                      The Threats of Bush 
                               vs
                      The Faith of a Jew 
                     by Gershon ben Shabtai
                          July 8, 1991

       Emunah, or "faith" is a word that is often bandied about rather glibly.  Rarely does
one take the time to consider what it really means.  For a Jew the prime example of true faith
is that shown by our Father, Abraham.  Here was an incredible human being who was raised
among idol worshipers and yet "knew" what was real and what was fraudulent.  He was
prepared to die rather than be party to a denial of the One true living G-d.  
       Our Rabbis tell us that he was called Avraham ha "Ivri" coming from the word
"ever", which refers to the bank of a river, implying that Avraham stood on one side of the
river, and the entire world stood on the other side.  He was all alone, yet nothing and no one
could shake his faith in the One G-d.  It was from this unique individual that came forth the
Jewish People.  
       And what has changed?  Even today the children of Abraham, the Jewish People,
stand alone against the entire world which denies the authenticity of the One true Living G-d
of Israel.
I am sure that, in Avraham's time there were many rationalists, predecessors of "Peace Now",
who reasoned, and logically, that Avraham should be more prudent.  
       "There might be something to this "One G-d" theory, but why make waves? 
Pretend that you believe in idols like everyone else in public and believe what you want in
private.  Why risk your life by offending the feelings of others?"
       Yet our Father, Abraham had a burning inner need to reach out to others and reveal
to all who would listen the wonderful Truth that he knew.  It would simply be wrong not to
try and open the eyes of others to this Truth.  Better to die trying to show others Truth than to
live a long and peaceful life of deceit and falsehood.  This is the legacy of our Father,
Abraham, and one we Jews are still obliged to carry on.
       When G-d came to Abraham and told him to leave his home and go to a land that
He would show him, Abraham asked no questions, demanded no assurances, but packed up
and went.  He knew not where he was going or how he would get there, but the command of
G-d was enough for him.  
       And after he had gone to Israel and settled in Hebron and became a rich and famous
world leader his simple and pure faith remained unchanged.  In his old age G-d came to him
again and told him to sacrifice to Him, his only son, the pride of his life, his greatest treasure
for which he had waited patiently for so many long years.
       Again, Abraham asked no questions, made no complaints, rather arose early in the
morning and saddled his donkey himself and hastened to perform the commandment of G-d,
bending his will and his pain to the Will of his G-d.  That is what real faith is all about.
       The G-d of Abraham, in His infinite love for Am Yisrael, has begun to fulfill the
promise he made to His friend, Abraham.  He has returned Jewish sovereignty to the Land of
Israel and, as we watch, He is daily increasing the ingathering of our exiled brethren from all
over the world.  We no longer even need the faith of our Father, Abraham.  What we need and
are sorely lacking is eyes!  Jews all over the world have but to open their eyes and look around
them to see the two-thousand year old dream coming true!  Do you not see anti-semitism
growing all over the world?  Do you not know that Exile and Redemption are a conflict of
terms and cannot coexist?  If the Redemption is beginning, and who can deny it?  Then the
Exile is ending and is doomed to be extinguished.  How can any knowledgeable Jew willingly
wait for his doom?
       George Bush and all world leaders are but pawns of the G-d of Israel.  Their
illogical behavior was designed to test us Jews.  Do we have the faith to carry out the Will of
our G-d in defiance of apparent danger to our lives, our country, our pocketbooks?  Is there
an honest Jew who can think for one second that by denying 
our G-d we can bring real peace?  Bush demands that our G-dly inheritance, that which G-d
not only promised to our Father Abraham, but literally handed to us, his children, be given to
our enemies for a promise of peace.  Dare we so much as consider such a blasphemous
demand?
       On the contrary, a true descendent of Abraham would stand up to Mr. Bush and tell
him, very politely, "Mr. President, I know you are a very powerful world leader and I certainly
do not wish to displease you.  But I have a prior commitment to the greatest world leader of
all, the Creator of the Universe.  It is beyond all possibility for me to reject His will in
deference to yours.  Do what you will, but I cannot reject His Will nor His miracles.  And one
more thing, Mr. President.  Should you think to exercise your great power to cause harm to
our little country, I strongly recommend that you reconsider.  If you take the time to study
Biblical and world history you will realize that in every generation there were great and
powerful world leaders who tried to harm Israel.  Yet they are all a part of history and we, not
only are still here, but we have come home to renew the Jewish kingdom in our ancient
homeland as foretold by the ancient prophets of G-d.  So choose wisely  Mr. President, oil for
a little while or a part in an eternal future."  The Jew would then politely back off and daven
mincha, and Mashiach would come immediately.
       Abraham never demanded to know how and when his children would inherit the
land.  He just accepted G-d's word and set out to obey His commandments.  That is our lot
today.  The difference is that we can already see the promise beginning to unfold before our
eyes.  What more do we need?    
       Rabbi Kahane, z"l, walked in the footsteps of Abraham.  He chose to honor the G-d
of Israel even if it caused him personal harm.  When the decision to ban Kach from running
was announced, rather than grieving, the Rabbi threw a party!  He celebrated the fact that he
had the strength to stand up to falsehood and proclaim Truth even at his own peril.  Rabbi
Kahane's life was a consistent tribute to the Living G-d of Israel in continuation of the faith of
our Father, Abraham.  May it serve as an inspiration to us all. 