To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 Op-Ed: MUSIC TO MOURN JERUSALEM BY
MUSIC TO MOURN JERUSALEM BY
by Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
Arutz Sheva Israel National Radio <http://www.a7.org>
Broadcast on July 14, 1999 / Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, 5759
In This Article:
1. Focus on the Nine Days
2. The Original Sin
3. Appreciate Your Land!
4. Remind Your Relatives
5. The Right Music for the Right Time
Shalom. I wish you a good month, and may G-d turn this month [of sadness]
into a time of blessing, salvation and comfort.
FOCUS ON THE NINE DAYS
In previous years, Arutz-7 did not broadcast during this period of the Nine
Days, from the beginning of the month of Av until Tisha B'Av [the 9th day
of Av]. This year and last year, the management of Arutz-7 has decided to
continue the station's broadcasts during these days. During this period of
mourning for our Holy Temple - may it be speedily rebuilt in our times -
Jerusalem and the Temple and our national status will be the focus of our
broadcasts. We don't wish to suffice with discussing only the laws and
customs of these days, but will rather delve into the reasons for these
customs, and discuss the destruction of the Temple, what caused it, what
brought about our Exile, and how to bring about a change for the better.
Of course, the customs of these days must be studied and preserved. But
the ultimate purpose of all these acts, we must remember, is to help us
understand the acts that led to the destruction of our Temple, and to
arouse us to Repentance and to the mending of our ways.
THE ORIGINAL SIN
The destruction of the Temple can be ultimately traced back to the sin of
the Spies in the desert - the sin of rejecting the Land. This act led to
the destruction of both of our Holy Temples and the exile of our people
from our land. The very same date that the People of Israel cried in the
desert over the scouts' demoralizing report about the Land, and did not
wish to enter - that very day, the 9th of Av, became a "day of weeping" for
us throughout our history, beginning with the destruction of both the First
and Second Temples, and continuing with various other calamities throughout
the generations.
APPRECIATE YOUR LAND!
Our repentance in this matter must correspond to the sin. To compensate
for our rejection of the Land of Israel, we must increase our love for it.
We must remember that it is the land chosen by G-d, and we must recognize
its intrinsic value and the advantages it brings those who dwell in it. We
must know that this is the Land in which the Divine Presence dwells, and
that it is the land of prophecy, in or about which all the prophets
received and gave over their Divine messages. This is the land of milk and
honey, the land which lacks nothing, the land with every physical and
spiritual advantage.
Though all of the above is well-known and simple, the need to review and
delve into these points is constant. The more we deepen our bonds with the
Land, and the more we increase our love for it, to this extent will the
rest of the people of Israel begin to recognize its uniqueness and
greatness. As Rabbi Judah HaLevy wrote in his classic work of Jewish
thought, HaKuzari: "Jerusalem will not be rebuilt until the people of
Israel long for it to the utmost, until they pine for its stones and dirt."
This is the feeling that we must attempt to nurture among our fellow Jews.
REMIND YOUR RELATIVES
At this time, when it is within our grasp to build the Land and Jerusalem -
for the Land is finally open and available to all its children - we must
seize the moment and take action among those Jews who are still in the
Exile (Diaspora). We must help them increase their love for the Land, and
attempt to bring them to the realization that their place is here. Whoever
has relatives or friends abroad must attempt to convince them to either
come to stay, or to visit, or to at least send their children, or invest in
Israel - in one way or another, every Jew must forge bonds with his Land,
each according to his capabilities.
Similarly, the residents of Israel must become more connected to Jerusalem.
These days are perfect for visiting the remnant of our Temple, and
reflecting in this way our great longing for its rebuilding. It's true
that we do not generally take trips or hikes during the Nine Days - but to
ascend to Jerusalem is exactly what is required to repair the sin over
which we are mourning! Connecting ourselves with the Land of Israel,
Jerusalem, and the Temple represents the very acts that will compensate for
the sins that led to the destruction of our Temples.
THE RIGHT MUSIC FOR THE RIGHT TIME
Jewish law forbids us from forgetting, even for a short time, the
atmosphere of mourning during this period. As the Talmud says, "Once the
month of Av arrives, we minimize our happiness." But songs of longing for
Jerusalem, songs that express our hope for its rebuilding, songs of verses
from Eichah (Lamentations) that instill within us the feelings of love for
Jerusalem, sorrow over its destruction, and expectations for its rebuilding
- not only are we permitted to sing them, and to play them, but we are
obligated to do so. For this is exactly what must be done during these
days. The only songs that are prohibited are those which are unconnected
with any of the above matters, that are not mitzvah-oriented and do not
arouse us to feelings of longing for the Redemption. But songs that cause
us to feel the essence of these days - now is the very time that they
should be played.
In the past, a certain type of flute music used to be played at funerals,
in order to arouse sorrow over the deceased. It was even an obligation, as
a way of showing respect to the departed. In the same vein, it is right to
use musical instruments in songs that arouse our sorrow and remembrance of
the Beit HaMikdash, and to awaken our expectations for its rebuilding.
This will be the policy of Arutz-7 when we choose our music during this
period.
May it be G-d's will that the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days, and
may this month be turned from a time of sorrow to a time of joy. Shalom,
shalom.
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Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Beit El,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arutz Sheva, and Co-Chief Rabbi of
Beit El.
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To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
From: Arutz-7 Editor <neteditor@a7.org>
Subject: Arutz-7 Op-Ed:
THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS
By Jay Shapiro
Arutz Sheva Israel National Radio
Broadcast July, 1999 / Tammuz, 5759
In This Article:
1. Meet Samuel Berger
2. Not Bad For An Infidel
3. Crime Pays
4. Berger's Three Basic Blind Spots
5. No Comment on Iran
6. The Silence of American Muslims
7. Different Degrees of Violence
MEET SAMUEL BERGER
There is a nice Jewish fellow with an impressive title who works for
US President Bill Clinton. He is the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs, Samuel Berger. He belongs to Clinton's
coterie of court Jews (like Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross) which the
American leader employs like a figleaf to camouflage his policy
vis-a-vis Israel. The Clinton Administration revels in its image as
the most pro-Israel administration ever, contrary to all available
evidence.
In a May 7 speech to the American Muslim Council in Washington, Berger
declared, "I am proud to speak to you because American Muslims have a
critically important role to play as a bridge between the United
States and the Muslim world....Our relationship with the Islamic
community is vital to almost everything we are trying to do, from
Kosovo to the Middle East to Asia..From the time President Clinton
took the oath of office, this administration has reached out to the
Muslim community worldwide."
NOT BAD FOR AN INFIDEL
"The President's respect for Islam," continued Berger, "proceeds from
a basic grasp of two facts. One is that Muslims constitute a quarter
of the world's population..Two is that Muslims are rapidly redefining
our own nation. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United
States, practiced by some six million Americans in over 1200 mosques
and Islamic centers." Note the number: American Jews claim that there
are six million Jews in America. The total is probably smaller, but
even if the figure is accurate, it is six million and shrinking. The
Muslim community, in contrast, is six million and growing.
Berger went on to say, "Last October's Wye Agreement came about in no
small measure because of the President's insistence that Palestinians,
whether Muslim or Christian, be treated as full and equal partners.
In November, he proposed sending $400 million over three years to the
Palestinian people as part of the Wye Agreement."
CRIME PAYS
Interestingly, Berger claimed that the money was sent "to the
Palestinian people." The truth is that these funds were not given to
the Palestinian people. They were channeled to the despotic clique
that rules over them. Most of the money vanished into a black hole,
into the wallets and bank accounts of the killers and crooks who
dominate the populace. The Palestinian Arabs themselves saw little or
no benefit from the money.
Berger continued: "In December, the President delivered a historic
address in Gaza to members of the Palestinian National Council. And
just recently, he wrote to Chairman Arafat to reaffirm our support for
the aspirations of the Palestinian people to determine their own
future in their own land." In other words, Berger was affirming that
the United States supports an organization whose national covenant
denies the existence of the Jewish state; whose very raison d'etre is
the erasure of Israel from the map.
"Importantly," said Berger, "the President has a made a conscious
effort to dispel the old stereotypes of Islam, both in his aggressive
search for peace in the Middle East and in public statements. Last
September, he gave the keynote speech at the opening of the United
Nations General Assembly. The thrust of the speech concerned
terrorism, a problem that Americans mistakenly link to Islam." Note
the use of the word 'mistakenly.' "The President stated what has
always been our position, that we abhor terrorism and its pursuit of
innocent victims. But he went to great lengths to say that there is
no contradiction between Islam and America. Perhaps, most clearly,
Bosnia and Kosovo have refuted the claim that Islam and the West are
locked in a clash of civilizations."
Berger then moved on to discuss lessons of Kosovo. "What Kosovo
proves, beyond a doubt, is that Western and Islamic nations can unite
to fight evil and protect innocent people no matter what their
background. There is no clash of civilizations, just a clash of
values between those who seek a future of peace and prosperity and
those who maintain power by resorting to violence and hatred.... If
we work hard to nurture the positive developments, hand in hand with
our Muslim partners, and if we give problems the consideration that
they deserve, we can crush the clash of civilizations theory once and
for all.."
BERGER'S THREE BASIC BLIND SPOTS
So saith an individual at the pinnacle of the American foreign
policy-making establishment. There are several crucial points to note
in his speech. First, he seems to think that resolution of economic
problems will lead to world peace. He asserts that if everyone were
raised above a certain poverty level, the world's problems would be
solved. This is typical American hyper-materialistic thinking. In
fact, the opposite is much closer to the truth. The classic example
is Lebanon, whose perennial civil war began just when economic
prosperity had spread across the nation.
Mr. Berger, like most liberal-minded Americans, suffers from another
misconception. He postulates that one of the reasons for conflict in
the world is lack of communication and understanding of the other
fellow's position. On the contrary, many problems are intractable
because we understand the other position only too well. Here in
Israel, for example, a grasp of the fact that Arafat seeks to destroy
us is key. If we do not fathom the reality that this is his basic
position, we are in trouble. And, indeed, we find ourselves mired in
political quicksand; the Oslo and Wye agreements resulted from our
leaders refusing to believe the position of the other side. They
chose to ignore what was looking them right in the eye. They made an
agreement based on what they yearn for, rather than what is.
Mr. Berger mentioned the "clash of civilizations." This theory was
propounded by the noted historian Samuel Huntington. He has written
extremely well-researched articles and books showing that the clash of
civilizations is in fact a pressing dilemma in our era. And the
biggest component of this dilemma is Islam. But Mr. Berger, like
Shimon Peres, Yossi Beilin, and the other Alice-in-Wonderland
thinkers, have joined the minions of Western statesmen, academics, and
intellectuals who seek to purge the concepts of "culture," "nation,"
and "religion" from the public discourse. This recycled,
quasi-Marxist obscurantism may provide a solid ideological basis for
MTV videos, but in international diplomacy it is a recipe for
conflagration and strife.
NO COMMENT ON IRAN
Just out of curiosity, what are American Muslims really thinking? For
example, what do American Muslims have to say about the ominous
roundup of Jews in Iran? At least thirteen Iranian Jews - and
possibly as many as 30 - have been held incommunicado since March.
They are accused, almost certainly falsely, of spying for Israel and
the United States. The prisoners are from the poverty-stricken Jewish
communities of Shiraz and Isfahan; among them are rabbis, kosher
butchers, a cemetery guard, and a sixteen-year-old boy. According to
the independent Iran Press Service, they have not been allowed to see
their families or meet with lawyers. It sounds like something out of
the Spanish Inquisition.
In the anti-Semetic Islamic Republic of Iran, to be accused of aiding
Israel is tantamount to a death sentence. The head of Iran's
judiciary promised thousands of cheering worshippers in a sermon on
June 11 that the "Jewish spies for Israel will be tried for treason
according to Islamic law and they may be sentenced to death - not once
but several times." Most of Iran's Jews fled when the Islamic
fundamentalists seized power in 1979. The 25,000 who remain are
subject to severe persecution. Calls for the release of the arrested
Jews have come from across the globe. The governments of Argentina,
Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, and the United States have
expressed concern; so has the European Union, Amnesty International,
and the Dalai Lama. An Internet petition for the captives' freedom
has gathered more than 27,000 signatures. Jesse Jackson has
volunteered to intercede.
From America's Muslim community, however, there is a deafening
silence. Nazir Khaja, head of the American Muslim Council, reportedly attended
the press conference at which Jesse Jackson offered his services. But
there have been no statements of outrage at Iran's persecution of a
religious minority. No full-page ads in the New York Times condemning
Ayatollah Yazdi's invocation of "Islamic law" to justify persecution
of Jews.
THE SILENCE OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS
Even oppressed Muslims do not merit the outrage of their American
brethren. Afghanistan under the Taliban theocracy has become a vast
dungeon for women. In the name of Islam, Afghan women are now
forbidden to work or go to school. They are compelled to stay indoors
unless accompanied by a close male relative. In public, they must be
covered from head to toe in a heavy shroud; if they let a sliver of
ankle or wrist show, the religious police can flog them on the spot.
The health of Afghan women has deteriorated because examinations by
male doctors are now illegal and most female doctors have been fired.
Human rights organizations have denounced Afghanistan. No doubt, many
American Muslims privately are appalled at the Taliban's vicious
behavior.
Where are the public groans of anguish that the teachings of Islam
should be so grotesquely perverted? Why do American Muslim spokesmen
- so quick to cry foul if Hollywood portrays a Muslim in an
unflattering manner - remain silent about the crimes being committed
by the Muslims who rule Afghanistan?
To this day, America's major Islamic groups have not ostracized Osama
bin Laden - a multimillionaire Islamic fanatic who preaches that it is
"the duty of Muslims to confront, fight, and kill" Americans and their
allies - or even labeled him a terrorist. The Council on American
Islamic Relations and similar organizations - the American Muslim
Council, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Arab-American
Anti-Discrimination Committee - routinely issue "action alerts" to
protest unflattering references to Muslims and Arabs in the news and
entertainment media. Sometimes these protests reach ridiculous
extremes. Earlier this spring, the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination
Committee went after the Associated Press for using the word
"terrorist" to describe Hizbullah, the infamous Iranian-backed militia
in Lebanon that routinely conducts rocket attacks against Israeli
homes. When it comes to Hizbullah atrocities, the ADC is silent.
DIFFERENT DEGREES OF VIOLENCE
Muslim-Americans dislike being stereotyped as supporters of violence
and Jihad. Yet they seal their lips when violence and Jihad are waged
in the name of Islam. In Sudan, Arab raiders kidnap non-Muslim
blacks, and then sell them to slave-holders who force them to convert.
In New York, Muslim extremists have bombed the World Trade Center and
opened fire on tourists in the Empire State Building. But wait for
American Arab and Muslim organizations to cry out against the
perpetrators and you are likely to wait in vain.
If U.S. Muslims demanded the release of Iran's thirteen innocent Jews,
Teheran would pay attention. But Muslims in America have their
priorities. Justice for the victims of Islam is apparently not among them.
In light of all this, it seems that Mr. Berger's speech to the
American Muslim group was either an example of American naivete about
what the world is really like, or it was the cynical exploitation of
an opportunity to garner votes among a growing constituency - American
Muslims - who may soon become more influential as voters and
contributors to political parties than American Jews. In any event,
it is both sad and sobering to realize that one of the central figures
in American foreign policy is actually capable of such an approach.
[Edited for print by Gidon Wolf]
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Jay Shapiro <jay@a7.org> is the author of several
books on Israel, and
is a former Aliyah representative in the U.S. He lives in Ginot
Shomron, and hosts an English-language program on Arutz-7.
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