In his 4th speech to the American Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu proudly affirmed the Jewish right to the land, earning resounding applause. Yet, he forgot to mention our main claim as emphasized by the Rebbe.
By Anash.org reporter
In a powerful speech today in the US Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu proudly declared Jewish ownership of the Land of Israel.
“They call Israel a colonial state?! Don’t they know that the Land of Israel is the land where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob prayed, where Isaiah and Jeremiah preached, and where David and Solomon ruled? For nearly 4,000 years, the Land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. It has always been our home, it will always be our home!”
Netanyahu’s words were met with enthusiastic applauses by members of Congress, some rounds lasting as long as 3-4 minutes. This was Netanyahu’s 4th talk before Congress, more than any other foreign personality, and the impression was the greatest yet.
The Prime Minister’s assertion about the historical right to the land is better than the claim that it belongs to the Jews because of the 1947 decision of the UN – which can change its position and has done so in recent years – yet, it’s not the true or most effective claim to the land.
In numerous talks and writings, the Rebbe asserted that the Jewish right to the land depends neither on the UN vote or the historical presence, but only on Hashem’s giving the land to the Jews. This, the Rebbe said, is recorded in the Torah which is accepted by the Christians as well.
In a yechidus with Mr. Shmuel Katz, the Rebbe shared his frustration that many Jews feel apologetic or glaze over the reason why the land belongs to us. The Rebbe said they should learn from the Arabs, lehavdil, who proudly fight for their religious cause.
“It’s a shame that those Israeli representatives in negotiations,” the Rebbe told him, “are afraid to mention that our right to the land stems from divine promise. We see many young Arabs, in contrast, who are unashamed of their ‘faith’ and when they argue for their rights to the land, they bring religious justifications. They return and express that they will not give up ‘the holy lands.’ Only with us do people feel ashamed; they’ve tried all formulations and seen the results, and still fear trying the most efficient path.”
In fact, the Rebbe points out, the Yidden’s right to Eretz Yisroel is such a basic tenet in Yiddishkeit, that it’s listed in the first Rashi on the Torah: “Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have started from the first Mitzvah; why then does the Torah start with ‘Bereishis’? Because if the nations of the world should say to the Jews, ‘You are thieves, for you forcibly conquered the lands of the seven nations,’ they will reply, ‘The entire earth belongs to the Hashem; He created it and gave it to whomever He deemed proper in His eyes. When He wished, He gave it to them, and when He wished, He took it away from them and gave it to us.'”
With this, explained the Rebbe, Rashi instructs us clearly how to respond to the claims of the world who argue ownership of Eretz Yisroel. Rashi offers no explanation aside for: “‘The entire earth belongs to Hashem, and he gave it to who he chose’ because this is the exact answer we need to give the goyim, and it is the only answer that will ultimately be accepted by them.
The fact that Jews settled in Eretz Yisroel for any amount of time, is not the source of our right to the land. If this were the argument for the land, then throughout the generations, various peoples have inhabited it, and each of them could also claim this argument.
Our argument for the right to the land is not based on Jewish settlement in the land at this or any other time historically, rather it is solely and exclusively on the basis of Hashem’s gift to the Jews.
And also with regard to his plan for Gaza after the war, by leaving G-d out of the picture, he said he will give it to non- radicalized, non- militarized people. But it belongs to us!!
He mentioned G-d a few times in the speech, which is great. Now he needs to follow what G-d said- to claim the entire land, and not to give any of it away.
By Bibi referencing verses and people from the Bible, Americans understand him that Eretz Yisrael is a land that the Torah / HaShem has given to the Jewish People.
They hear holy words they connect it to G-d and his Bible.
And that was his intended audience not Frum Orthodox Jews.
I hear your point, but the Rebbe was stalking about how to talk to the nations, most significantly America, and he clearly said not to mention the historical claim but mention Hashem and his promise.
Apparently there is a need to spell it out clearly.
You can see with plain eyes how right the Rebbe was! You see how enthusiastic they are at the simple statement that Eretz Yisroel is ours from Biblical times. Every believing Christian knows this to be true.
If only he would get up and say the whole truth that G-d gave it to us (and believe in it!), we would have the Christians firmly behind us, and the others would slowly dissipate before the truth.
As the Rebbeim famously said: In the face of truth, all become nullified.
I see many people are overexcited by Netanyahu’s speech. I appreciate Anash.org providing the Rebbe’s shita.
I think it’s important to put things in perspective. The tone seems to disapprove of Netanyahu for not using the exact argument The Rebbe said. It is true that following The Rebbes advice and strategy to a tee is the surest way to victory. However, did you think Netanyahu is a Lubavitcher chossid? Is he Moshiach?
In the beginning of the war, I never heard him mention Hashem, only the bravery of the idf etc. the fact that he has since put on tefillin and shared publicly, is mentioning Hashem, and now gave a speech quoting pesukim, affirming that Eretz Yisrael is Jewish period, and mentioning Hashem is amazing growth!! We should be applauding that, not denigrating him for not being perfect. It’s not all or nothing.
And to be honest, it will be very hard for a politician who isn’t frum to give The Rebbes argument because he is fully aware that he himself doesn’t live according to the Torah, so why would he want to open himself up to attack- oh you base your claim to the Land on the Bible, but you don’t care for the Bible in your personal life- how hypocritical etc.
Just saying we should strengthen the growth we see and encourage it further…
I agree that it’s important to emphasize the good in people.
It is experienced in so many areas in Chassidus etc that Speaking about the good of a person, brings out the good even more.
May Hashem bless Bibi to continue to have the strength to be strong and always do what’s right!!!
Just in this Parshe, the phenomenal sicha (chelek 8) of those who criticized Pinchos (dissecting and discrediting how good he did, commenting that he did it for his negative and cruel impulse inherited from his grandfather etc) and the lessson the Rebbe takes and gives to us: if someone did something good, do not seek to detract from it! Obviously it could have been better or did it for some interest etc etc etc but do not open your mouth (or dont write) and discredit what he did !!
The Rebbe defended Pinchos for his zealosness in attacking Zimri.
The Rebbe’s message: Don’t be critical of those who speak up for Yiddishkeit and say that they are looking to be negative.
Can you please also post the clip from the end of the speech where he does mention Hashem, how Hashem will help us win the war?