ZIONISM / ANTI-----better off under british rule?
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Posted - 27 April 2004 7:00
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Would people rather be living in Eretz Yisroel under the British rule? Or the Arab rule? Can’t we at least have Hakaras hatov to Hashem for giving us this Land to live in?
Posted - 27 April 2004 7:27
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Yes, we would. For two reasons, which are really one and the same:
1) We were safer and happier under British and Arab rule than we are under Zionist rule - this war with the Arabs and all the killings (which started 100 years ago when the Zionists declared their intentions to take the land from the Arabs) is not something we should be happy about. Please see the letters of Rav Yosef Chaim Zonenfeld, the then-Chief Rabbi, below.
2) Hashem said that we must live under non-Jewish rule during the Golus. It is His will that we do so. And if we live in Eretz Yisroel under Jewish rule, we will be killed like animals (that’s a quote).
TRUTH AND PEACE
Rabbi Yosef Chaim Zonenfeld
After the disorders in Eretz Yisroel in 1929, the Chief Rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish Community, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, zt"l, issued a touching appeal to the Arab population to live in peace with the Jewish community, and assuring them that the Jewish people have no designs on the
This appeal, presented in English translation, as printed in Arabic in the leading Arab newspaper as well as in Loshon Kodesh in the Agudah weekly, Kol Yisroel on November 22, 1929.
It is fifty-seven years since the L-rd allowed me to ascend to the
During the days of my dwelling in the Holy Land, the L-rd has aroused the spirit of certain esteemed individuals to fulfill the commandment of settling the
The "Western Wall", the place from which the Divine Presence has not departed, even in its ruination, has been a place of refuge for all the inhabitants of the
This holy place also serves as a tower for the entire world. The dispersed of
There was no fixed time for this outpouring of prayer. Neither day nor night have the feet of Jews ceased treading in this holy corner. I too, have been favored by the L-rd to be among the visitors to this place. I too, have not, had a fixed time for this, and many times my feet stood in this holy place, late at night, alone, and in seclusion with the One who caused His name to dwell in this house.
And all of these decades even after the land came under the mandate of His Royal Majesty's government, the government of
Antagonism to religion, which, lamentably is prevalent in many lands abroad, had no place in this sanctified land. The One who makes peace in His heavens had spread the tabernacle of His peace over the land and the city which He chose, and there was no violence or outrage in our streets. Our esteemed neighbors honored the Jews, and the Jews respected the other inhabitants of the land. On many occasions one group was helped by the other, as is fitting proper for tranquil neighbors, who together desire the success of their community.
Also the Arabs knew and still know that the Jews seek their peace and well-being, and bring a blessing upon the entire land. All of them together awaited the great day of the L-rd, on which his Divine Presence will return to
But behold now, woe unto us that such a thing has arisen in our days, a raging storming wind is turning upon the Jews of the
To our great sorrow, false accusations have been spread, invented by lovers of strife, which ascribe evil intentions to the Jewish inhabitants in order to arouse anger and vengeance, and to turn our quiet
I am eighty years old today, and in the days of my old age, the L-rd has bound me to see the destruction of the foundations of the settlement, which was built over a period of many years, with the toil and sweat of men who sacrificed themselves for it, and which was nurtured and reared by strong men, out of holy devotion and out of a strong will to secure the foundations of a settlement in the Land of Israel.
I turn to all sections of the population of the Holy Land, and in particular to those who are not of the Children of Israel and from the depths of my sad broken heart, I ask to have pity on the
Don't turn your ears to slanders and false charges that are baseless. The Jewish inhabitants of the
The Jews do not want, in any way, to take that which isn't theirs. And they certainly don't want to contest the rights of the other inhabitants to the places held by them in which they regard with honor and consider holy. And in particular there is no foundation to the rumor that the Jews want to acquire the "
We request only that they leave us the most holy place that is left for us, as a refuge, the site of the Western Wall, so that we will still be able to pour out our prayers before our father in heaven, concerning any trouble that may befall us, G-d forbid, and whenever a Jewish soul desires this holy place, without any disturbance and with peace of mind, as was always the case.
I declare my words before everyone and I hope that all righteous peoples of the world will recognize the justice of my words and because of this recognition will make every exertion and explore every possibility to restore peace to the Holy Land, and to remove suspicion and jealousy from the hearts of all the inhabitants. And then the L-rd will take pleasure in our deeds and strengthen the work of our hands, in order to see the building of our
Awaiting speedy salvation
Yosef Chaim Zonenfeld
TRUTH AND PEACE
The "Holy Land", upon which the eyes of the L-rd our G-d are from the beginning of the year until the end of the year, the land from which comes forth blessings for all the peoples, and in which the prophets of the L-rd foresaw the promises of the future and the perfection of all humanity, and from which they called for the peace of all creation, has groaned and cried for two years because of pain and insult, and it soil, which is permeated with holy memories of purity of heart and morality of character, has become a witness to racial hatred and strife between neighbors. And the atmosphere of spiritual life is filled with suffocating clouds which poison every understanding heart, and remnant of human love.
The prolonged controversy and dissention is repelling the Divine Presence and is removing G-d forbid, the blessing of the L-rd from the beautiful and bountiful land, which is destined and assured by providence. And in its place come aching souls, quarrels between brothers, scheming hearts, lack of faith and trust in the L-rd, and mistaken and misleading suspicions of one another.
As one of the leaders of the "Holy Land", who has been privileged, with G-d's help, to be in this land, now nearly sixty years, and who has been an eyewitness to years of tranquility, security and complete peace between the inhabitants, I permit myself to turn to all the inhabitants of the Holy Land, regardless of race or religion, the people which the Divine Providence has given the privilege of dwelling in the land which is holier than any other land, to ask them, from the depths of my broken and said heart to have pity upon the bountiful land and upon the various ethnic groups that dwell in it, to come together to rebuild the moral ruins and to reestablish the broken fragments of humane feeling and divine ethnics, which have been ruined and shattered during the last few years.
Uproot every grudge from your hearts. Remove the suspicions that come from false prophecies and seductions which nest there, and pave the road to peace. The heads of the Jewish People in the
The blessing of the L-rd will accompany the goodwill of the inhabitants. It will enrich and crown this will with success and saturate the holy ground with the dew of life. And may we be privileged to see the new light which the L-rd will cause to shine on
As the entreaty of one who awaits and
longs for heavenly mercy,
Yosef Chaim Zonenfeld
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