Israel News Analysis: HaRav Tzvi Yehuda zt"l

by Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz

[Based on an article that originally appeared in Hebrew in Besheva and translated by Hillel Fendel]

The tremendous blossoming of the Jewish return to Judea and Samaria can be credited to Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook's vision and leadership.

We have just marked 37 years since the passing of our great teacher and rabbi, HaRav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, of saintly blessed memory. He was a Torah genius, an expert in Kabbalah, a saintly and righteous tzaddik, and a giant leader enwrapped totally in the Torah of Israel. He enveloped himself day and night in "the four cubits" of Jewish Law and love of Israel, and in the editing and publication of the works of his holy father, HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, the first modern-day Chief Rabbi of the Holy Land. He raised generations of Torah scholar students, giants in Gemara and Halakhah, and experts in the light of Redemptive Torah, blessed with understanding and knowledge of the depth of the unique period of the beginning of our Redemption in which we live.

I would like to illuminate another aspect of the multi-faceted leadership personality of Rav Tzvi Yehuda. I was privileged to see it in action in 5735 (1975), after the first attempts to settle the Sebastia area in Samaria. These took place under the leadership of the late Rabbis Moshe Levinger and Chanan Porat, and Rabbi Menachem Felix and Benny Katzover – joint founders of the "Gush Emunim" Torah settlement movement.

Rav Tzvi Yehuda received a letter at that time from none other than IDF military commando hero Meir Har-Tzion – described by Moshe Dayan as "the best soldier ever to arise in the IDF." Har-Tzion asked the Rav, as the spiritual leader of Gush Emunim, to send him someone who could plan meetings and lectures by Gush Emunim representatives in the mostly-secular kibbutzim and communities in northern Israel. As an admirer of Gush Emunim, he desired to have it presented to the northern residents in a clear and forthright manner.

Bet El Institutions Highlight: Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva students rescue wounded hiker

CLICK HERE TO SEE FOOTAGE OF THE RESCUE

During a school trip to Nahal Tze'elim [Tze'elim Stream], the students of the Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva noticed a wounded traveler and did the unbelievable for him.

Israel News Analysis: The Parade of the Generals

[Based on an article that originally appeared in Hebrew in Besheva and translated from the original Hebrew by Sally Zahav for the Sovereignty Movement]

We have been familiar with the radical leftist organization Commanders for Israel’s Security for many years. We still remember the delusional fliers that they distributed before the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Samaria entitled “Senior Reserves Officers and Security figures from the entire range of the political spectrum state: the Disengagement from Gaza is good for security.” On paper, in black and white, they signed their names to the statement that the expulsion was the best thing for the State of Israel. “We, the undersigned”, said the flyer, above the signatures, “state that in our professional opinion, in the absence of a partner for an arrangement, the intended Disengagement plan strengthens the state and is essential for Israel’s security.”

Interview with Yehuda Gordon: On living in Samaria without fear

Yehuda Gordon grew up in Bet El and currently lives in the Shomron [Samaria] with his wife and four children - Adi Yisrael, Yosef, Chen, Lia. He works as a sofer stam [scribe].

[Interview conducted by Sharona eshet-Kohen]

Israel News Analysis: Hamas and Hizbullah

by Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz

[Based on an article that originally appeared in Hebrew in Besheva and translated by Hillel Fendel]

Reading the Haftara on a recent Sabbath, Parshat Yitro, I could not help noticing the fear and terror in the hearts of the House of David in Jerusalem when King Achaz of Judea was attacked by the armies of Aram and Israel. The Bible describes it as follows: "It was told to the House of David, saying, 'Aram has allied itself with Ephraim' – and his heart and his people's hearts trembled like the trees of the forest tremble before the wind." (Yeshayahu 7,2)

It was only the Divine command issued to King Achaz via the Prophet Isaiah that gave him the strength to fight and win: "Feel secure and calm yourself, do not fear, and let your heart not be faint because of these two smoking firebrand stubs…" (verse 4).

This sorry situation appears to be reminiscent of what we face today. Reading and watching the daily news, we are constantly bombarded with the opinions of the commanders and leaders of our security forces – the IDF, Shabak, and Mossad – regarding our two enemies threatening us from north and south – Hizbullah and Hamas. Apparently, either because of a weakening in their belief in the justness of our cause, or possibly due to spiritual and religious tiredness, or perhaps it's just plain fright and fear of these two smoking firebrand stubs – for whatever reason, the security leaders of the State of Israel nearly always advise and pressure the Government of Israel to surrender to every demand raised by these two terrorist organizations. Our powerful government is afraid to utilize its army, or its other security organs, simply because of the dangers foreseen by the Situation Room in the Kiryah [Defense Ministry headquarters] in Tel Aviv.