I would like to comment on the accusations against us. It is crucial for us to understand the truth, not only because we must be able to answer these accusations, but also so that we can remain strong internally. Especially now, during Chodesh Elul, we must strengthen ourselves. “Ka’ve el Hashem … hope to Hashem! Strengthen yourself and He will give you courage!” (Tehillim 27)
Rashi wrote almost 1000 years ago: “[When] the nations will say to Israel, ‘You are thieves, for you conquered the lands of [the seven nations who inhabit Eretz Yisroel],’ you must say the following to them, ‘The whole earth belongs to Hashem. He created it and He gave it to the one found proper in His eyes. By His wish He gave it to them and by His wish He took it from them and gave it to us!’” (Rashi on Bereishis 1:1)
The Creator of the World gave the Land of Israel to us. This is the only answer we need.
The Children of Israel are the most compassionate nation in the world. The army of Israel is the most compassionate army in the world, constantly risking their own safety to show mercy to our enemies. Prime Minister Golda Meir put it brilliantly when she stated, “We may someday be able to forgive the Arabs for killing us, but we can never forgive them for forcing us to kill them!”
But here is what both we and our enemies must understand: the entire course of history is orchestrated by the Master of the Universe. Do not try to stand in His way!
You cannot stop the tsunami by raising your finger against it.
“The word of Hashem … the children will return to their border.” (Yirmiah 31:15)
“I will take you from among the nations and gather you from all the lands and I will bring you [back] to your own soil.” (Yechezkel 36:24)
“He will gather in the dispersed ones … from the four corners of the earth.” (Yeshiah 11:12)
Our enemies cannot thwart the plan of the Master of the Universe. If they try to prevent us from living in the Land which the Master of the Universe gives us as an eternal inheritance, they cannot expect to survive. If they fight against Hashem, they will fail.
As the Novi says about our enemies, “you will fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your cohorts and all the peoples that are with you.” (Yechezkel 39:4)
I want to tell you a story. My wife recently received a prescription from her doctor, which we took immediately to a pharmacy in Jerusalem. These days, most of the pharmacists in Israel seem to be Arabs. The pharmacist looked at the prescription and said, “No! I cannot fill it! It is a copy and not the original.”
I told him, “We saw the doctor write it a half hour ago!” But no argument would prevail. It was unpleasant, but we had no choice. When we got home and unpacked, guess what! Out came the “original” prescription! The pharmacist had been correct! The doctor had made a copy of the prescription and that was what we had handed to the pharmacist.
A few days later I had occasion to return to that same pharmacy. I said to the pharmacist, “I need to speak to you.” He looked at me as if I were threatening him, but I said, “No, don’t be concerned. Remember that argument last week about the prescription? Well, I was wrong and you were right! We found the original when we got home and here it is! I apologize for my mistake.”
The pharmacist’s mouth dropped open. His smile was a mile wide! He looked as if he wanted to kiss me! For sure, no one in his entire life had ever said to him, “You are right and I am wrong!”
Please listen, my friends: the truth is that we are the only nation in the world who knows how to say “Chatassi! I am wrong! Chattasi! I need to improve! Chattasi! Heal me Hashem!” This is our secret and this is how we achieve atonement on Yom Kippur, because we know how to admit when we are wrong. The other nations do not know how to say, “I am wrong. Heal me Hashem!” That is why they are not healed and that is why they are distant from Hashem. But we are Hashem’s Children!
The Nation which knows how to say “Chatassi!” is the Nation which has returned to the Holy Land. Those who oppose us will be – excuse me, but it is true – obliterated if they try to block our way. “When the wicked bloom like grass and all the evildoers blossom, it is to destroy them until eternity …. Behold, all the enemies of Hashem shall perish!” (Tehillim 92)
May we see the complete Redemption soon in our days!
GLOSSARY
Chodesh Elul: the Jewish month before Rosh Hashanah
Novi: Prophet
