There are many Anglo rabbis in the U.S., Europe, Australia and South Africa, as well as in Israel, but what’s lacking in English is the world-view of religious-Zionism, as seen for example in the writings of Rav Kook, especially regarding understanding the current events
What happened on Simchat Torah was not just a pogrom similar to many during the 2,000 years of exile. It was a terrible Chilul Hashem, desecration of G-d’s Name where “Allahu Akhbar”= “Our G-d is greater/the greatest”, was probably chanted by the Moslem world more times in a single day since the wars of Muhammad 1,400 years ago. If this is their proof for Islam and their motivational cheer for barbaric sadism, than we have no choice and our moral obligation to the world, is the sound military trouncing of Hamas, which today is not only possible but bezH also inevitable.
The frame of reference to understand today’s problem and its solution is not through rereading the more recent history of exile, but davka to recall and rediscover the ancient but vibrant eternal Tanach. Rabbis who haven’t served in the IDF (and spend much more time on gemara than on Tanach) have difficulty identifying with the national pride and answer of David HaMelech and the heroes of the Tanach to the enemies of Israel in the Land of Israel. Similarly, rabbis who haven’t made aliya don’t appreciate how living in Israel is the only solution to meet the needs of today’s students who feel vulnerable on the college campuses and others at work. Why have these young people feel helpless, when a realistic and pleasant solution is clearly within reach!
One leading rabbi in the States once explained to me, “How can I speak about a mitzva which I myself don’t fulfill?!” I don’t agree but I understand that claim, but at least he should pass on the true message of those who are willing to trumpet it, especially to the relevant idealistic ears of the younger generation!
Similarly their claim: “How can I encourage the aliya of young Jews which inevitably weakens our local Jewish community?” We must remember that the end goal of Judaism is not the exile, but to end up in Israel, and yes, by definition that weakens the galut. Don’t withhold true-Judaism and the ideal from the young just for ulterior and local motives, or an outdated anachronistic misreading and ignorance of what’s changed over the last 75 years in Israel! Wake up- Baruch Hashem we are no longer in Warsaw or Bialystok, but we’re back in Israel and this time, to stay!