‘Eretz Yisroel is the Safest Place’: Is That Still True?

It is well known what the Rebbe said, especially during the Gulf War, that Eretz Yisroel is the safest place in the world. Is this promise subject to conditions? Is it applicable today? Alaska Shliach Rabbi Yosef Greenberg addresses the question.

By Rabbi Yosef Greenberg

The following question was posted by a colleague on a discussion board:

“Who is to say that the Rebbe’s promise that the Land of Israel is the safest place in the world is not subject to conditions, such as not giving territories to enemies?

“(In fact, we saw with our eyes how the surrender of Gush Katif led to the massacre of more than a thousand Jews—something we haven’t seen in any other country in the modern era).

“I would appreciate a response.”

My response was as follows:

It is without a doubt that the words of Tzaddikim endure forever, and what the Rebbe told us in 5751, that the land of Israel is the safest place, certainly stands strong. The Rebbe undoubtedly foresaw everything that would happen in Eretz Yisroel, and the world, until the coming of Moshiach and thereafter, and whatever he said was both for then and for now.

However, when we carefully examine and analyze the Rebbe’s words regarding the situation in Israel, we will understand that it is not at all contradictory to what sadly happened on October 7th, which was a direct result of not heeding the Rebbe’s instructions regarding the security of Israel and not returning of terrorities.

We all know that simultaneously when the Rebbe declared that Eretz Yisroel is the safest place and promised that the greatest miracles would be seen, the Rebbe also fought and spoke harshly against those endangering the security of Israel by appeasing terror and returning territories.

Furthermore, during that very same time of The Rebbe’s declaration of Israel as the safest place, unfortunately, there were still tragic acts of terror inside of Israel, with many Jewish casualties. On Yud Shevat 1992, the Rebbe spoke harshly to Mr. Moshe Katzav stating that if the Israeli government continued in the direction of appeasing terror and talking about returning territories, he would do everything in his power to bring down Shamir’s government – saying that in this case it would even be better for non-Jews to rule the Holy Land.

The explanation for this seems to be that self-inflicted intentional negligence and harm is different. Since we live in a natural world, Hashem informs us in His Torah to be cautious and do everything naturally possible to protect ourselves, according to the commandment “V’nishmartem me’od l’nafshoseichem,” and like Shulchan Aruch 329 rules that we must stand with weapons on the border, etc., to not allow our enemies to enter the land and cause harm to our people. If someone doesn’t act responsibly according to Torah, it is likely to lead to a terrible consequence, Rachamana litzlan.

This was the situation on October 7th, where there was blatant negligence by the army leaders, who did not follow the Shulchan Aruch’s command to be prepared with enough weapons on the border to prevent entry and conquest of the land and the horrific massacre, r”l, of the Jews living in the kibbutzim surrounding Gaza.

In contrast, the situation during the Gulf War was when a distant country like Iraq, which was actively at war with Kuwait and the United States, and threatened to send missiles to Israel merely out of hatred for Jews. Israel was in a state of complete danger because, naturally, they had almost no ability to defend themselves, as the United States did not allow Israel to defend itself against Iraqi missiles, claiming it would interfere with their war effort and that they would handle it, etc., in addition to the fact this was prior to the invention of Iron Dome, and Israel was facing a true existential danger without any ability to protect themselves.

In such a situation, the Rebbe promised, like the great biblical prophets of their time, that Hashem would protect Israel miraculously. Indeed, the greatest miracle occurred – a miracle of the magnitude and intensity of the miracles of the prophet Elisha – and nearly not even one Jew in Eretz Yisroel was killed by Saddam’s missiles.

We again witnessed this great miracle several months ago, where the Rebbe’s promise was fulfilled once more during the missile attack from Iran, Hezbollah, and Yemen, and the Rebbe’s great miracle happened again, and not a single missile penetrated or harmed any Jew!

With great bitachon and trust in Hashem, we strongly hope that the Rebbe’s promise and miracles will recur in the current missile scare and threats by our enemies, and that Hashem will continue to protect Israel so that no missile will penetrate and harm any Jew.

May we soon witness the time when Israel’s military and government leaders wake up to see the truth and start adhering to the Rebbe’s instructions, conducting security measures in the country according to the Torah’s directives in the Shulchan Aruch, which will surely bring complete protection, causing fear and dread to fall upon them, and even before the coming of Moshiach, there will be complete security in The Holy Land, as the possuk says,”ונתתי שלום בארץ ושכבתם ואין מחריד.”