Geula-Related Recent Links

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Rav Ovadia: They all hate us (almost)

Rav Ovadia Shlit"a came out against all the nations that surround Israel, saying that they all hate us, and mentioned most by name.  He listed Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and even Jordan by name.  Of course, the Palestinians were mentioned in a previous speech.  But there was one glaring omission.

I'll translate the quote from Rav Ovadia from the Ladaat article:
We are in exile. We are presently in exile. What is there? The State of Israel? What is the State of Israel? Some of those that surround us hate us around Jerusalem. Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan - all these hate us. They all hate us...

What are we? We only hope to HKB"H. He, may His name be praised, with His hard hand, will redeem us with an outstretched arm. With great judgements, He will redeem us.  Everything is in His hands, may He be blessed.  But this is dependent upon us, that we should come closer to the Shechina, we should come closer to Torah.  "Return to Me and I will return to you."

The one nation that he did not mention was Egypt.  Is it because they have a peace treaty with Israel?  That cannot be it as Jordan does too.  Is it because they don't hate us?  That's not it either as the vast majority of them do.  Why wasn't Egypt mentioned?

The verse says:
לא תתעב מצרי כי גר היית בארצו

thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a stranger in his land.
Although this prohibition does not apply for everyone for the present-day Egyptians, the rationale behind this Mitzvah can be used to explain why Rav Ovadia omitted Egypt from the list and why he called Mubarak to wish him well.  Rav Ovadia used to live in Egypt and was a rabbi there for many years.  I'm guessing that he doesn't feel it proper to bite the hand that once fed him based on this verse.

Regarding what he said, let us heed his words of coming closer to Torah during these Aseret Yemei Teshuva, so Hashem will use His outstretched arm against our enemies and redeem us במהרה בימינו אמן.

2 Comments:

At Tue Sep 14, 11:18:00 PM 2010, Blogger Moriah said...

Isaiah Chapter 19
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1019.htm


20. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a saviour, and a defender, who will deliver them.

21. And the LORD shall make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day; yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and offering, and shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and shall perform it.

22. And the LORD will smite Egypt, smiting and healing; and they shall return unto the LORD, and He will be entreated of them, and will heal them. {S}

23. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians. {S}

24. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;

25. for that the LORD of hosts hath blessed him, saying: 'Blessed be Egypt My people and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance.' {S}

 
At Wed Sep 15, 07:46:00 AM 2010, Anonymous Anonymous said...

thanks. very inspiring, the part on egypt. shows the true magnanimity of the jewish people. and why Hashem chose them above all others. thanks again. from, theresa( noahide)

 

Post a Comment

<< Home