THE REBBE SPEAKS OUT ON HEBRON

Translated by Rabbi Binyomin Schlanger

PART 1

These days something very shocking is taking place, specifically involving Hebron. It is unbelievable – a gathering of tens of Jews. How are they preoccupied? How are they putting their minds to use? By standing in judgment over Hebron! Was Hebron captured, or re-occupied from a foreign power? They have no shame – not from themselves, nor before others, nor before gentiles who know what is written in the Bible – that Hebron, the Cave of Machpela and the surrounding field was bought by Abraham our forefather even before the giving of the Torah, and that he paid 400 silver shekels to purchase it. They know of the conquest of Joshua and of Jews who ascended from Babylon. Yet regardless, these Jews publicly present themselves at a special meeting to express their ‘wisdom,’ attempting to purify their vile thoughts.

Their thinking is far below the impurity of vermin. They ought to be using their intelligence to choose [a policy of protecting Jewish] life; [the Divine presence is forced down into this world when ten Jews are gathered together, whereby an angel present would be nullified before the energy of the Sh’china.] A Jew is entrusted with a mission – a soul descends into a physical body to create for Almighty G-d a dwelling place in this lower realm. Rather, they utilize their G-d-given minds to cheat themselves and those around them by announcing that Hebron belongs to others, making announcements as if Hebron is some sort of liberated territory. 

Recently I received a letter from a Jew in NY, a naïve Jew immersed in his studies. He toiled and gathered together statements of our Sages trying to bring proof to support his foolishness, that since these territories were conquered and an agreement was signed by Jews who must never lie, he came to the conclusion it is forbidden to retract! What does that mean, they signed a contract? The property signed for did not belong to them! This is the property of the entire Nation of the Jewish People. Even someone possessing all qualities and good intentions has no power of attorney or permit to sell property belonging to someone else, even of a single individual, certainly not of a great number of people. This is even more so in a case regarding property under the ownership of men of this generation and of all past generations beginning with the Divine Promise of the Covenant whereby G-d said to Abraham our forefather “To you have I given [this Land]!” First they signed an agreement, and then stubbornly insist that since it is forbidden to lie, they must be bound to uphold the lie and take away from tens of generations of the Jewish people their possession and cede to others! Are you master to dispose of property and estates belonging to tens of previous generations and to generations after you to the end of all generations?!

G-d chose Israel from amongst the Nations and Eretz Israel from all lands as an everlasting inheritance! Only through our sins were we exiled from our land and distanced from our soil. Yet it remains our Land! This is ghetto mentality, far from the beginning of redemption! Never before did Jews stand in official judgment over Hebron. Worse still, the world stands by in silence! Jews are showing on a public forum – may G-d protect us – that Hebron does not belong to the Jewish people but was mistakenly captured! They [the Israel government] send representatives recommending [to the Arabs] to take it back. They nullify their own lie that the reason for their surrender is [international] pressure. In truth it is they themselves of their own free will, who offer to surrender!

PART 2

[The members of the Government of Israel themselves are recommending the surrender.] The absolute proof of this is that after ‘they conquered the territories’ [this is how they call this. In truth however, they freed and returned, openly before the eyes of all the nations, Jewish land and borders to their rightful owners]. Even before the advent of any international pressure, at a time when not one of the gentile nations ever dreamt that there would be discussions with Israel about giving back territories, they, the government of Israel, sent emissaries on a special mission. With full intent they chose an observant Jew in order to make known that this recommendation is forthcoming in the name of Torah – may G-d protect us! These emissaries recommended that Israel would return to the Arabs all the land which was conquered in the Six-Day War.

At that time, after the open miraculous victory, not only was there no pressure from Washington, there was not even and protest from the Arabs. The Arabs were overjoyed that they were not harmed and were not in receipt of the treatment which they would have meted out to the Jewish People had they been the victors; it did not even enter their minds to exert pressure. It was exclusively those Jews who stubbornly took this line. To our great pain, those very same people carry the influence now also. It is only with one difference: now they lean on the broken walking stick. Why are they taking this line [of retreat]? Because of outside pressure! If [asks the Rebbe], you are doing so because of pressure, why were you prepared to return land in 1967 when there was no pressure? When there were elections you should have made known that they are electing one who is not subject to changing his mind!

G-d gives man the chance to repent, regardless of the fact that for 119 years 364 days his conduct was unacceptable. Should he choose to return from his path, then, not only will there be no mention of his past conduct, in fact his deliberate sins will be regarded as merits. But this is only when he regrets the past, or at least he accepts upon himself good intent for the future. But here, he did the contrary. He stated explicitly, “I have eaten [treif] – and I will continue to do so!” Not only does he state so, but turns this into a system of thinking [of retreat], pressurizing other Jews that they be bound to accept his view. Then when they meet up with gentiles and speak with them, the gentiles say to him, “I don’t even know what pressure you say you are subject to!” He, the gentile, never even dreamt that that this recommendation would be forthcoming. He, [says the gentile] was only speaking [for political reasons] this way for public consumption, and for that matter, only these last few weeks. 

A representative of Israel arrived here [to the USA]. When he was in the capital [Washington], when newspaper reporters were not nearby, he was asked: “What is going on? What are you talking about? We never dreamt that you would offer to retreat.” I do not know if he will relay this upon his return to Israel, because then, he would not have fulfilled his mission and [it will become obvious that he] was mistaken in his assessment. 

The government of Israel calls out: “Take back all the territories, Hebron, and the Old City of Jerusalem.” And nobody raises a voice of protest!

(From the farbrengen Parshas VaYeitzei, 1980)

Dear reader,

Please take a few moments to copy, paste, and email this sicha to 10 friends, asking your friends in turn to email the same to 10 further friends, ad infinitum. Thereby you will be taking a strong and active part in the Rebbe’s battle to protect the lives of millions of Jewish people whose lives are so endangered. This is, as the Rambam writes, Milchemes Hashem, and we will see it through to the final Nitzachon!

Please go to http://beismoshiachmagazine.org/true-peace/ where you will find the current sicha.