An open letter to the PM

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

Welcome back from your visit toChina. We pray that Israel and China— among the world’s oldest civilizations and among the most intelligent and resourceful of people — will find ways to cooperate for the benefit of both.

Of great interest were your comments inShanghai where 18000 Jews found refuge during World War II. Some of our greatest Torah scholars were thus rescued many of them later settling in theUSAandIsraelto continue teaching Torah.

But while it was most appropriate for you to visitShanghai one section of your speech with all due respect felt somewhat inappropriate. Specifically you were reported as saying that things today are very different from the refugees’ situation 70 years ago: “Today we have a Jewish State of our own an army of our own. Today we can defend ourselves.…” Although there is some truth in what you said — we do have a state we do have an army we are militarily strong — I nevertheless cringed when I read these words.

I cringed because though there is ample cause to be proud of Israel it should be discreet pride. As Mishlei 16:18 says: “Lifnei shever gaon — before the fall there is pride.” Pride is combustible; it has to be handled delicately. In addition whileIsrael today is physically strong we are quite vulnerable. Hatred of Jews andIsrael is on the increase even in the so-called democratic countries of Western Europe not to mention the matrix lands of anti-Semitism likeGermany Austria Eastern Europe andRussia. More urgently Israel is in the crosshairs of those who would annihilate us with the Bomb. This again gives the lie to that old Zionist shibboleth that anti-Semitism would cease once Jews had a homeland. Instead anti-Israelism has become the new anti-Semitism andIsrael has become the despised new shtetl.

These are the type of enemies Mr. Prime Minister from which we cannot defend ourselves alone even with futuristic technology like Iron Domes and brave soldiers. From such enemies only G-d can protect us. I don’t of course expect you to invoke G-d — although it would be a pleasant change of pace – but your words smacked of a certain troubling hubris somehow redolent of early Zionist braggadocio about not being Galut Jews but “new Jews” who know how to flex their muscles — pathetic and long discredited clichés.

You know Tanach so you are surely familiar with the warning in Devarim 8:17 about saying“kochi v’otzem yadi — my power and  my strong hand have achieved all this.” Moshe Rabbeinu reminds us to remember Who it really is that gives power and strength.

I know you don’t think the changes in the last 70 years are all because of our own strength. Although you may not be fully observant you are surely sensitive to the mysterious guiding Hand ofProvidencein the unfolding of this Jewish State and realize that our growth and development in a sea of enemies far transcends the merely natural. No one can run the government ofIsrael— rambunctious inside with a hostile world outside — without such an awareness.

In Shanghaiyou obviously got carried away by your feelings. To stand in the place that saved 18000 Jews from the Holocaust was surely highly emotional and it was natural to contrast the then and the now. But I wish it were done without that touch of bravado and perhaps more judiciously phrased: “Today thank G-d we have a Jewish land which welcomes our refugees from around the world regardless of race or color. Although we are still vulnerable and although some of our neighbors threaten us with destruction we are not afraid. Like the Chinese people we have an ancient history and heritage and a willingness to sacrifice for our beliefs. This together with our faith in the Guiding Hand from Above gives us strength to resist  all enemies.” Such words would have pleased your hosts pleased your people and sent a self-confident message to the world.

I do not envy your job. You have to deal with a broad electorate and with world leaders who have a dubious relationship with us. But this assurance from Zechariyah 4:6 should give you strength: “Lo b’chayil v’lo b’koach — Neither by might nor by strength but by My spirit.” These are our secret weapons; these are the impregnable Iron Domes.

And if I may so may the G-d ofIsraelbe with you. In your job you surely need Him.

Yours sincerely

Emanuel Feldman