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The Central Rabbinical Congress of the U.S.A. and Canada placed a quarter-page ad in today's New York Times, affirming the opposition of hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Jews to Zionism and Jewish rule over the Holy Land during exile, and denouncing religious Zionist groups as falsifiers of the Torah. The ad appeared in the newspaper on page A-20.

The text of the ad was as follows:

A Clarification of Torah Doctrine

Consistently, throughout the peace process in the Middle East, various Jewish religious organizations and parties have raised their voices in opposition to the return of territories to the Arabs, issuing statements that, according to the Torah, Jews are forbidden to give up any land in the Holy Land (especially part of Jerusalem).

Land sold returns to the original owner on the Year of Return - Jubilee. The timing of the next Jubilee year appears to be debatable.

Leviticus Chapter 27
24 In the year of jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land belongeth.

Accordingly, it has become a commonplace that religious Jews are supportive of stopping the peace process. In the public mind, the policies of these parties became synonymous with Torah Doctrine. Moreover, they are portrayed in the media as "ultra-nationalists" willing to exchange "peace" for "land".

This impression is utterly false. All forms of Zionism, be they secular or religious, are inherently antithetical to the teaching of our faith! The great sages and saints of our people have always been opposed to the existence of the Zionist State. Indeed, when an obscure Viennese journalist first challenged the Torah approach to exile and redemption, over one hundred years ago, he was immediately attacked by the Torah sages of that time. Those orthodox Jews who support the Israeli state and "Greater Israel" are falsifiers of Torah doctrine. They have abandoned the principles of their predecessors.

The harm of observant Jews supporting the Zionist state is compounded by the Israeli government's consistent, public rebellion against G-d's kingship. It is a state which constantly violates Torah law, and actively seeks to persecute its observers, via cemetery desecrations, autopsies, drafting of women, etc. Accordingly, when observant Jews wax enthusiastic over the state and its leaders, it creates a monstrous desecration of G-d's name.
Second Chronicles Chapter 15
3 Now for long seasons Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law;
4 but when in their distress they turned unto YHWH, the God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them.

Torah true Jews who have remained loyal to their ancestral faith are not "nationalists" who desire land at the price of peace. Throughout history, dating back to Temple days, the faithful Jews have opposed secular, militaristic solutions to Jewish problems. In Israel today these Jews do not participate in the electoral process of the Zionist state, nor do they accept its financial benefits. Frequently ignored by the media, they number in the hundreds of thousands worldwide. Yet, it is they who have remained firmly devoted to Judaism as received and taught throughout the millennia.

It is in their name that we restate the fundamental beliefs of our faith:

Torah Jewry sees its exile from the Holy Land as the result of a Divine decree. The land was given to us according to G-D's will, and when our sins accumulated we were exiled from it. This exile is in essence a spiritual state that cannot and must not be remedied by temporal means. Until G-D chooses to redeem us, we are commanded by Him to live as cooperative, law abiding and patriotic citizens in our countries of residence. Accordingly, the Jewish people have no "claim" to the Holy Land at present. They have no right to conquer or to rule over it.
Ezekiel Chapter 36
16 Moreover the word of YHWH came unto me, saying:
17 'Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings; their way before Me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.
18 Wherefore I poured out My fury upon them for the blood which they had shed upon the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols;
19 and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
20 And when they came unto the nations, whither they came, they profaned My holy name; in that men said of them: These are the people of YHWH, and are gone forth out of His land.

Clearly, the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 was in no way a fulfillment of the Jewish people's millennia-long yearning for redemption. It was a bizarre, secularist substitute for that redemption. The doctrine of constantly leading the Jewish people into confrontations with other nations is the dogma of Zionism not of the Holy Torah. We are commanded by G-D to live in dignity and piety wherever Providence has so ordained.
Clearly, the concern of True Torah Jews is warranted. While the following states their conclusions may be premature... YHWH does not sound pleased, no not pleased at all.

Ezekiel Chapter 36
13 Thus saith the Lord YHWH: Because they say unto you: Thou land art a devourer of men, and hast been a bereaver of thy nations;
14 therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord YHWH;
15 neither will I suffer the shame of the nations any more to be heard against thee, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the peoples any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to stumble any more, saith the Lord YHWH.'

Therefore, we declare that the Zionist state of Israel is not the legitimate representative of our people. Our position on the ceding of land is quite simple: Any Jewish sovereignty over the Holy Land before the Messianic Epoch is sinful and sure to lead to tragedy. And it is certainly absurd to sacrifice even one human life for this illegitimate state.

May all mankind be worthy of true Redemption when the "Swords will be beaten into plowshares" and G-D's Glory will fill the world.
Sadly, it does not appear the Children of Israel will figure it out. In the future, it will not be for the people of Israel; but for His own name that YHWH will intercede once again on their behalf.

Ezekiel Chapter 36
21 But I had pity for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, whither they came.
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord YHWH: I do not this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye came.
23 And I will sanctify My great name, which hath been profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am YHWH, saith the Lord YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep Mine ordinances, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.


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The Central Rabbinical Congress, established in 1952, is a worldwide organization representing over 150 Orthodox communities.


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