           In the traditions of Rabbi Meir Kahane, z"l
                      by Gershon Ben Shabtai
April 14, 1992
                                 Do You Really Believe in G-d?

       While philosophy, depth of thought and analysis of history and logic are all necessary and important in order to present the case of "Israel vs. the Nations of the World", it is easy for us to become confused and lost in the maze of propaganda, misinformation and just plain ignorance about our history and our destiny.  Any honest Jew can cut through all the words, emotions, and twisted logical gymnastics by asking himself a simple question: "Do you believe in G-d?"
       There are many of us, religious or otherwise, who, although willing to say "yes" to the above question, when challenged to prove it by risking life, limb, or, even more important, money, fail to meet that challenge.  Most of us would prefer to "hedge our bets" rather than risk everything by trusting in a G-d we cannot see when faced by very real physical or financial threats.  
       Such is the case also with the government of Israel.  While some of our leaders might be so bold as to actually invoke the name of HaShem (a very rare occurrence), when our, allegedly defeated and subjugated, enemies actually deprive us of our most basic rights, such as our holy Temple Mount, in Jerusalem, and the Tombs of our Fathers and Mothers, Machpelah in Hebron, we back off in fear of the goyim.
       These two very clear examples are not mere cultural relics located in foreign countries, nor are they out of our hands.  Both are the most fundamental symbols of Judaism in the world and were liberated in the June War of 1967.  After worldwide rejoicing at this miraculous liberation, Judaism's two most holy sites have been voluntarily given over, by us, to the administration of our Arab enemies.  Both are still, officially, recognized as exclusively Moslem holy places.  Freedom of prayer is permitted on the Temple Mount to all religions, save one, Judaism.  While all peoples are permitted to freely desecrate our holiest of holy places, Jews are forbidden to pray there (in those areas where halacha permits us to be).
       Why do we accept upon ourselves such an outright humiliation?  There is only one reason.  We cannot honestly answer the above question in the affirmative.  Those who run governmental policy in this country, while proclaiming their loyalty to Judaism and to the G-d of Israel, in fact relegate such loyalty to "cultural tradition" which is nice, but which takes second or third place to political expediency or threats, real or imagined.
       We are told, even by so called "religious" Jews, not to spoil the prospects for "peace", during the orchestrated conferences with our enemies, by taking steps which are likely to interfere with the peace process.  
       What steps are they referring to?  Shooting Arabs?  Making derogatory remarks about Islam?  Burning down a Mosque?  (What Jew would even think of such things?)  So what then are these provocative steps our goodwill ambassadors are referring to?  
       Jews should refrain from moving into those neighborhoods in our own country in which Arabs would prefer not to have Jewish neighbors!  When a handful of Jews moved into a Jewish home in the City of David, the ancient capital of the Jewish State, this was a provocation!  Hannan Ashrawi and Teddy Kollek both mourned this "provocation", (presumably because of the deleterious affect upon the property values in the previously all Arab neighborhood).
       How is it that Jews all over the world are not outraged at our own willingness to accept the humiliation of our People, our country and, yes, even our G-d?!  If Shimon Peres can say that he is afraid of a worldwide Moslem reaction should we dare permit Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, how is it that it never would occur to him that there might be a world wide Jewish reaction should such prayer be forbidden?  We are all at fault for not providing this most logical reaction.  Peres knows that Moslems do believe in Allah.  Why does he not know that Jews really do believe in G-d?
       I will not delve any further into examples of our own involvement in our self-humiliation and that of our G-d, although there are many.  My point is that it is time to stop whining and complaining about the PLO, Bush, or even about our own puny so called leadership.  
       The road back to Jewish self respect and to Kiddush HaShem begins with each and every Jew.  Every day in the life of every Jew, no matter where he may temporarily reside, is filled with opportunities to sanctify himself, his people and his G-d.  Every decision a Jew must face, whether it concerns his job, his family, or his relationship with his neighbors must be tempered with the question, "What does my G-d expect of me?".  When we honestly ask that question of ourselves, there is no trouble finding the answer.  The hard part is in choosing to do that which we know we must, no matter what the difficulty or sacrifice.  Only when we take the difficult steps, the ones that may very well hurt and go against our personal desires, can we truly say, "Yes, I do believe in G-d".