Signing
Hebron – 3:30 PM Israel time
I am sitting in the Hebron settlers gift shop –
underneath Ma’arat HaMachpela. In an hour a major
demonstration is scheduled to begin here in Hebron. In
another two and a half hours Rabin and Arafat are
supposed to be affixing their signatures to a document
betraying Eretz Yisrael and the Jewish People.
People continually ask how we feel, and how they can
help. We, of course, aren’t happy with what’s happening.
Things could be better. But, we have not, in any way
shape or form, given up. Far from it. Thankfully,
thousands of people from all over the world are behind
us, supporting the continued Jewish Community of Hebron,
supporting Jewish prayer and presence at Ma’arat
HaMachpela – The Caves of the Patriarchs. People arrive
in Hebron daily, visiting, praying, showing support.
This morning I spent a few hours touring with a couple
from NYC who wanted to see the city of the Patriarchs
before returning to the US.
But, if you really want to know how to help – to
tell the truth, I’ve debated with myself whether to write
this or not – and if I want to be honest with myself, I
have no choice. I expect that it’s not necessarily
popular to say what I say, but I’m not running a
popularity contest. For Hebron doesn’t belong to me, or
to any of the people or families that live here, or in
Kiryat Arba – or in the entire Hebron region. Hebron
belongs to the entire Jewish people, throughout all the
generations – people who dreamed of Hebron as they
dreamed of Jerusalem – but for them it was only a dream –
because the reality was so far from Eretz Yisrael that
even dreaming seem far-fetched. Hebron belongs to you,
and to your children, and to your grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren – Jews who deserve the privilege to
pray at the tombs of the Patriarchs no less than myself
or yourselves. And what are we going to say to them if,
G-d forbid, they won’t be able to, because it is held in
foreign hands, – and not because they conquered it in a
war, but because a Jewish government GAVE IT AWAY?! What
will we say to children and grandchildren who ask us:
“But why did it happen? Why did they do it? WHAT DID YOU
DO TO TRY AND PREVENT IT?”
WHAT WILL YOU SAY? In my opinion, anyone who
today really wants to save Eretz Yisrael MUST BE HERE –
IN ERETZ YISRAEL, NOW. Israel, not just Hebron belongs
to you too. The only way to do anything is to be here –
now. It’s not a case of “pikuach nefesh” – the
“watching of a soul”, rather it is a case of “hatzalat
nefesh” – “the saving of a soul” – saving the soul of
the Jewish People – the saving of Eretz Yisrael. When, G-
d forbid, one receives notification that a dear relative
is critically ill, one drops everything that he is doing
and rushes to the hospital. Why? There are doctors and
nurses, and there really isn’t too much we can do – but
we feel it’s the least we can do, so we go. If that is
the case with an individual, what about the nation, the
soul of the Jewish People? For 2,000 years we prayed and
died just saying “next year in Jerusalem” and now what
of Jerusalem? Don’t be fooled – Hebron and Jerusalem are
one. One cannot exist without the other. If we lose
Hebron, Jerusalem is next – and what is Eretz Yisrael
without the heart – especially if we hand it over to our
enemies on a silver platter?
So, I say to you, from Hebron, from the home of
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rivka and Lea- home of
David HaMelech – if you really care – not just
emotionally, not as a feeling, but REALLY CARE, you have
to be here – now! If you are here you can influence, you
can fill up all the empty apartments in all of Judea and
Samaria – you can volunteer to patrol in Hebron or in
other cities in Yesha – you can voice your opinion – you
can vote. YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!
So, I say it again – if you really care about Eretz
Yisrael, come here now. That is the eternal answer to
Rabin, Peres and Arafat. They are trying to throw us out
– we have to to the opposite.
For sure, we will stay here in any case, and in the
end will be victorious – but the victory should be a joint one,
of all the people of Israel – you and us together.
IF NOT NOW – WHEN?