The Old Testament, the Bible of the Jews, of the Jewish people, is filled with statements, reminders, promises, that the Children of Israel will return, always, to their home, their ancient homeland. The land from which they have been exiled and been returned to so many times over the centuries. From the four corners of the earth, they will return. And the State of Israel has spared no effort to retrieve the bodies of their slain and imprisoned held as hostages to reinforce blackmail demands upon Israel to release the worst of the terrorists held in their prisons, those who had committed terrorist actions against scores, thousands, of Israeli civilians and citizens.
This determination, this commitment to have all of our children, alive, dead or missing to be returned to our homeland is forever. The most recent example of this - the hostages. Taken prisoner, dead and alive, dying or already dead as they were dragged over the Gaza Border. Into crowds of howling, bloodthirsty jubilant Palestinians; no, no innocent civilians here other than the Jews and other innocents they had taken, to be confined to dank dungeons, to be tortured and starved, isolated and demeaned, for two years. Even unto death during their awful beastly imprisonment by beasts in human form.
Israel, rightfully so, refused to commit to a full pull out from Gaza. Until every single hostage was returned. And despite the obstinacy, the inhumanity of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, they held their stance and two days ago Ran Gvilli, the last hero left in captivity, was returned to his people, to his nation. To his family to receive the honorable burial he so deserves and the honoring of his name. To allow for the final last chair at Hostage Square to be removed. His pictures removed. And the yellow ribbons of our prisoners, of our abused hostages. can be safely removed from our coats, jackets and necklaces.
We are home. But we are not foolish enough nor naive enough to think that these attempts, these attacks, these kidnapping of Israelis, to slaughter and to hold as prisoners, will end. Hence Israel showed the world their true courage and insistence on the safety and homecoming, the return of all of her people, and all of her people are the Jewish people the world round.
Now. What now remains is for Hamas and Islamic Jihad and all terrorists within Gaza to put down their arms. To hold up their hands empty of weapons and commit to peaceful coexistence. They within Gaza and we within Israel. To stop inciting terrorist attacks among Palestinians in Israel, including Judea and Sameria and recognize Jerusalem as our eternal and forever Capital of our people. Forever. From the beginning of time to the end of time. To accept normalization with Israel. For it is the best for all people.
The nation of Israel, the people of Israel, the majority of the Jewish people around the world, are committed to her survival. No amount of screaming nor threats will change minds and commitment. It is time for the world to accept that as fact. Time to move on. Seek ways to fulfill the command that we have always known and believed and acted upon. Tikkun Olam. The repair of that which is wrong in this world. Time for all to engage in it, to expend the energies we have wasted in the pursuit of that which is wrong, that which is harmful. Imagine what humanity could accomplish if we all cooperated rather than vying for temporary pieces of power. But for that to be, it is not only the Israelis and the Palestinians, the Arabs and the Jews, the Muslims and Christians and all religions, all those with lack of religions to realize and accept the truth. All must do so.
The truth is manifold. The truth is that we must all recognize and accept the humanity of all. Whether they look like us, pray like us. Follow the same customs. Or even at the same level of civilization. Certainly, those of us who appear to be at the peak of civilization of these times had better think again. When we all realize that we are more the same than different and those differences are not really significant in the long run, only then will we be able to build a world of truth and justice. Of understanding of eternal truths. And the necessity to act upon them.
To understand that we are in trouble in this world because we elect, stand by and abide, the worst leaders we can find. We are blindly. or selfishly, or ignorantly following the hypnotic notes of their pipers, down the path of peril. Listening to their seductive tones. Until we reach a point of no return. The Doomsday Clock is now set at 85 seconds before midnight. Less than two minutes. It is not even a minute and a half. We must shake ourselves and get rid of those leaders which only endanger us and increase the peril we all face. So close. so nearby in time and place.
One of the ways to finally get some peace in this world is to understand that the creation of Israel, its acceptance, its permanence, and its purpose, to serve as a haven for all Jews facing oppression. For all Jews wishing to return home for whatever reason, is in fact in the hands of G-d. The One Above. Not in the hands of the haters. When we realize and accept that, we will begin to accept other eternal truths. Then, please G-d, we will become the best that we can be, with the best leaders we can find. Rather than the pathetic specimens we now have.
That is one of the eternal truths of this world. Wait for another world if this disagrees with you. But The Lord G-d has never shown any long-term favor to the mighty, the oppressors, the dregs of the world, other than to punish the peoples of the world who will have descended into the lowest depths to which man can fall. He wants the best for us and from us. This is only possible in a world where we acknowledge His rule, His Presence, His Commandments. And learn to live in harmony and acceptance with each other, of and for each other. A world of justice and equity. A world of trust and friendship.
We are so far distant from that these days. We have leaders who endorse murder. Even of their own. We have leaders and their followers who single out groups for oppression. Even for slaughter. We have leaders who have not a wisp of humanity within. Who are selfish, greedy, and amoral. Beyond any level of acceptance or comprehension.
I, along with so many others, are arriving or have arrived there already at the conclusion that we are at the end of another cycle in history. Another cycle where we have proven to be undeserving of the gifts that we have been given.
We must wake up.
We must.
Or others will wake us up.
Not a pleasant thought.
Terrifying, in fact, to think of what we are condemning our future generations to face.
Check history books and the Bible for vivid descriptions of what we have already suffered by our disappointing G-d so grievously that there is no alternative.
Not yesterday.
Not today.
Certainly not tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment