Losers

By Jason Gold

I had the opportunity this sukkot to witness a unique phenomenon in Israel. It was something that I had heard about but did not quite believe. Yet here it was on display as clear as day. And it made me understand why the religious right in Israel is such a dysfunctional mess. Put simply, the religious right are losers. Losers in their own country.

Let's back up a little bit. Do I really think the religious right are losers? No, I respect, admire and study the torah-based literature they produce. I do not think they are losers. Yet, THEY think they are. THEY have conditioned themselves into believing that they are losers and that they are utterly incapabable of bringing any meaningful political change to Israel's pathetic form of government.

How does this manifest? It is manifest by the fact that the religious right would rather vote for any secular candidate rather than one that offers them faith-based (non-theocratic) leadership because they believe that any kippa-wearing candidate is necessarily a loser like them, even if this person has new ideas. It is manifest by the fact that the so-called religious parties, rather than lead the country, have become, special interest lobbyists for people who look like them, dress like them and speak like them. It is manifest by the fact that their votes in the Knesset allowed the disgrace of Gush Katif to happen by propping up a morally bankrupt, illegitimate government. It is manifest when the mayor of Jerusalem, a religious man, decides he is too politically impotent to lift a finger against the boosha (shame) of a gay parade in the world's holiest city. As a right-leaning secular Jew sitting on a plane next to me remarked, "We allow this after 2000 years? You datiim (religious) allow this? If we can't stop this, then we don't deserve Jerusalem. Maybe we should just lease the city to the Muslims. Then there won't be any gay parade." Tough to argue with.

So the religious leadership of the country has failed. Rather than bridge gaps with their secular brothers, they have allowed widening the gulf between them and secular Jew even more. They have brought shame, loathing and finger-pointing on themselves by the seculars as purveyors of those whose votes are for sale (rent?) for a little more funding. And yet despite all this, they continue to look for that messianic secular figure to lead them. Perhaps it is truely as Rav Kahane, HY"D, ZT"L, said. Perhaps because of how they look in the eyes of the goyim, they need a nice goyish looking leader to interact with the outside world so they can hunker down until Moshiach shows up.

Yet all is not lost. For when a high-ranking secular Likud official can openly state that he realizes no that he no longer trusts secular leadership for the land of Israel and that we need an acceptable faith-based candidate, perhaps the worm begins to turn. Perhaps the younger generation of religious zionist youth and chareidi youth will start to sound the clarion call against corruption, against business as usual, and against Gdlessness and moral bankruptcy. This was a hopeful sign that I saw in the old city over Chol HaMoed Sukkot as I gave out literature and interacted with these young people. They are hungry for authentic faith-based leadership. They are desperate to be proud Jews in their own land.

It is very simple. We are an am segulah. We need Manhig segula. I call on all Mafdalniks, Shasniks, Yahadutniks, (and even you Yisrael Beiteinuniks who were sold out so fast, it must have given you collective whiplash) to do what must be done. Join Manhigut Yehidut and help. The only way to do that is to join Likud. Hold your nose if you have to but join. Because if the best this country can do after the disgrace of Lebanon II is a government headed by Bibi with the same old players, then it really is a boosha and time to get the real estate lawyers working on that long-term lease for the Arabs.