Gary Cooperberg, August 16, 2005

Faith is a concept which can only be expressed in times of apparent hopelessness. As the Divine Process of Biblical Redemption continues to unfold, we are all being given unique opportunities to express genuine faith in G-d and in Biblical Destiny. For our Prime Minister to suggest that the "dream of Zion" must be abandoned in the name of "reality" is to demonstrate clearly his failure, not only of faith, but of understanding true reality.

While the press, both local and foreign, are eagerly reporting the demise of the settlement movement, they fail to grasp the enormity of the moment. The fact is that every Israeli government since 1967 has tried to undo the miracles of the Six Day War. Every attempt failed.

Now we are confronted by a prime minister who was always seen as a right wing extremist and patron of settlements, singlehandedly turn against his own country. He was overwhelming elected on his reputation as a ruthless fighter for the Land on the premise that he would stamp out terror and stop any further giveaway of Jewish communities. After getting elected he simply bulldozed his own cabinet, several members of which he just fired, and formed an alliance with the opposition party. Ignoring protests from his own party, he joined with the left to make expulsion of Jews from all of the Gaza Strip national policy. He proudly announced that by the end of 2005 not one Jew would be left in Gaza.

We now stand on the eve of his expected fulfillment of that announcement and the world is watching as the government of Israel is attempting, once again, to destroy its own country. It is hard to imagine how a bulldog like Sharon, backed by the Knesset and the Supreme Court, can fail to accomplish this evil mission.

Redemption is a Divine Process. In order to sanctify the Name of G-d, it is important that the entire world see the miracle that He is doing for His People, Israel. When He rescued us from slavery in Egypt and our enemies trapped us by the Red Sea, there seemed no way for us to escape. Yet G-d performed miracles, dividing the sea to allow us to cross on dry land, and then having it close upon our enemies as they pursued us. No one could deny the Hand of G-d that intervened to save His People Israel.

Today the miracle will be even greater. Today our own leaders are seeking to begin a process which can logically only lead to the total destruction of the Jewish State. Our enemies are laughing at us and celebrating what they think is the beginning of the end of the Jewish State. While our own media is presenting a picture which presents any Jewish future in Gaza as totally hopeless, the people of Israel refuse to fall for the propaganda. Aside from the brave and faithful residents of the Jewish communities in Gaza, the vast majority of whom refuse to consider what the press describes as inevitable and are continuing with their lives as if nothing unusual is happening, tens of thousands of Jews from all over Israel are standing with their brothers in Gaza.

The media likes to portray "settlers" as if they are spoiled children who prefer Land to peace, and who seek to fight with the soldiers. Yet the reality is that all Israelis are settlers, and all Israelis are soldiers. Were this not true we would not have a country today. Unlike soldiers in other armies, Jewish soldiers are not robots. Of course, for an army to operate, orders must be obeyed. But Jewish soldiers know that when army orders conflict with morality and the Law of G-d, they cannot obey such orders. Even many non religious soldiers have little trouble seeing that this expulsion plan is totally immoral and illegal. No Prime Minister, even with the backing of the Knesset, has the right to arbitrarily desert parts of our homeland and expel Jews from their homes without authorization from the majority of the people. Yet this is exactly what Sharon is attempting to do. He has ordered the armed forces to seal Gaza and prevent demonstrators from entering. Yet thousands have succeeded in getting to Gush Katif. This could not happen if not for sympathetic help from Jewish soldiers.

The days ahead will demonstrate the reward of those with faith in G-d, and that of those who dare defy Him. As it looks right now, there is no hope. . . no Jewish future for Katif and maybe even the end of the Jewish State. But those who understand true reality know that the G-dly Plan cannot be thwarted by a Jewish Prime Minister, even if he is backed by the Knesset and the Supreme Court! I have no idea how we will succeed in standing up to this challenge. But I have no doubt that we will. It is my belief that the next few days will bring concrete proof that G-d is intervening for His People Israel as we see miracles no one could have predicted.

This Shabbat’s Torah portion contains clear references to the G-dly command to possess the Land. It is no coincidence that this week’s prophesy from Isaiah 40 (5) tells us, "And the Glory of the L-rd shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see that the mouth of the L-rd spoke."

Gary Cooperberg, a resident of the Jewish community in Hebron, Israel, is the founder and director of Project Shofar.

Copyright © 2005 Gary Cooperberg