                       THE ROLE OF THE JEW
                      by Gary M. Cooperberg
                         March 11, 1991
                                
     We are living in an age in which incredible changes  take place literally overnight.  It is
an era in which anything is possible.  The technological explosions which plummet us forward
rendering yesterday's advances veritably obsolete, force one to wonder how it is possible to
keep up with them.  With all of our advanced, scientific knowledge, one would think that we
should certainly have learned how to better manage society and be able to live in a world free
from hunger, war, disease, and strife.  
     But such is not the case.  On the contrary, all of those problems seem to have
increased in magnitude in direct relation to our technological advances.  While many bask in
the glory of living in such modern times, seek pleasure from society's latest developments, and
ignore, or even show disgust for, that which is "old", there is a marked desire on the part of
many others to get off  the speeding merry-go-round and return to the values of yesteryear.    The one curious entity which contains within it both ancient and modern and thus more
clearly exemplifies the confusion we see in the world today, is the Jew.  He was born nearly
5000 years ago, has participated in nearly every society since then, has lived in every part of
the world, has been made to endure continuous persecution and has even been a  repeated
target for extermination.  The fact that the Jew has survived for such a long time when other,
more powerful and mighty, nations have long disappeared is, in and of itself, a reason to
wonder, why.  But, to add to that nagging curiosity the fact that, in our time, we have seen
this ancient relic rejuvenate itself by returning to its ancient homeland and reviving its ancient
language, and all this in the face of a world which would prefer that it disappear, one cannot
help but assume that there must be something supernatural here.  
     Why is it that we see today that many Jewish people who have drifted from their
traditions to become part of today's modern society, suddenly have discovered a thirst for their
past?  Perhaps it is because it is there for them to find.  Lives there an ancient Roman or Greek
or Babylonian to search for his historical roots? But the Jew, with his Torah, the Bible which
so many others have adopted, has preserved his identity over the millennia to the degree that
he can go back to where his nationhood began, and, what is more, today he will find that it is,
once again, ruled by his people!  The ancient Bible, which many "modernists" would have us
dismiss as a "fairy tale" book, when scrutinized by any honest observer, can easily be shown to
be of Divine authorship.  While many of its historical accounts cannot be verified, many others
can and have been.  
     The incredible and unprecedented fulfillment of its assertion that the Children of Israel
would be scattered to the four corners of the Earth, and then regathered into their ancient
homeland defies any logical explanation. 
     Throughout their history the Jewish People have been pawns in G-d's plan to reveal
Himself, dramatically, before the nations of the world.  Very often they were unwilling pawns,
but willing, accepting, knowledgeable or not, they have served and continue to serve as living
proof that the Bible is, indeed, the Word of G-d.

     What is most significant about this phenomenon is that, while man does, indeed, have
freedom of choice, the fulfillment of Divine destiny, as written in the Bible, is not dependent
upon it. A Jew can choose whether he, as an individual, wishes to actively participate in the
destiny of his people, or not.  But he cannot change that destiny, nor the fact that, in one way
or another, he will be a part of it.
     Throughout Biblical history it has been recounted, numerous times, how the Jewish
people rebelled against G-d.  Yet, in one way or another, they tread the path before them and
filled the role they were meant to play.  Their defiance caused them to be punished, and often
delayed a Divine reward.  But, eventually, the reward came and the word of the Bible was
fulfilled.
     Having the benefit of hindsight today, one need not possess the deep faith of our
forebears.  Indeed, one who rejects the Bible today is behaving irrationally.  To intentionally
close your eyes to clear, current empirical evidence that G-d exists and that His Will is coming
to pass, and not try to govern your own life in accordance to that Will is truly illogical.  Yet,
the greater part of the world, and a large majority of Jews persist in keeping their eyes closed. 
     The reestablishment of the Jewish State has brought with it many seemingly
irreconcilable contradictions:

     1. While the rebirth of Israel is a true indication of  Divine destiny, Herzl and the
greater majority of the instrumental founders and builders of the modern state were non-observant Jews.

     2. While, indeed, Jews from all over the world are returning to their ancient homeland,
the majority choose to remain in exile.

     3. Every time our enemies attack us, they lose.  Yet the world powers consistently step
in and nullify their losses, label us as the aggressor, pressure us into making suicidal
concessions, and, despite this, we endure.
          3a. Left wing "humanists" within our own ranks attack our very right to have a
Jewish State and advocate sharing it with Arabs who seek to destroy it.  And, despite this, we
endure.
          3b. Even right-wing and religious groups have become so confused that, albeit
to a far lesser degree, they too advocate compromise with those who would destroy us.

     4. Those who advocate adherence to Biblical injunctions are labeled as "fanatics,
racists, and extremists", while Arab insurgents are glorified as heroes fighting for a just cause. 

     Despite these and other very difficult contradictions, the Jewish state continues to
grow stronger.  One cannot help but feel the Hand of G-d guiding our future in spite of our
own inability to direct it.  Historically, the Land of Israel was a geographical center for world
trade, linking the East with the West.  As such it was understandable that powerful nations
would seek to gain control of her.  Today, with modern transportation and communications,
there is no such concept.  Despite the fact that this tiny piece of Middle East real estate would
seem today to hold no significant value to major world powers, we find Israel to be at the very
core of international concern.  What magical element causes this minuscule country, whose
very existence is constantly threatened by Arab neighbors, both within and without, to be
perceived by world powers to have the slightest effect upon world peace?  Why should
anyone care what goes on here?  Has the great United States solved all of her own problems
that it should take such pains to bring Israel and her Arab neighbors to a peaceful solution of
their seemingly unsolvable conflicts?  Are there no more pressing problems in the world to
solve in priority to the Arab Israeli one?
     If one recognizes the Bible as a Divinely authored document, which not only recounts
events of the ancient past, but has predicted future events, many of which have come to pass
in our lifetimes, then the curious status of the tiny Jewish State becomes more plausible.  The
assertion that the Jewish People are the Chosen of G-d, is no longer a mere assertion, rather
an empirical fact, if, for no other reason, that they still exist as a people. 
     Further, we have seen this beaten and dispersed nation defy all logical expectations
and, in spite of overwhelming opposition, return to its ancient homeland, prevail over enemies
which vastly outnumbered it, and restore a Jewish government, as well as the Hebrew
language on its ancient soil.  What makes all of this even more astounding is the fact that we
have seen little, if any, Biblical style leadership in this apparent continuation of the Biblical
narrative.  Instead of a new Moses, we find confused politicians who seem to have little regard
for the Bible and Jewish history.  
     With the momentary exception of Ben Gurion's defiance of the United States request
not to announce statehood back in 1948, we see a very consistent, across the board
acquiescence to the demands of that country, even when those demands conflict with Israeli
self interest.  The supernatural aspect of this country's very existence is counterpointed by her
leaders' perceived dependence upon the good graces of the United States.  On the one hand
we have seen, time after time, wars, which would have destroyed any normal country, result in
victory for the underdog in the case of the State of Israel.  Then on the other hand, we have
seen the Jewish State consistently yield the fruit of those victories to the dictates of the United
States.  Further, we see the government of Israel willingly accept the premise that it must live
with Arab terror rather than destroy or remove its deadly enemies from within, so as not to
displease the United States. 
     An event of far greater international ramifications was the act of self-defense on the
part of Menachem Begin's government ten years ago when, without any warning or posturing,
the IDF simply destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor.  For this act which resulted in the death of
only one person, a technician who just happened to be at the site, the Jewish State was
soundly condemned.  Today, perhaps as a result of world reaction to that act of self-defense,
the state of Israel has deliberately neglected to destroy weapons plants in Iraq of similar threat
to her security, in deference to the United States which has, once again, blundered into areas
which  it has little experience or preparedness.  Every day that the so called "Gulf Crisis"
remains unresolved, brings the world closer to a potential war of mass destruction.
     Had Israel attacked Iraq and rendered her impotent from the outset, there never should
have been a "Gulf Crisis".  But there most certainly would have been universal worldwide
condemnation of Israeli "aggression".  So while, having learned her "lesson" and avoided
condemnation this time, the Jewish State has placed her population and that of many other
countries in very serious danger.
     World leaders, aside from being subject to petty interests as well as human prejudices,
may, indeed base their decisions upon what they feel are high moral principles.  The problem is
that secular morality is an historically inconsistent concept.  The morality of the Jewish Nation
is not dependent upon public opinion, rather on the Law of G-d which was given to our
teacher, Moses.  This ancient Law has withstood the test of time and is eternally consistent
and valid.  Were the leaders of the Jewish State to drop their personal petty concerns and
exchange them for Biblical injunctions, aside from unburdening themselves of the
responsibility of making impossible decisions affecting the lives of millions, they would be well
on the way towards achieving the elusive peace they so yearn for.
     The yardstick for Jewish decision making is not, "Will it endanger our relationship with
the United States?", rather, "Will it be in keeping with the Law of G-d?".  Clearly, all the
miraculous wars here which have returned us to most of our ancient homeland were the result
of G-d's Will.  It is a major insult to the Giver of those miracles for us to try and undo them by
rejecting our right to those lands and attempting to give them away in fear of worldly powers.
     By confusing the "morality" of 20th century America with that of our Torah, we have
given a full share of the Jewish inheritance, not just to non-Jews, but to a fictitious nation
whose sole purpose for being is to destroy the Jewish State.  
     While the most obvious purpose for the reestablishment of the Jewish State was for the
preservation of the Jewish People in a country which will always be a refuge for them, there is
a far more noble purpose.  The Jewish People are the chosen of G-d.  Those who are
unlearned take that statement with anger and jealousy.  Yet, when you examine the facts, this
"chosen" people has been the object of more suffering and abuse than any other.  
     What then is the meaning of its "chosenness"?  There is no question but that Israel is
G-d's chosen people.  We have endured all these generations for only one purpose, to be G-d's
vehicle to show the world His Greatness.  If, after all these generations, the Jewish People has
always been a minority; has consistently been the object of abuse and attempted annihilation by
the great powers of the ages and yet has survived them all and even returned to rebuild its
sovereign state on its ancient land, it can only be to show the world that G-d's Will is superior
to any mortal force.
     While, it does, indeed serve the interests of Israel and the world that the American
President committed his troops to go to war against the Iraqi aggressor, we must also consider
the facts that:
     American money, technology, military machinery and expertise helped create this
monster; the reason for American intervention goes beyond the quest for "justice", rather
concern for the economic repercussions to the United States if Iraq gains control of Kuwait
and Saudi Oil; and the fact that even now, while witnessing first hand the treachery of Arab
terror, the United States and its partners are already speaking of the so called "legitimate
rights" of Arab terrorists to parts of our holy country.
     Jews must not permit themselves the luxury of denying our destiny.  It has been
decreed from above that the Jewish people will return, not just from the Soviet Union and
Ethiopia, but from all four corners of the world, including the United States.  The ingathering
has already begun.  It will not stop or even slow down, rather it will continuously increase
until we are all back in Israel. The key to world peace does not lie with the President of  the
United States or other world leaders.  Rather it lies with the Jewish People.  The moment we
accept our role to be a light unto the nations, merely by being the living example He has
always wanted us to be, by living our lives according to His Law, peace will be the immediate
result.  Wars and tragedies come to the world only because we, the Jewish People, bring this
punishment for failing to submit our will to that of our Creator.
     Because of the promise our G-d made to our Father Abraham, He will never exchange
us for another people.  He has been infinitely patient with us, hoping that we would recognize
our role and accept it.  The time is upon us, however, when the option to choose is being
taken from us.  The redemption He promised to our Father, Abraham, is soon to take place. 
The incredible events that we see happening in the world today are clearly Divinely
orchestrated in order to bring about that redemption.  In the absence of true leaders, these
events will cause the leaders we have to make the decisions which will fulfill Biblical prophesy
and, eventually lead to world peace and universal recognition of  the One Creator of the
universe.  All countries will pay homage to His people, lead by His anointed King in the State
of Israel whose capital is Jerusalem and whose sovereignty will be exclusively Jewish. 