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Moshe Kempinski , author of The Teacher and the Preacher, is the editor of the Jerusalem Insights weekly email journal and co-owner of Shorashim, a Biblical shop and learning center in the Old City of Jerusalem.
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By Moshe Kempinski
October 23, 2006
Cloudy and dark days seem to be ahead of us.
The Days of Awe and the Days of Joy have passed over us. Their impact was clearly felt by all in this land. There was a momentary respite from the selfish drivel that usually characterizes the political reality of this country. There was a sense of unity and fellowship that had been sorely missed all year. All sorts of Jews found themselves praying, fasting and meditating in many of the temporary synagogues dispersed throughout the country. Secular and religious Jews found themselves hiking through the same hills of Israel and rejoicing at the same music festivals. Spiritual batteries have been recharged and goals and aspirations have been redefined.
Yet, those days have passed and we are entering the month of Cheshvan. As we enter into the dark and cloudy days of this month, we again hear of the childish but dangerous ranting of Bashar Assad in Syria. We are told of the massive armaments entering the Gaza strip through all the gateways the Israeli government relinquished so magnanimously during the Disengagement. We listen to the hate-filled threats of the president of Iran as he tries to deflect American interference with his radical Muslim messianic adventure. At the same time, in the north, the Hizbullah have rearmed themselves to their pre-war levels.
The clouds of war are gathering and yet our government leaders are still involved with protecting their Knesset seats. Lives are put at risk, but political futures seem to be the only concern of our elected officials. A government and leadership mired in criminal and sordid affairs is working so hard to deflect the threats to their precarious rule, while ignoring the looming threats arising on Israel's borders. If it wasn't so tragic, it would almost be comical.
In any other part of the world, such a crisis of leadership would lead to the country's utter collapse. Yet, this country and its people seem to exist in a different dimension of reality. Empires have risen and fallen and kings have ruled and have been forgotten, but this people continue to survive as a thin string of Biblical blue threading throughout human history. The secret of this endurance and perseverance clearly lies ensconced within the Divine destiny and purpose of this people. It is that destiny and purpose that has consistently raised generation after generation of courageous and vision-filled young people at times when their leadership falters and flounders.
While Ehud Olmert stumbles through his attempts to keep his ratings up, young men and women are in the field risking their lives to protect their country. While the chief of staff worries about his stocks and bonds, a young man, Major Ro'i Klein (H.y.d.), hurled himself on to a grenade to save his comrades. While Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch watches battles on his plasma viewer behind the lines, soldiers like Captain Amichai Merchavia (H.y.d.) courageously give up their lives to protect others. Amichai served in the same army that brutally beat him in Amona a mere year before. The same young people who were themselves evicted from their homes in Gush Katif, or who were physically attacked in demonstrations before or after the expulsion, volunteered throughout the country to aid the displaced citizens of Israel's northern cities.
The people of Israel do not deserve this type of leadership. They are worthy of much more, but it seems that such a change will still take some time. In the meantime, we must be aware that the greatest enemy of this people has been the loss of hope. When the Israeli people lose hope, they turn to small, self-centered people like our present leadership and, as a result, only ensure their sinking into deeper hopelessness. The people of Israel must open their eyes and view the great strength represented by their young people.
In our synagogue during the festival of Simchat Torah the third hakafah (the circuit around the synagogue) was given to all the young men in the synagogue who were in the midst of serving in Israel's armed forces. Over twenty young men came forward to receive a Torah scroll and to lead the dancing. What followed was both intense and joyful, as we surrounded these young men. As we danced, honoring them, each of these young men clutched their Torah scrolls fiercely and danced with eyes closed and their hearts opened. On a deep level, these young men, who had been given the responsibility of protecting our land, were clutching with intense passion the scrolls that represent the source of all their courage and vision. The image was strong and revealing.
It is just this strength that will help us overcome the hatred of our enemies and help us surpass the weakness of our leadership.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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