[Yeshayahu
51:12-52:12]
The
return of the Nation of Israel to its Land, which we are experiencing in our
generation, is not an historical anomaly, but a turning point in history.
"And
I have put My Words in your mouth, and have covered you in the shadow of My
Hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and
say to Zion: 'You are My Nation'" (Yeshayahu 51:16).
Hashem
comforts us from the horror of Exile, which crushed us so badly. "I, I am the One who comforts you. Who
do you think you are, to fear man who will die, and of the son of Man who will
be made as grass?" (ibid. v. 12).
Hashem teaches us not to fear even the greatest human power, since it is
only relative, and will sooner or later disappear from history's stage. Hashem is the true and sole Director of the
world: "And you forgot Hashem who made you, who spreads out the heavens
and lays the foundation of the earth, and you were afraid all day of the anger
of the [human] oppressor, who was prepared to destroy, but where is the fury of
the oppressor?" (ibid. v. 13). In
fact, the tyrant disappeared. Nothing remains of him today.
"He
that is bent down will soon be released, and he will not go down dying into the
pit, neither shall his bread fail" (ibid. v. 14). We will be freed from all of the suffering
and oppression of the Exile. "I am
Hashem your G-d, who quiets the sea and makes its waves roar, Hashem of Hosts
is His Name" (ibid. v. 15). The One
who created worlds and rules over the laws of nature will also solve every
human problem and save us from all tribulations. But, for us, the Redemption for which we have
so yearned is not only about being saved from suffering and problems; we expect
much more: A new world! Hashem will lead
us to this level: "That I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of
the earth" (ibid. v. 16). Are we
discussing a cosmological revolution?
No, it is a historical one: The rehabilitation of the Nation of Israel
in its Land – "And say to Zion: 'You are My Nation'" (ibid.). The revival of the Nation of Israel is
accompanied by new heavens and earth as the Rambam explained in Moreh Nevuchim
(2:29), based on this prophecy of Yeshayahu. There will be a renewal of heaven
and earth when the Kingship of Israel returns.
The
renewed State of Israel is not temporary, like the last two. This time our return is complete, and nothing
can cause a new exile. We are not only
discussing the return of individual Jews to Eretz Yisrael, as has occurred over
the last few hundreds of years, but the collective return of the Nation of
Israel to its Land. The State of Israel
is "The new heavens and new earth" about which Yeshayahu prophesied
(66:22).
For
the Nation of Israel, the State is not just a place in which to absorb
individuals, a shelter from the tragedies of the Exile and a location for
people to live in quiet and contentment.
Our State is much more. It is nothing less than the foundation of the
heavenly throne of Hashem on earth (Orot, Orot Yisrael 6, 7). The State of Israel is an ideal in and of
itself.
Every
one of us, in fact, is not just an individual; we each belong to the collective
of humanity. As a result, it is
impossible that the Divine light would illuminate an individual's life without
also illuminating the life of a nation.
The Divine light rises above the individual level, and above the
familial level and even above the communal level. The Divine light illuminates the entire
Nation in all areas: The Knesset and the government, the army and the police,
the agriculture and the economy, society and culture. We want to save the entire world - not just
the individual.
This
is the reason that we do not reach the height of consolation by being saved
from the cruelty of tyrants, the oppression and suffering. The true consolation is "and say to
Zion: 'You are My Nation'" (ibid. 51:16).
During
the course of two thousand years, there was a huge gap between Zion and the
Nation of Israel. The true meaning of
Zionism is the revival of the life of the Nation of Israel as a Nation in its
Land, and the renewal of the Nation’s
dormant love of Zion: "Awaken yourself, awaken yourself, get up,
Jerusalem" (ibid. v. 17). We sing
this verse as part of Kabbalat Shabbat in the song "Lecha Dodi":
“Awaken, Awaken, put on your strength, Jerusalem, the Holy City, from now
on there will never enter you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake off the dust, arise and be seated,
Jerusalem, loosen yourself from the bands around your neck, captive daughter of
Zion” (ibid. 52:1-2).
We
are witnesses today not to some historical process devoid of meaning. We are experiencing the initial return of the
Kingship of Hashem to the Land of Israel.
These are the signs which announce the coming of the Messiah: "How
beautiful on the hills are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, who
announces peace, brings word of goodness, announces Salvation, saying to Zion:
'Your G-d has ruled.' The call of your
watchmen is heard. They lift up their
voices together and sing: 'For they will see, eye to eye, Hashem returning to
Zion" (ibid. v. 7-8).
The
Nation of Israel who returns to Zion is accompanied by Hashem Himself:
"Break out into joy, sing together, ruins of Jerusalem, for Hashem has
comforted His Nation,
He has redeemed Jerusalem" (ibid. v. 9). And all of the nations of the world witness this amazing occurrence: "Hashem has revealed His holy arm to the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the Salvation of our G-d" (ibid. v. 10). We are not refugees running from the Exile to find shelter, "You will not leave in haste nor in flight, for Hashem goes before you, and the G-d of Israel is the One who gathers you" (ibid. v. 12), but as a Nation returning home.
He has redeemed Jerusalem" (ibid. v. 9). And all of the nations of the world witness this amazing occurrence: "Hashem has revealed His holy arm to the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the Salvation of our G-d" (ibid. v. 10). We are not refugees running from the Exile to find shelter, "You will not leave in haste nor in flight, for Hashem goes before you, and the G-d of Israel is the One who gathers you" (ibid. v. 12), but as a Nation returning home.