Category: Weekly Letters

We read in this week’s parsha, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Shmot 21, 24). We know that the oral tradition here (Bava Kama 83b) is that the Torah is referring to monetary compensation for the harm inflicted, but the question remains, so why is it written otherwise? The Rambam (Chovel u’Mazik 1, 3) famously explains that it must be written eternally that literally an “eye for an eye” is what deserves (!) to be done to the cruel offender. But less known is the SHADAL’s commentary: One may rarely come across a particularly cruel person, who is not deterred even by a heavy monetary fine. The Torah states that for such a monster, the judges should know that the literal meaning must sometimes be carried out. In Hamas we have found such cruelty, that we have no choice but to deter them in their “own language”. As former Foreign Minister David Levy once said, “we must speak to our enemies in the Arabic which they understand”.

Our national poet Bialik wrote after the 1903/תרס”ג pogroms in Kishinev: “Satan has yet to create appropriate revenge for the murder of an infant”, but that doesn’t exempt us from the military necessity and moral obligation to deter our enemies to protect our children in the future. Similar to the Shadal, Rav Kook (Ma’amarei HaReiya, p. 508) explains the seemingly extreme revenge which David HaMelech occasionally did to his enemies, in that governments MUST deter every generation’s foes in their own dialect, in the way they wish to do to us. If they are primitive, we deter them accordingly, if they think of nuking us, we must develop nuclear weapons before they do.

I’m not saying that we should mutilate and cold-bloodedly murder their children and rape their women like they do to us (I don’t even think we are capable of such sadism), nor should we play joyful music when handing over their dead bodies, but if they think of obliterating us, we have no choice but to seriously consider how to remove them from Gaza. What undoubtedly will hurt them most would be to reestablish Gush Katif there and teach that not only “crime doesn’t pay”, in fact it will bring them tremendous loss, precisely in the field which they wish to gain. Menachem Begin used to build a Jewish Yishuv where terrorists killed Jews.

Just last night, terrorists placed 4 bombs on Israeli buses, which miraculously, they mistakenly set for the wrong time, and were either found or blew-up empty. Our enemies have simply yet to be deterred.

As we mentioned above, like the Bibas boys, David Melech Yisrael was also a Jinjy (Red-head) and his fiery traits must be Chai v’Kayam (alive and exist forever, Birkat HaL’vana). Just as Rivka taught Ya’akov that sometimes we must don Esav’s arms both literally and figuratively (Rav Kook, Midbar Shur, pp. 266-272), and even Shakespeare depicted the Jewish Shylock and Fagin as red-heads, now is that time for us to act “Jinjy”. Josephus quotes the Roman soldiers who feared the Jewish warrior more than any other. In fact, Rav Kook writes that the fiery chutzpa of youth is why the Mashiach is even called “the SON of David”, for feisty youth are the most flaming (Orot HaKodesh, iii, p. 361). We must dare get-even in the way which will daunt any future contemplation of our annihilation. We are no longer in Kishinev. That is positive retaliation, by doing Hashem’s commandment and self-fulfilling His prophecy: “You shall inherit the Land, and settle it” (Bamidbar 33, 53). Thus declaring: We are here to stay and if you’re forcing someone to leave, it will be you. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

As we impatiently wait for the ultimatum which Trump gave the Hamas to free ALL of the hostages by this Shabbat “or else”, while on the other hand, we don’t want to “lose out” on the THREE hostages who apparently will be otherwise be freed, we can just daven that G-d will guide our leaders to make the best decision, and thank Him that we’re not in their position (of the hostages and the Prime Minister).

Parshat Yitro teaches us that Israel prepared physically and spiritually for 3 entire days to get ready to receive the Torah (19, 14-16). Similarly, we constantly try teaching our children patience, especially when Israeli’s can generally improve on this particular trait. Militarily, we would like another lightning-quick Entebbe raid, or a 6 Day War, but forget that usually only G-d works in 6 days, but man usually needs a lot more time for significant changes. We know but sometimes forget, that the best things in life don’t involve instant gratification, but rather long-term investment and accordingly, longstanding pleasure. Especially the longest, even eternal (!) redemption.

Some say that Hamas has actually forever changed world warfare- where extensive tunnels and mass kidnapping of hostages have proven to complicate our retaliation. Others say that this strategy will only work against Israel which is unfortunately held to a different standard, and where even though the halacha was always not to ransom at an exorbitant cost (Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 252), historically we often did. Just like today, we always had a sometimes too-soft Jewish heart! Either way, our present war is a lot longer and more complicated than ever before.

Rav Kook writes that “Reality does not have ‘wings’ to fly as fast as dreams do” (Orot, p. 52), especially in the process of redemption- the biggest and most long-lasting revolution in world history. This war is surely a significant step forward in this ge’ula process regarding many issues, so accordingly, we need patience. Our world was created, and to this day, is generally based upon slow but sure evolution.

In fact, this is one of the major lessons of Tu BiShvat. As opposed to vegetables which grow quickly and maximum only last several years, the tree takes much longer to produce fruit, but it can then live even several thousand years (e.g. some of the olive trees in Chevron). Even after fruit grows, there is the mandatory “patience” of orla which we cannot eat for the first 3 years, and then must redeem them in the 4th (r’vai). Chazal teach us that even forbidden pleasures are all eventually permitted in one way or another (Chullin 109b), just that often we must wait 6 hours. This disciplines us to succeed in all future challenges (as proven by the “Stanford Marshmallow Experiment”).

True, emotionally we “cannot wait” for our sisters and brothers to come home, but “the eternal nation is not deterred by a long-journey” (based upon 2 sayings of R. Kook, pp. 54-55). “”מרחוק ה’ נראה לי ואהבת עולם אהבתיך, “From long ago, the Lord appeared to me; With everlasting love have I loved you” (Yirmiyahu 31, 2).

Shabbat Shalom and Tu B’Shvat Same’ach! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Over the last century, Am Yisrael has gotten a little “used to” historic events. This week we apparently enjoyed another turning point in Jewish/world history when US President Trump, announced that he will personally clear out the monstrous Gaza neighbors so they’ll “Never Again” rise against Israel. We benefit from Trump, as Lord Balfour before him, who see themselves as a latter day Cyrus, where the Biblical prophecies encourage modern leaders to dare the unspeakable, thus enabling prophecies to fulfill themselves.

In this week’s parshat B’shalach, we find Israel singing to Hashem for our victory over Pharoh and Egypt. We definitely must thank Trump for his aid, but we actually sing only to the genuine Master of the world.

We find that even after leaving Egypt, Israel is still in the “galut mentality”, “kvetching” that they miss the provisions of their slave-masters (Shmot 16, 3). Despite their preparing weapons (13, 18), in actuality, they are not yet ready mentally, to fight (14, 14). But as is often the case, in the haftarah, we find a more advanced, mature stage of history, where Devorah haNeviah sings thanks to Hashem but also chants to the brave IDF soldiers who did come to “help” Him. Did I see that right?! Yes, sefer Shoftim, written in prophecy, sings prais to those soldiers of Israel “who came to help Hashem” (Shoftim 5, 23), and curses those who don’t (ibid, 16-17, 23). After several generations of growing out of the galut mentality, Israel actively goes to war, fighting for ourselves, with the help of G-d, or more accurately, emulating G-d by helping Him Who wants to help us. This more mature level, finds the Father “grooming” His children into independence and free-will, teaching us to fend for ourselves, while continuing to “peek through the cracks” (Shir haShirim 2, 9), and intervening when necessary. Sometimes we, especially our politicians who have yet to receive proper Tanach education, still don’t dare break out of the galut mentality, and often don’t have the guts to even say, that what gentile leaders dare to even do.

Yet we yearn for the ideal world that “בני ישראל יוצאים ביד רמה”, when Israel will be redeemed “triumphantly (literally: with our arm raised)” (14, 8), which the Ramban explains: holding up the ISRAELI FLAG with national honor and self-respect. Rav YM Charlap, one of Rav Kook’s closest students, explains (MiMaynei HaYeshua pp. 29-30, 203) that it’s a matter of principle that the nations of the world should first help Israel during the process of redemption (as did Balfour, the San Remo conference (1920/תר”פ), the UN, and today Donald Trump), for the redemption is for all of them, as well. But we shouldn’t be surprised if for every Trump there may yet be another Kamala Harris waiting to turn their back on us (as the British and UN eventually did), so that we don’t forget who are the two MAIN DOERS and BENEFICIARIES of redemption, “Israel shall be saved IN the Lord” (Y’shayahu 45, 17, see Tanchuma Acharei Mot 12, on this week’s parsha: ויושע ה’””, G-d as if it were, is saved with Israel”). We’re not there yet, and accordingly must sincerely thank Trump for his help, but historical singing is reserved for the G-d of Israel, and His nation (e.g. Israel’s pager attack).

The Or HaChaim haKadosh points out that manna was served by our Father as a mother nurses and spoils her child, but we were only meant to eat “manna for 40 years, until we arrive at our Land and settle her” (16, 35). At that point we will replace the ‘spiritual vitamins’ of manna with her spiritual equivalent= the holy fruits of Israel (which we now enjoy all year round, not just on Tu b’Shvat!), which we ourselves maturely grow as partners with Hashem, and for which we SING His praise and thanks for the Land (which WE work) and her fruit (Birkat Al HaMichya). [For you, or your children who have yet to learn that important bracha (many hold: m’d’Oraita!) by heart, you can Google my YouTube karaoke: (tune Ari Shvat Al HaMichya), and within 6 hearings you should know it forever!]. Shabbat Shalom, and Tu B’Shvat Same’ach! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

A solid 80 year old Gadi Moses, upon being freed today from Gaza declared: “I will do everything I can to revive Kibbutz Nir Oz”, which he founded and from where he was kidnapped.

This reminded me of our sages who taught on these parshiot, that even though our fore-fathers in Egypt were not religious, even serving idols, they kept their Jewish identity and pride, not changing their Hebrew names, language and dress (Vayikra Rabba 32). Over 200 years, it’s natural to assimilate to want to identify with the more respected Egyptians, but their nationalism brought about redemption, just as the secular Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and David Ben-Gurion’s Zionism both caused and furthered our modern redemption.

Rav Kook points out that if secular Zionism won’t reconnect with our original nationalism: the Tanach and the religious aspects of Judaism, it “will run out of gas” within 2 or 3 generations (Orot, p. 134). He writes that nationalism should be based on that which is unique to each nation, and by us, it’s our Tanach, religion and history, our Holy Language and Holy Land (ibid, p. 64 and 164). We see today that the Hamas attack on Israel has reawakened many Israelis and Jews throughout the world to their Jewish identity. I personally have come across survivors and hostages of the Hamas attack who accepted upon themselves more religious observance if they will be saved. Statistically, most Israelis and Jews in general have moved to become more nationalistic, rudely awakened by Hamas and Hague, not to naively place our trust in our Islamic neighbors nor in the UN. In the present war, the IDF, always the best melting-pot of Israel, has successfully unified right and left, religious and secular (hopefully also Haredi), reminding us that Israelis really agree on almost all of the really important issues. The sadistic Hamas and their supporters have reintroduced us to THEMSELVES and to OURSELVES.

The smartphone generation has even surprised themselves with altruistic self-sacrifice and dedication that’s probably even stronger than by their parents. Rediscovering Jewish pride and national identity, while going out to war praying, singing the religious and national songs (and often even donning tzitzit), together with their religious comrades and commanders, this war has proven to be an important game-changer, to return to our original selves. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

The opening parshiot of Sefer Shmot/Exodus understandably deal with the Exodus from Egypt. But many mistakenly see this as only theological (what G-d did for us) and historical (so we celebrate Pesach), without realizing the practical ramifications today.

One of the goals of most religions is “Imitateo Dei”, emulating G-d. In Judaism as well, an essential aspect of life is that we were created b’Tzelem Elokim (Breishit 1, 27), literally: to photocopy Hashem (obviously His actions, not “Him”!), to try and act G-dly. “Tzel” means shadow, and just as my shadow isn’t me, so too we clearly are not G-d but rather copy His actions. The Sefer HaIkarim’s (2, 30) classic quote: “If I could know G-d, I would be Him”, refers explicitly to our inability to know Hashem Himself, but he continues there, but we can (!) know His actions and must copy them.

Just as a counterfeit coin could be “close” to the original, so too the way to get “close” to a G-d Who has no body, is by being similar to Him. Accordingly, the mitzvot are Hashem’s guide for us to be like Him: He created the world and immediately commanded Adam: “pru u’R’vu”- have children and you too create worlds. On the first Shabbat the Torah tell us that He rested, not for historic trivia, but that we should understand that it’s the G-dly thing to do and worth emulating.

Rav Kook (Midot HaReiya, Dveykut 1-2) explains that this is the purpose of listing Hashem’s 13 Traits (Shmot 33,13 and 34, 6-7), as well as Kabbala which is mostly based upon the “10 Sefirot”, and the many Names of G-d, which are all descriptions of His traits, in order to define what we are meant to copy! The Rambam (Guide for the Perplexed 1, 54), writes that also rationally, this is exactly the goal of Judaism.

When we read that G-d took us out of bondage, the main point for us today is to think and do everything possible to take our sisters and brothers out of captivity in Gaza: through military pressure, political means, prayer and joining the IDF, which is what Hashem did for us in Egypt, and today, clearly wants us to copy Him and do these eternal objective ideals/mitzvot, as well.

For those who have yet to make aliya- that’s the continuation of the G-dly and Jewish Exodus in this week’s parsha: “והוצאתי.. והבאתי אתכם אל הארץ” “And I took you out (of Egypt)… and brought you to the Land of Israel” (Shmot 6). Just like we spent years demonstrating (and miraculously bezH succeeding!) to bring our Russian brothers to Israel, we could and should also DO Exodus, redeeming ourselves and Israel by also bringing OURSELVES Home! “ופדויי ה’ ישובון ובאו ציון ברינה”, “And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and they shall come to Zion with joy!” (Yishayau 51, 11). Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

A young neighbor seemed upset about my yellow ribbons, symbolizing identification with our hostages, and approached me. I hadn’t realized his claim that there’s a reason why you see more yellow in the city than on the yishuvim, for the color has been adopted by those who wish to pay any price for hostage freedom, even giving up on the IDF’s hard-earned achievements which have cost us many young lives!

I answered that Rashi brings Chazal (Tanchuma, Shmot 14) davka in this week’s parsha (Shmot 3, 2) stressing that Hashem appeared to Moshe Rabbenu in a lowly thorny bush, to teach that He also suffers when we do, “עמו אנכי בצרה”, “I am with (Israel) in his trouble” (Tehilim 91, 15). As part of our Imitateo Dei, the Rambam stresses that one who isn’t troubled when our nation is suffering, has no share in the world-to-come, even if he seems very “religious”! (Teshuva 3, 20). It’s the least one can do for Jewish unity! This is the concept of “sharing with your friend’s trouble” (Avot 6, 6, see Tiferet Yisrael there: identifying financially, physically and personally), even by just wearing a ribbon.

Yes, there’s room to give people on yishuvim the benefit of the doubt, that in one’s “home”, you don’t need to visibly demonstrate the unanimous and obvious. But this young neighbor’s mistake of “Either .. or”, either you prefer the IDF (blue and white) or the hostages (yellow), falls into the trap of the press and some of our politicians, which is precisely the tragic Jewish disunity which preceded and (according to Hamas sources:) brought this war! Instead of stressing the broad consensus and unanimous principles, that fighting our enemies and saving our hostages obviously go together, they paint those who stress one ideal a little more than the other, as the “other” side. Both “sides” want the identical outcome, both are moral, holy and correct, and just the government has to decide on the practical question: how many murderers to free or not, how much to temporarily pull out of Gaza, or not! We the public, don’t know for sure whether Trump has guaranteed to give us the green-light to resume the battle in Gaza or not, so why quarrel regarding a lot of information we don’t have…?

Yes, there are less (although by no means, no) kipot than nose-rings at the “yellow” demonstrations, mainly because most of us, our sons and our husbands are in milu’im at the front, and our daughters and wives are collapsing from working double! Secondly, because the Kaplan Force and aforementioned press have, to a certain extent wrongly succeeded, in portraying the hostages as a political rift of right-left, for their selfish professional and political desires.

We should definitely not let the Kaplanists claim a monopoly on yellow and love of our hostages. They have been trying for years to take down the Netanyahu governments, so they see this as just another opportunity, but that doesn’t mean we should cooperate. As Hagai Luber and Eli Knoller wrote, it’s even chutzpa for them to forget that our boys (including their two sons) have given their lives for those very hostages! If many non-religious soldiers in the front have begun donning tzitzit, does that mean we religious should stop?! Similarly, if a handful of journalists and divisive politicians unpurposely aid our enemies, by portraying this issue as a society-ripper in Israel, does that mean we should give them that satisfaction? Hashem is sending us educational and THERAPEUTIC exercises, issues of CONSENSUS which could and should unite all Jews internationally (hopefully also LA’s progressive and Bnei Brak and Monsey’s Haredim!). Let’s not pass them up. In kabbalistic terms, He is teaching us that Avraham’s Hessed (morality) and Yitzchak’s Gevura (strength) are supposed to unite in Ya’akov/Yisrael’s Tiferet.

Rav Kook writes in Orot haKodesh, that a pipe must go two-ways. Only if we can see “yellow”, others will be able to see “orange” (the color used to protest uprooting Gush Katif), when necessary. The world is not black OR white, but black AND white, yellow AND orange, all included in blue and white, as well.

BTW, for those who don’t know, Betzalel Smotrich davka wears a yellow pin, and if Ben-Gvir doesn’t, he’s definitely making a terrible mistake!

So I tied even more yellow ribbons on my car and outside my house, connected also with an Israeli flag on each one, which is the unity we must deliberately and consciously (!) seek. Enough with the divisiveness! This unity will pay off militarily and will also free our hostages by not raising their price, as well as deterring our enemies from thinking that we will fight each other instead of them (as we mistakenly did in the time of the Romans and before last Simchat Torah)!

Shabbat Shalom and may Hashem help our leaders reach the best decisions ASAP to bring all our hostages home and chase all of Hamas from our home! 🇮🇱🎗️🇮🇱

Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Unfortunately, the atrocities of Simchat Torah and the kidnapping and holding of our hostages, the obstinance of our enemies, as well as the complex tunnels which we allowed Hamas to dig for terror, and their using their own families and hospitals as human shields, have all stretched out this war much longer than expected! Similarly, if they fight for a religion who they believe appreciates such atrocities, while we fight for מלך ,החפץ בחייםthe King Who wants life, this is a Religious-War which is also unique in the modern world, and is difficult to end, for they will fight to the end.

Aside from the Milchemet Mitzva of fighting to protect Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael (Rambam, hil. M’lachim 5, 1), all of the aforementioned immoral aspects show that our war against Hamas is not a regular war, but rather a battle of Good vs. Evil. Similarly, Rav Kook (Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 62) differentiates between our nationalism which is to be a “Light for the nations” (Yishayahu 49, 6) based upon bringing morality to the world (Breishit 18, 19), as opposed to foreign nationalism which often brings racism and hate. In other words, the wars of Israel, are a “war against war”, which is inherently moral, justified but also relatively extended.

Such a war is even our responsibility to all other nations- “ונברכו בך כל משפחות האדמה”, “to bring bracha to all the nations”. We wish even to deter the Arabs themselves from their immoral behavior, which will surely benefit their own societies and family life (Guide for the Perplexed, 3, 35).

Lastly, the war is also a Kiddush Hashem to fix the Chilul Hashem of their jihad against the daughters and sons of the G-d of Israel (Rambam M’lachim 7, 15).

After all of the above, it comes as no surprise that the heroes of the IDF are our leaders in idealism and morality, as well, and that the G-d of Israel is helping us greatly! Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Most of us celebrate Chanuka and thank Hashem for both the military victory for Independence over the Greeks, as well as the oil lasting 8 days in the Beit HaMikdash (Rambam, Chanuka, 3). Unfortunately, one can find many secular kindergartens, schools and families who commemorate the military aspect of the holiday, but ignore the Menorah, and contrarily Haredim who celebrate the Beit HaMikdash, but play down the military side. Some feel uncomfortable remembering that the Maccabees fought to observe Shabbat, while others feel wary of triggering their children to ask: “so why doesn’t my Tatty serve in the IDF and fight for the Holy People in the Holy Land like the Maccabees?”

Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook often stressed that תורת ה’ תמימה”” (Tehilim 19, 8), the Living Torah is a package-deal from the G-d of monotheism, which unites both the spiritual and the physical/national needs of Israel. The Reform Jews built an ideology out of “Cherry Picking” the mitzvot which they like and suppressing those they don’t. Regarding Chanukah, both of the above aspects are true, but only half the story. Rav Zvi Yehuda did not like the term religious-Zionist, because both are encompassed in the one and only original Judaism. All of our Tanach heroes had no need for hyphens!

Our present battles with Hamas and Hizballah demonstrate to all that not only the original but also the future Israeli leadership should be led by the bridging religious-Zionists who harmonize and unify the complete Jew, “A healthy soul in a healthy body”, “ומצא חן ושכל טוב בעיני א-להים ואדם”, “find favor and logic in (both) the view of G-d and man” (Mishlei 3, 4 and Birkat HaMazon). As opposed to Galut-Torah, our Living Torah obligates total observance, including serving in the Wars of Mitzva against the enemies of Israel (Rambam, Hil. M’lachim u’Milchamoteihem ch. 5-7), just like learning Torah, Shabbat, Love of Israel et al. We can’t know better than Hashem, and would be wise not to Cherry-Pick regarding His mitzvot. Rather simply do them all, uniting them all together which can and will eventually unite the opposing factions within Israel, not just on Chanuka but all year round. With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Q. “Will Aliya help my children’s frumkeit?” I heard someone say that this should decide whether one should make aliya or not… A. The question is clearly based upon a very particular definition of “frumkeit”. In galut, one’s religiosity is often measured by the “uniform” of a black kipa and white shirt that he wears, and whether one’s children will be exactly how their parents are. All agree that outside of Israel, a child who leaves the way of their parents is “off the derech”, and very well may even intermarry and “chuck it all”. Accordingly, the insulated system of staying only within orthodox frameworks, is constructed around the “all or nothing”, black and white measuring. This simplistic and narrow Judaism uses just the galuti yardstick like Shabbos and Kashrus, but doesn’t take into account also the broader and original Torah, as found in the Tanach and from now on in modern Israel. Here, as in the Tanach, those tens of thousands of altruistic soldiers who risk and actually give their lives for the Holy People and the Holy Land are considerably more altruistic=G-dly, than the Jews abroad who are mainly preoccupied with their jobs as usual, as if nothing is going on among Hashem’s children over the past year. Theoretically, some may learn a little less Torah (especially when in the army), and some will learn a little more (or a lot more) than their cousins in NY, but the Living Torah which includes Am Yisrael, Mesirut Nefesh, and Jewish ideals in every aspect of life, is clearly more G-dly and all-encompassing. Especially since Oct. 7th, this has been clarified seven-fold also by the soldiers’ families (which covers most of Israel), by listening to the news, helping neighbors whose husbands are in milu’im (reserve duty) or going down to shelters, treating chayalim to falafel, giving “tremps” (lift) at every junction to each and every soldier, attending funerals and shivas, visiting the wounded and evacuated etc. etc., in short: keeping our chessed and Ahavat Yisrael on a high-burner, 24/7. In Israel, we are actually living and making Jewish history, whereas in America, Jews are clearly on the “sidelines”, mainly as cheerleaders and Tehilim-sayers. Here we unite, sing and serve with Jewish pride together with all, even our non-observant brothers, rather than insulating, separating, and basically giving up on 90% of American Jews to simply assimilate and evaporate, some even joining the anti-Israel demonstrations

There is a common condescending stereotype prevalent among Jews in America (and so I admittedly thought as a child), that Israelis are less religious. This slanderous generalization (probably carried over from the days when Ben-Gurion ruled the State, or based upon negative association with “yordim”- the only Israelis we met, who left the country, usually in pursuit of economic prosperity, who are by no means whatsoever representative of Israeli society- or simply as a result of a disappointing comparison with a wishful, utopian Holy Land) is sometimes mentioned as a deterrent from making Aliyah. This misrepresentation is nothing short of laughably outdated (if it was ever true at all) in today’s Israel, where most (!) of the government ministers are religious, half of the army’s front-line soldiers and most officer’s wear kipot, and just about all gedolei hador and the world’s top yeshivot reside. Aside from the many communities in Israel which are 100% orthodox (as compared to Monsey, Williamsburg, and Boro Park which even have many non-Jews!), America or even New York will never come close to 1/4 of the citizens, or even the Jews being observant- much less have Judaism as the official religion on national radio, TV and bus advertisements! Whichever way you look, whether comparing rabbis, communities, or on a state or surely a national level, whether measuring quantity, quality, or percentage, it is clear to all that objectively, religious life in Israel today is on all counts stronger and growing faster than anywhere else in the world. Thank G-d we have seen that from now on, from Zion already comes Torah and the word of G-d from Jerusalem (Yeshaya 2, 3), and “אין תורה כתורת ארץ ישראל”, “There is no Torah like the Torah of the Land of Israel” (Sifre, beg. of p. Ekev).

In addition, to be orthodox obviously means to observe the mitzvot, one of which is living in Eretz Yisrael. “והורשתם את הארץ וישבתם בה”, “You shall possess the Land and dwell there” (Bamidbar 33, 53). Not only is it a mitzva but our sages laud it as one of the most important and basic of all commandments: “Residing in Eretz Yisrael is equivalent to the rest of the mitzvot combined” (Sifre on Dvarim 12 and Tosefta Av.Z. 5,2 and cited by the Pitchei Tshuva Ev.H. 75,6) (this is Chazal, and not up for debate!). It is “the peg upon which the entire Torah hangs” (R. Ya’akov Emdin, Siddur Beit Ya’akov p.13), a mitzva which “encompasses the entire Torah” (Or HaChayim, Dvarim 30,20). All this in addition to the mind-boggling fact that this is the only mitzva which one fulfills whether at work or in the Beit Midrash, whether standing, sitting or jogging, and every second of his life (Sefer HaCharedim, ch. 59; Resp. Mishneh Halachot, II,56 and III, 189; R. Moshe Shternbuch, sgan n’si HaEida HaCharedit of Yrushaliyim, Mo’adim Uzmanim 5, p. 203). Many other mitzvot as well, can only be done in Israel, and even those one can do in America, are just “practice” (Devarim 5, 28, Sifre Ekev 43). If Chazal teach that “whoever lives outside of Eretz Yisrael is as if he has no G-d” (Ktuvot 110b) and “is as if he worships idols” (ibid), as opposed to “whoever lives in Eretz Yisrael is promised a share in the World to Come” (Psachim 113a), “is without sin” (Ktuvot 111a), and Hashem tells us that “ Eretz Yisrael is more beloved to Me than anything” (Bamidbar Rabba 23,7), it seems that the very question here shows a lack of knowledge of Judaism, as well as being unaware of what’s going on in Israel today. Regarding such a basic life decision, I would strongly suggest first checking out the facts. B’Ahavat Yisrael, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Q. What would you say about the claim that: “Modern Hebrew isn’t Lashon Kodesh because it was made by non-frum people”? A. The answer is unequivocally: Hebrew is unquestionably Lashon HaKodesh, for almost all of it is from the Tanach and Chazal. But in addition:

1. All spoken languages inevitably evolve, as we see the Torah’s Hebrew is a little different from that of the prophets, which is a little different from mishnaic Hebrew, which is a little different from modern Hebrew, but regarding all of them, Chazal call them Lashon HaKodesh. For example, when our sages write that “whoever speaks Lashon HaKodesh has a share in the world to come” (Yerushalmi Shabbat 1, 3), they were referring to their Hebrew, for nobody spoke Tanachic Hebrew during that period, yet they considered their own Hebrew as Lashon HaKodesh.

2. In fact, Chaucer’s or Shakespeare’s English is much more different than today’s English, compared to the difference between Biblical and Modern Hebrew. This is simply because languages evolve (through the entrance of slang and foreign words), when they are spoken, but for 2,000 years Hebrew was “in the freezer”, always studied, but not spoken. Accordingly, a modern Frenchman usually cannot understand the Old-French cited in Rashi, but any rabbinical student, does understand modern Hebrew.

3. The revivers of the Hebrew language, Eliezer ben Yehuda et al, were even more stubborn than the sages, only reluctantly allowing foreign words into our language. When they could choose, they even preferred to use the Biblical Hebrew as opposed to the Hebrew of the sages, and even “turned the clock back” on the lingual evolution, “artificially” reviving the original, as much as possible. Accordingly, ironically our Hebrew today, is to a certain extent, more original than Mishnaic Hebrew.

4. Don’t take my word for all this, but rather check it all for yourself: simply open any serious Hebrew dictionary which supplies the etymology, and you’ll see that the decisive and vast majority of the words in Hebrew today stem from the Tanach or mishna. Even many technological words like “machshev” for computer (come from the Hebrew root: ChShV, to think/compute).

5. Even the Satmar rebbe, the biggest opponent of modern Hebrew, admits that it is Lashon HaKodesh, and that’s why he opposes using it for secular topics (although his difficult opinion contradicts all of the rabbinic sources, which precisely advocate using Hebrew to elevate the secular to be holy, see Mishna Brura Or.Ch. 307, 63!). For more details on the issue, see my sefer: “להרים את הדגל””, on the Israeli Flag and the mitzvah to speak Hebrew.

6. The Rambam also added many words which he himself “conjuncted” in his Mishneh Torah, so obviously there’s no problem in conjuncting new words (our sages even adopted words from Latin, like: ambatya and Sanhedrin). In addition, it’s important to know that the saintly Rav Kook zt”l helped Ben-Yehuda a lot, whenever he was stuck for finding a word in Hebrew (BY chose to live about an 80 second (!) walk from Beit HaRav Kook, and even on the last day of his life, we have testimony that he went to confer with the Rav). Not all of Ben-Yehuda’s words have Rav Kook’s haskama, but many of them were even initiated by the Rav zt”l.

7. Nevertheless, if anyone prefers to “break their teeth” to speak exactly Biblical Hebrew, he is invited to try, but as we’ve seen, there’s no reason to do so, and the mitzvah to speak Hebrew (Sifre, Dvarim 11, 19; Vayikra Rabba 32; Igrot Moshe Ev.H. iii, 35; Mishneh Halachot ix, 45), applies to modern Hebrew as well.