JEWISH LEADERSHIP |
|
The Zionists |
The True Rabbinical Leaders |
| While the increasing influence of Zionism
within the Jewish "establishment" values and criteria have changed. Some
"rabbis," who deny the Divine origin of the Torah, who do not observe or
acknowledge the validity of its commandments and who ignore talmudic and rabbinical Law
and Halacha, speak in the name of the Jewish community and the Jewish people. In many cases money alone has become the yardstick of eminence and prominence. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions (no matter how undesirable the candidate may be) to influence America's foreign policy make the giver a leader of American Jews. Some "rabbis" with widely publicized immoral and unethical dealings remain a prominent "Jewish" leaders. Many of the rabbinical members of the Zionist establishment in this country have become primarily organizers, fund raisers, after dinner speakers, public relations specialists or professional apologists. Many are on Zionist payrolls while others receive speaker's fees, free trips to "Israel" or other emoluments (just as some Washington politicians are rewarded regularly by a "Honorarium"). The most disturbing are those who profess to be rabbis and who in their daily lives observe the commandments of Jewish Law but who publicly and even enthusiastically recognize as spokesman for the Jewish people the Zionist leaders who are openly "anti-religious" and who endeavor to deprive Jewish youth of its most precious heritage, the faith in G'd. Zionism through its creation of the state of "Israel" has established an artificial sovereignty that is meant to transform the "kingdom of priests and a holy people" into a nation, relying on numerical strength, material achievements and military power. Zionist "rabbis", condoning such a development and supporting the Zionist state, are not the rabbis of the Jewish people. |
In these days of public relations gimmicks,
press releases, propaganda through the printed word and over the airwaves, the general
public -- Jew and Gentile alike -- have very often see only a most distorted image of a
Rabbi. It is the purpose of this column to set the record straight to the extent that this brief space will permit it. Through the ages it has been axiomatic that "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of G'd." A rabbi has to lead a life of holiness, dedication and good deeds. A rabbi -- as indeed every Jew -- has to be most scrupulous in the observance of the Written and the Oral Law according to Halacha, he has to be the spiritual guide and the teacher of his community, he has to be learned, just, merciful, kind, understanding. In each generation the true rabbi, faced with difficult decisions, will seek the guidance of his spiritual superiors who will render such decisions to the best of their knowledge and ability. Thus each Jewish generation has rabbis who in fact constitute the highest Jewish authority of their time. To illustrate this point, the names of just a few of those are mentioned here who were such outstanding rabbis during the past two generations: the Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, the Chazon Ish, the Brisker Rav. Their names and those of others like them are unknown to the mass media. They led simple, quiet, unpretending lives. They lived far from the noise and bustle of the large metropolitan areas, often in obscure towns or small villages. And yet they were the spiritual giants of their age, the true rabbis of their time knew where to seek them out. They were neither appointed nor elected, they were neither part of any formal hierarchy nor did they hold any special office, yet their opinions and decisions formed new links in the unending chain of Halacha, the only definitive and lasting interpretation of Jewish Law. They were united in the strong and unwavering opposition to Zionism and its misdeeds. |
Rabbis throughout the world have been and are opposed to Zionism and the Zionist state of "Israel" as a complete falsification of Judaism and as the greatest enemy of the Jewish people. The clarion call in this battle has often been heard most clearly in Jerusalem. Chief Rabbi Chaim Sonnenfeld there had unceasingly condemned Zionism. His successor, Chief Rabbi Dushinsky, petitioned the United Nations against the establishment of the Zionist state and called for the internationalization of Jerusalem as a Holy City of international brotherhood. And, until a year ago, there was
the head and heart of the worldwide Jewish Neturei Karta movement. A native of Jerusalem, who never in his long life left the Holy Land, he -- like a prophet of old -- took to the streets of the Holy City and fought evil, degeneration, the desecration of his beloved Jerusalem, militarism and -- above all- Zionism in all its forms. He was persecuted by the Zionist authorities, prosecuted, jailed (for his defense of the holiness of the Sabbath) and yet he remained steadfast and unafraid, an inspiration to his followers throughout the world, kind to all who need help, vigorous in his opposition to the Zionists who would destroy the very soul of the Jewish people. The many campaigns, led by him, were all non-violent (except for brutal beatings, including murder, by the Israeli police), he was always for peace between "Isaac" and "Ismael", he denied absolutely the legitimacy of the state of "Israel" and the validity of its laws.
The Zionists often tried to minimize Rabbi Amram's influence by stating that his followers consisted merely of a small "sect," numbering a few hundred people. Yet, when Rabbi Amram died suddenly last summer, 20,000 Jewish men came to his funeral on a few hours notice. His death constituted an irreparable loss for the Jewish people, he was one of the greatest Jewish leaders of our time. We shall do our best to continue his work and follow his teachings.