Israel’s Defense Minister Briefed on Rebbe’s Security Views

A significant and unusual meeting took place on Thursday at the Defense Ministry in the Kirya in Tel Aviv, as Defense Minister Yisrael Katz hosted a Lubavitch delegation in his office, ahead of Sukkos and on the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Maharash.

At the center of the meeting was the newly released book “Oseh Shalom,” which presents for the first time, in a comprehensive way, the Rebbe’s political and security views. The book was received with great interest and made the Rebbe’s approach accessible to a wider audience.

Participants at the meeting went through the book together with the defense minister, quoted from the Rebbe’s sichos, and discussed regional strategy and current security issues with the minister in light of the Rebbe’s talks and directives.

The discussion ran long, with those present focusing on the political and security principles the Rebbe laid out over the years and how they apply to Israel’s security challenges today.

Participating in the meeting were Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Aharonov, chairman of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad; Rabbi Ariel Lemberg, general secretary of Agudas Chassidei Chabad; Rabbi Yechiel Glukhovsky, shliach at the Science Park and rav of Kehillas HaTze’irim in Rechovot; Rabbi Elisha Perl, the author of the original English work “Make Peace,” who worked on compiling and editing the Hebrew version; Rabbi Itay Baumgarten; and shliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Ofen, director of the security forces division of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad.

During the meeting, those present marked the significance of 13 Tishrei, the hilula of the Rebbe Maharash, and discussed the Rebbe’s teachings and lessons about “Lechatchila Ariber.” At one point, the participants sang the niggun “Lechatchila Ariber” together.

Sets of daled minim were also presented to the defense minister and his advisors ahead of Sukkos.

During the meeting, the minister presented Israel’s new security concept to the delegation using maps in his office. Looking at the maps, participants discussed the regional strategy and the political and security principles behind Israel’s policy, drawing comparisons to what the Rebbe said in his sichos.

Rabbi Aharonov spoke about the importance, in his view, of decision-makers holding firm to the principles the Rebbe set out on security and governance, and stressed the weight of responsibility on the government in decisions affecting Israel’s security.

Delegation members reminded the defense minister that throughout the generations, the navi held a central role in leading Klal Yisrael, as told throughout Tanach, with kings and leaders required to know the navi’s words and act on them. In our generation too, the country’s leaders bear responsibility to deeply know the Rebbe’s words and teachings, particularly on matters touching the security of millions of Jewish citizens in Israel and abroad.

Photos: Nesanel Viner

VIDEO: