Faith in G-d Key to Leadership in Israel

"And we were in our eyes as grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes." (From this week's Torah portion, Shlach Lecha, Numbers 13:33)

If you do not know that G-d is running the world, the only way to evaluate reality is through human eyes. That is called being "realistic" and "pragmatic." The spies in this week's Torah portion were not lying. The information that they reported was completely accurate. The only problem was that they observed reality without taking faith in G-d into account.

When Israel's leader views reality without the key factor of faith in G-d, it makes him and his country look awfully small in the eyes of the other nations. And then, the president of the United States, who grovels before every small dictator and terrorist, sees him and his country as nothing more than - grasshoppers.

And then he shows you the soles of his shoes.

President Obama as photographed this week during his phone conversation with Netanyahu. It is no coincidence that the White House chose to publicize this photograph.

"And all the nations of the world will see that the Name of G-d is upon you and they will fear you." (Deuteronomy 28:10)

When we will have leadership that fears G-d, we will restore our lost honor and power of deterrence. In the meantime, the honor is afforded to other leaders who call out in the names of their gods.

Shabbat Shalom,
Moshe Feiglin