Gary Cooperberg, August 24, 2004

In these seven weeks following the mourning of Tisha b’Av, we read prophesies of consolation every Sabbath. The prophet Isaiah seems to feel the pain we endure today as our own leaders seek to remove us from parts of our own land. His words should serve to strengthen us and reassure us that our G-d has not abandoned us. The Creator of the Universe will never let either our enemies, our "friends" or even our own leaders undo the destiny He has already begun to set into action. We were not returned to our ancient homeland in order to give parts of it away. We are destined to repopulate and rebuild all of our Divine inheritance. We have neither the right nor the ability to give away our Divine obligations.

Peace is a noble goal and one which must be pursued. But we will never achieve peace by abandoning our Jewish obligations. To seek to uproot Jews from their homes and attempt to give away that which was given to us by G-d will only invite Divine Wrath upon us. Yet, despite our mistakes and suicidal tendencies, our G-d will fulfill His prophesies.

As we watch anti-Semitism grow all over the world, and see great nations allying themselves with the ever-growing Islamic monster which seeks our destruction, we must understand that even this is part of the process of redemption. It is a test, both for the nations of the world, and for the Jewish people. For the nations it is time to decide whether to express their faith in the Living G-d of Creation, by standing with the Jewish State for Biblical reasons, or fall prey to their fear of Islamic powers. For Israel, the Jewish People, it is time to decide whether to express our faith in the Living G-d of Creation, by returning to and holding on to all of our Divine inheritence, or to fall prey to our fear of other powers. This is truly the bottom line.

Peace will not come with fences. Peace will never come from abandoning our homeland. And peace certainly will never come as a result of denying our G-d. We are approaching the New Year when G-d sits in judgement of all of Mankind. As we hear the Shofar sounded each morning in the month of Elul after our prayers, we must redouble our efforts to come close to our G-d and defy those who would have us abandon Him.

When the Torah was given to the Jewish People on Mount Sinai, G-d Himself sounded the great Shofar. It was an awesome alarm which frightened all the nations of the world. At that time everyone knew their Creator and feared Him. That recognition and fear will return in the near future as redemption takes place. The sounding of the Shofar every day in Elul is but preparation for the Commandment to hear the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh HaShannah. And the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh HaShannah is but preparation to us all to hear the great Shofar of redemption which is to be sounded in the near future and, once again, will be heard around the world as nations tremble and fall.

Rather than be concerned about what the nations are saying, the Jewish nation should be concerned about offending our Creator. How dare any Jewish leader suggest removing Jews from any part of Israel! If Sharon really wants peace he would do better to suggest removing our enemies and extending Jewish presence to all Jewish land under our control, including Gaza, Bethlehem, Jericho and (Ramallah) Bet El. Any attempt to remove Jews from any part of our homeland will result in tragedy and only serve to promote terror rather than abate it. We have suffered enough. We have made enough mistakes to learn from them. As we hear the warning sounds of the Shofar each morning let it penetrate our ears and enter to the depths of our Jewish souls. We should have only One Fear. We should fear the Living G-d of Israel above all else and stop placing ourselves and the entire world in danger by acting against His Divine Plan.

Gary Cooperberg is a resident of the Jewish community in Hebron, Israel.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Cooperberg