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