by Dr. Geulah Paran, Professors for a Strong Israel, translated by Hillel Fendel.
"Messianics, zealots, delusionals" – these have become the derogatory nicknames of choice to term the members of the Religious Zionist party and, sometimes, the camp in general. Journalists, politicians, former military officers of the "conception" mindset that proved to be so catastrophic – all of them have taken to accept as a given that "extremist right-wing Messianism" is one of the main dangers facing the State of Israel.
The left has lost its way. It used to have a Golden Calf before which it bowed down, in the form of imaginary "peace in the Middle East." However, it came crashing down with a great thud on the 7th of October, and the left now has no place to hang its sorrow and disappointment. Nothing remains of its weltanschauung, and in its bitterness and anger (at itself?), it has turned on those who were actually correct. As Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich said this week, "Isn't it time you listened to us, given that we have been right for 30 years now?"
The nationalist/religious/right in Israel has been proven correct in its warnings against the Oslo agreements, and when it cried out, "Don't give them guns!" It was similarly on the mark when it objected to leaving Lebanon and turning our backs on the soldiers of the Southern Lebanese Army, and most certainly when we begged the government not to disengage and quit Gush Katif (Gaza) and the northern Shomron.
Truth be told, it is not easy to admit a mistake, and especially when its consequences were so grave. The integrity needed to acknowledge an error is a rare commodity within the progressive-liberal left camp. Instead, they often replace it with something known as "projection." This is a defense mechanism that protects those who use it from dealing with emotional matters that are simply unbearable. The process is to take the "threatening content" and "project it" upon, or attribute it to, the other side. Thus, the offending party – the left, in this case – avoids confronting the issue and can relate to it as something of total irrelevance.
Some of those in the so-called "peace camp" have actually taken stock of their views and have admitted the error of their ways. Some of them have even gone so far as to say they now recognize there is no one on the other side with whom to make peace.
However, much too many of them, in their bitterness, direct their arrows to those who were right in the first place. They "project" their Messianism – their unshakeable belief in "peace in our time" – on those who believe that the State of Israel is truly destined for greatness. Many, as stated, do not suffice with calling them Messianists, and add in "extremist" and "delusional' to boot.
My heart goes out to them. It is hard to live in the State of Israel without faith and belief. In every dispute between right and left, the latter will always chime in with a challenging, "What, shall we have war forever?!" The answer from the believer is invariably, "We have no choice in the matter, but we have faith in the Eternity of Israel and in the coming of the Messiah." In response the left would smirk and scoff, taking their own "Messianism" back to their imaginary, longed-for "peace." But now, to where can they take it? The left-wingers can only lash out at those whose faith continues to strengthen them.
For some, the breaking of their faith weakens them on all fronts, and they can't even fight their enemies, while those whose faith is renewed daily are able to continue fighting for the sublime cause, knowing that they can, must, and will continue until victory.
It could be that even more former peaceniks than we think have allowed the events to affect their thinking and have made a careful accounting of their convictions. But a small and very vocal minority is still holed up in its anger and disappointment, and is seeking – successfully, to an extent – to revive the protest movement that took over our country until last October 6th. They have a different excuse each time: "The government must be toppled! The hareidim must be drafted! The captives must be freed at any price! We will never cooperate with the dangerous Messianists!"
And who are these Messianits that they are referring to? Parents and families of fallen soldiers, true heroes who went out on Oct. 7th to save Jews with practically their bare hands, and who continue to fight – and die – in battle today to protect those who scorn them.
The recent funeral of fallen IDF soldier Elon Veiss, a 49-year-old reservist commander who insisted on serving in combat even at his advanced age, was a lesson for all sides. After the singing of Hatikvah, the participants continued soulfully with the words of Maimonides: "Ani Maamin – I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even if he tarries, I will still await his arrival every day."
Ani Maamin much is more than just a song. It was originally composed during the Holocaust, and provided the Jews with a glimmer of hope in a devastated world that appeared to be all but Jew-free. These words were a spark of Jewish faith – faith in the justness of our path, in the eternity of the Jewish People, and in a blessed future for Am Yisrael in its Land. And in many other funerals, as well, this song was borne on the lips of the mourners – strengthening, comforting, and uniting.
With the strength of this faith, the Nation of Israel fights its enemies until their total defeat, settles the entire Land of Israel with a sense of historic and national mission, and believes that the price it is paying is not in vain. And even when they continue to be mocked as Messianists, they need only remember Menachem Begin's classic words. Addressing himself to those who protested Israel's right to protect itself and bomb the Iraqi reactor, he said: "If there are some bleeding-hearts who want to turn up their noses at our actions – they can remain with crooked noses!"