5771 is about to end, and with it, our doubts are ending, as well. We began the year with many still thinking that we enjoyed (a rather cold) peace with Egypt. In the middle of the year there were those who thought that the collapse of the Arab regimes would finally bring about the greatly anticipated "new Middle East." The Libyan rebels created hope among the Che Guevara fans on Tel Aviv's Rothschild Blvd. Who knows? Maybe the affable grandfather from Ramallah (the Holocaust denier with the blood of Israel's Olympics athletes on his hands, who immersed himself in the ritual pool called Oslo and emerged white as a dove) will finally be smart enough to make peace with us?
The end of 5771 puts an end to our doubts. The Arab "spring" pulled the masks off the regimes and pseudo-states that we have used as props until now to help us hide from ourselves. No longer will we face Arab "states" and regimes with which we can buy "cold peace" in exchange for a plethora of Israeli and American perks. Suddenly, they have melted away and we find ourselves facing the real thing - the Arab nation.
The Arab nation, that was never Egyptian or Jordanian - and certainly not "Palestinian" - burns our embassy in Egypt and chases our diplomats from there and from Jordan before they are ripped apart, 1929-style, by angry mobs. The average Israeli once again understands where he is living. And as our Sages say, "There is no joy like the joy of being freed of doubt." True, this feeling of joy is tempered by a sense of siege that is tightening around us. But at least we are now dealing with reality and not with illusion.
The only people who have not yet admitted the truth to themselves are those who pretend to explain reality to the rest of us. These are the people behind the national microphones who gushed with enthusiasm over the demonstrations in Tahrir Square, the political commentators, the professors repeatedly interviewed on television and radio, the legal experts who determine our ethical choices and the politicians who brought us the "peace" accords and who continue to defend them and blame the Right for their failure.
The Israelis have woken up to reality. But a thick layer of Israeli leaders in the media, justice, academia, upper echelons of the IDF and politics - is still heroically clinging to the imaginary reality bequeathed us by Begin in Camp David and Rabin in Oslo. Those people, whose entire professional or political careers are founded on imaginary reality, will not allow the wake-up process to destroy the golden-egg castle in the air that has brought them so much pleasure and benefit.
The room to maneuver that has always maintained the Israeli illusion of peace will exhaust itself in the near future. It will no longer be possible to buy the illusion of peace in exchange for a retreat from part of the Land of Israel. Netanyahu did not apologize to Erdogan (and rightfully so) because he understood that after the apology, new demands would arise. The frightened leaders in the Arab states can no longer supply us with our illusion. The Zionist mantra of "a nation like all other nations" that we tried to force onto reality - no longer works. One more impressive speech will not change reality. Neither will buying more quiet in exchange for the destruction of the homes of settlers. Even our "great friend", the USA is no longer so great, and who knows what will happen there this year?
Ultimately, somebody will have to stand up in front of our Nation and remind us who we really are and what we are doing here. Somebody will have to bring this Nation's true strengths - the energies that have been concealed deep within it since the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah - to the surface.
That "somebody" is Manhigut Yehudit. No, no heavenly voice has appointed us to lead the Nation of Israel. But as these words are being written, there is no other movement on the horizon that is prepared to take responsibility to lead the Nation with fear of Heaven and understanding of our historic destiny. Manhigut Yehudit is the only faith-based alternative on the political chessboard. It is well-positioned for the moment that the alternative it offers will be relevant to the public.
We are working from Israel's leadership arena - the Likud. Our legs are planted in the political mud, while our head is focused on the heights of faith and leadership. We get flak from both ends. Some say that we are not political enough, while others say that we are too political and that in order to lead, we must break out of the political norms. Our greatest achievement to date is that we have created a new leadership mentality in the faith based public, and outside it as well. The great majority of the faith based public clearly sees that the political arena is in the Likud. Even the minority that cannot accept that at least understands that we must strive to lead. For the general public, the body language of working within the Likud expresses leadership and not sectarianism. And that is really the whole point - to get the Israeli public to understand that we have a faith-based alternative that is politically accessible and relevant to our lives.
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This Tevet (January) the Likud will be holding elections for a new Central Committee. This is really like a re-start for the Likud, when in addition to the Central Committee, all the Likud institutions will also be electing new members. This will be the first opportunity for additional faith-based movements that have joined the Likud to actualize their political power. We are preparing for the elections and will be pleased to send speakers to groups throughout the country. To volunteer or to arrange a speaking engagement contact Veida2010@gmail.com
Parallel to our political preparations, we continue to work on getting our message of the Jewish alternative out to the general public. Tomorrow magazine has developed into a full fledged think tank where ideas for leading Israel from a faith-based perspective are developed and ironed out. The next topic that we are going to tackle is health care.
The main challenge for us this coming year is to be relevant on both the political level and on the deeper level of ideas and awareness. May G-d bless His children in this new year with worthy leadership that chooses life and fulfills the words of last week's Torah portion:
" To love Hashem your G-d, to listen to His voice and to cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days to dwell on the Land that Hashem your G-d has vowed to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, to give it to them." (Deuteronomy 30:20).
Wishing you, dear readers, friends and supporters, a sweet and blessed new year, a year of health and prosperity, a year in which we will merit to lead our nation, to fulfill our dreams, to plant ourselves firmly in our Land, to build the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and to perfect the world in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Moshe Feiglin
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