Jewish Identity Or The Golden Calf?

By Moshe Feiglin

Excerpt translated from Moshe Feiglin's book, "The War of Dreams."

24 Nisan, 5764
April 15, 2004

For better or for worse, the Likud members are the Nation of Israel. They are the last national element that has not divided into sectors. The average Likud member is the most authentic representative of the Israeli public that is still connected to its Jewish identity. He is not the Right branch, the Left branch or the Religious branch; the Likud member is the trunk of the tree. He is the Nation of Israel.

Our Sages have taught us that when the Nation of Israel is asked to contribute to the building of the Holy Temple, it does so with all its heart. And when it is asked to contribute to the formation of the Golden Calf -- it also gives wholeheartedly.

Nobody has ever asked the Likud members to contribute to the building of the Temple (in the broadest sense of the term). But they are constantly asked to contribute to the Calf. Nobody has ever come to the Likud members -- to the Nation of Israel -- and said, "You are part of a great truth; you are the descendants of the wondrous Nation of Prophets; your very existence is a historical miracle that points to a superhuman power that watches over you from above; do not fear -- just be yourselves, and the G-d of Israel will pave the way for you throughout the twists and turns of history and will guard you from evil."

No leadership has ever spoken that language to the average Likud member. The only option left to him was to trust in the Golden Calf. After all, the existence of the Nation of Israel without G-d is patently impossible and unrealistic. How much time can we really exist here, one sheep among 70 wolves from both inside and out? So if Sharon gets a "commitment" from the American president -- who is here today and gone tomorrow -- the poor Likud member may wholeheartedly adopt it. For him, it is either G-d or Bush. When the belief based public surrendered its leadership goal, it left the Likud member with nothing more than Bush. That is the logic of Sharon and his cohorts.

But it turns out that the Jewish national foundations of the Likud members are stronger than they seem. Even without belief based leadership, the Likud member is naturally drawn in the right direction. It is amazing how the Likud memberss -- whose political leaders are completely incapable of explaining why it is worthwhile to live in this land -- remain loyal in the most basic way to the Land of Israel and their Jewish identity.

Today, it is not necessary to explain how right Manhigut Yehudit was in both its basic working assumptions and in the political convictions that they bred. A new pole is growing today in the Likud. It is a pole that urges the Nation of Israel to contribute to the Holy Temple. And when the time comes for the Nation of Israel to contribute -- it will!

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