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Q & A - WITH RABBI RISKIN
Question: How does the uprooting of Gush Katif affect our faith,
especially after so many great rabbis stated unequivocally that it would not
happen?
Answer: It is crucially important that we understand that there are
only two absolute promises which G-d makes to the Jewish people: the first
is that we will never be destroyed as a nation and the second is that we
will eventually be restored to the land of our fathers (Vayikra, Behukotai
& Devarim, Nitzavim). Other than these two promises, no leader can
guarantee any event in the name of G-d especially since, according to our
Sages, powers of prophesy ended with the destruction of the Second Temple.
Indeed, those who declared in the time of the Prophet Jeremiah that G-d will
never destroy His Temple were called false prophets; certainly, they were
religious Jews and maybe even rabbinic-like figures, but those who gave
false hope even about the Holy Temple were called false prophets. Much the
opposite: our Sages teach us that we dare not rely on miracles and we must
live our lives and prepare for the future in accordance with the natural
order of world event. Of course, the Almighty can do anything and His
wonders never cease. It is therefore perfectly legitimate to pray for a
miracle and to hope that it will occur.
With all of our tragic disappointment and even feelings of betrayal
surrounding the possible loss of Gush Katif , we dare not lose faith in the
fact that this is still the beginning of the sprouting of our redemption. We
must focus not in what we have lost but rather in what we still have gained
and our national sovereignty, which now
includes so much more than the State initially received in 1948, and our
miraculous rebirth from the ashes of Auschwitz, must continue to fill us
with renewed hope for the future. Former Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Herzog
explained why the Gemarrah in Sanhedrin (98) insists that the Messiah will
come riding on a donkey. A donkey does not progress in a straight course; he
often stops in midstream, and even goes backwards for a time. But he
eventually arrives at his goal and with G-ds help and our continued faith,
so will we.
If you have a question for Q & A, send it to ots@ohrtorahstone.org.il . We cannot guarantee that all questions received will be answered in this column.
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