Article by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon: The intention of this article is not to belittle President Trump or to make light of his victory in the elections and his positive attitude towards the Jewish People and Eretz Yisroel. Rather I am going to try to share a perspective that I feel we all should consider and think about.
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
I would like to start by making it absolutely clear: The intention of this article is not in any way to belittle President Trump or to make light of his victory in the elections and his positive attitude towards the Jewish People and Eretz Yisroel. This is not a political analysis article, rather I am going to try to share a perspective that I feel we all should consider and think about.
There are two general ways in which we are influenced. One way is when a person sits with us and explains something to us in a way that we can understand and it penetrates our hearts. Think of the long Farbrengens where a certain Mashpia will speak about a certain topic and bring stories and examples to convey a certain point or message. The other way is to see someone act – or react – in a way which is not logical but it is an expression of their truth and essence. Those occurrences (many times are shocking when they happen) stay in our conscious and subconscious for a very long time.
One of those events happened to me in the year 5756. I was in Shiur Beis of Yeshiva Ketana and the mashpia of our class was Rabbi Yossi Paltiel. It was during that year that Mr. Bibi Netanyahu was running for election (again) and Chabad was very active in the “Bibi is good for the Jews” campaign. Many Yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel has students actively campaigning and we (even though we were in America without any social media) were all emotionally involved in the campaign and were even saying Tehillim in 770 for the victory
When Bibi won the campaign, we were ecstatic. We came to class in a jubilant mood and we expected Rabbi Paltiel to be excited and talking about the election victory. Instead, we saw him in his regular – very thoughtful and serious – self. One of the Talmidim (who did not come from an official Lubavitcher family) could not contain himself, and asked Rabbi Paltiel why he was not expressing joy and optimism in the election result. Rabbi Paltiel sat straight up and said the following: “ Bibi Netanyahu is not our answer and solution. The only solution we have is ‘Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu Verabeinu Melech Hamoshiach Leolam Valed’!”
To say that we were shocked by the reaction, would be an understatement. We actually sat there stunned as we had no idea what he was talking about! We were not in the mindset to discuss what he said and we just left it. It was only when I got older that I began to understand what he was saying: As Jews and Chassidim, we can’t put trust in the promises of man, rather we need to remain focused on our true goal and salvation: The Hisgalus of the Rebbe!
It is not just that people are not perfect, and they tend to go back on their promises and convictions (remember what Bibi did in 5756?!), it is deeper: We have a mission to bring the world to its completion and perfection and that could only be done with the hisgalus of Moshiach. We can’t become complacent and happy because of the result of a particular election.
I know that this sounds obvious and cliche, but we – the frum community and Chassidei Chabad – need to be honest with ourselves: We have become consumed with national politics. While we (still) would not feel comfortable watching television or professional sports games, there has become a comfort level in strongly following politics. We have justified it to ourselves by telling ourselves that these are our “real world issues” (not like sports, where it really has no real-world consequences who wins and loses a tournament).
In the last couple of years, the Frum community (and I am going to focus on the Frum community in America, and there are strong similarities in Israel) has really felt the difference of whom we elect. We suffered government shutdowns and vaccine mandates in the Covid era and we have seen how important it is to elect people with strong connections to Eretz Yisroel that will take a strong stance on Antisemiticism etc. We have allowed this to justify our involvement and passion for politics.
While it is worthy of a true personal Cheshbon Hanefesh if we are gone overboard in this area, one thing is certain and forsure: We must always remember that “the main thing is to keep the main thing – the main thing!” (העיקר: שהעיקר ישאר העיקר:!) We must not rest and be satisfied with what has happened in the election and we must work hard until the complete hisgalus of the Rebbe – Now!!
Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above with me by sending me a personal email: [email protected]
This election was an issue of pikuach nefesh for Yidden in Eretz Yisroel. It was also a matter of pikuach nefesh in regard to chinuch matters. The left was actively trying to force religious schools to teach our precious kinderlach the sick demented twisted immoral agenda that the left espouses. It wasn’t only the calamity of the way covid was mishandled. It was also the severe harm that was done to the economy.
IMO, the concern about the election was legit, and BH that Trump won.
Do you have memory deficiencies? Or do you just not remember who the president was five years ago?
Unless you think Trump mishandled Covid, in which case we agree
Trump said that the covid Vax was optional. Most of the damage came from leftist politicians and leftists in the CDC.
The article doesn’t speak about if we need to vote for those that are friendly to israel and support a Torah view,
He spoke about the extent of our involvement in politics. Have we gone overboard with the that?
Various times when there were major events concerning Israel and Jews, as the Gulf war and other, the Rebbe mentioned this point.
Yasher koiach!
I don’t know what it means that we suffered vaccine mandates”. Is there any conflict with halacha to take the vaccine?
Agreed when it’s past a normal level.
Very well said.
It’s important to vote, and to know whom to vote for, but that’s not our mission in life. Not at all!!!
My understanding is that it’s against halacha to force someone to do an experimental medical procedure.
I very much identify with the point of the article, I’m just turned off by the divisive details unrelated to the topic. Every frum Yid awaits moshiach and we need to work on strengthening our anticipation, but preoccupation with the identity of moshiach is, per the proclamation of the central committee of Lubavitch rabbonim, contrary to the Rebbe’s wishes. Why ruin a good point with machlokes and causing tzaar to other Yidden to whom the Rebbe’s kovod is precious. It’s surprising that anash.org put it up.
1. “I very much identify with the point of the article, I’m just turned off by the divisive details unrelated to the topic.”
You said you identify with the main point of the article, but you’re turned off by the divisive details. However, the main topic wasn’t about Trump being Moshiach; it specifically focused on The Rebbe being Moshiach.
2. “Every frum Yid awaits Moshiach and we need to work on strengthening our anticipation.”
You mentioned that every frum Yid awaits Moshiach and should strengthen their anticipation, but the main avoda isn’t simply about ‘anticipating’ Moshiach—it’s about greeting him in actuality.
3. “But preoccupation with the identity of Moshiach is, per the proclamation of the central committee of Lubavitch rabbonim, contrary to the Rebbe’s wishes.”
You referenced a proclamation by a central committee of Lubavitch rabbonim, but I’m not sure who this committee is or who appointed them. What I do know is that hundreds of rabbonim signed a psak din with approval from the Rebbe.
4. “Why ruin a good point with machlokes and causing tzaar to other Yidden to whom the Rebbe’s kovod is precious.”
You mentioned the idea of causing machlokes or tzaar, but the point of Melech HaMoshiach isn’t to cause anyone suffering. Additionally, I’m not sure how it could be disrespectful to refer to Moshiach as “Moshiach.”
5. “It’s surprising that anash.org put it up.”
You said it’s surprising that Anash.org published it, but it was an Op-Ed by Gershon Avtzon. News sites often host differing views on their platform—the fact that your comment was also published is proof of that.
It’s refreshing to hear people argue about “Yechi”, it’s been a while since I’ve heard it. Sometimes I think people have stopped arguing about it because they don’t care anymore- so part of me is happy. If the arguments could be done with a little more respect to other opinions/ other people with differing opinions I would be even happier. Ahavas Yisroel can definitely help bring Moshiach quicker, we can then argue it out in the beis hamikdosh 😉
Nobody (I hope) thinks that President Trump is Moshiach, or now that he won, we don’t need Moshiach.
More Jews than ever voted for Trump in this election. Jews who never voted before. Jews who always voted Democrat and would have voted for Harris, but because of all the talk either voted for the first time or voted for a Republican for the first time.
Harris would have allowed America to continue it’s downward spiral into moral depravation and pressured Israel into a surrender.
We have to be thankful for this miracle. Now, go out and do what you can to bring Moshiach. And be thankful that Harris won’t be here to hamper the process!
Gotta remember who runs the world…
It’s appropriate to avoid machlokes. Kol hakavod to you for the correct intentions.
That said, I just would like to point out that if we are honest, we can’t simply ignore a small bunch of sichos regarding kabbolas hamalchus. The reason some of us are occupied with the identity of the Rebbe as Moshiach is because we find it in the rebbe’s words and we’re not prepared to shove it under the rug in order to be politically correct.
What I remember from that evening in 5756 .. was Rabbi Paltiel literally yelling
אָר֚וּר הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְטַ֣ח בָּֽאָדָ֔ם וְשָׂ֥ם בָּשָׂ֖ר זְרֹע֑וֹ וּ