SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH · 2010-02-21 · SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH The Collected Writings VOLUME II THE...

19
THE JEWISH YEAR PART TWO ELUL - ADAR Published for the Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer Foundation and the Samson Raphael Hirsch Publications Society Philipp Feldheim, Inc. New York - Jerusalem

Transcript of SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH · 2010-02-21 · SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH The Collected Writings VOLUME II THE...

SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH

The Collected Writings VOLUME II

THE JEWISH YEAR PART TWO

ELUL - ADAR

Published for the Rabbi Dr Joseph Breuer Foundation

and the Samson Raphael Hirsch Publications Society

Philipp Feldheim Inc New York - Jerusalem

---- TAJ PAYMENT SYSTEM

Adar VI

ruu Cl 11(1-And Nelertheless The Great Enigma of World History

And nevertheless This is the age-old promise cited in a I(nlnO (1( illO) reflecting upon the perils and deliverance which Israel has experienced since the beginnings of its galuth Among these are the mortal danger and the miraculous rescue that are commemorated each year during the month of Adar

onl( n lil onl On~ll( onol(o 1( Oil1( fl( omit nl(t Ol l1(1 oli1( 1 )1( l-And yet nevertheless even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have 1rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il remain their God (Leviticus 2644)

This promise is the first half of the concluding sentence of a Biblical passage in which all of Jewish history with all its glories and sorrows was outlined even before so much as one day of it had come to pass Uttered at the cradle of the Jewish nation this passage depicts the centuries of horror through which the Jewish people will have to pass if it becomes unfaithful to its mission

Nothing is omitted from this picture fear and terror affliction and disease privation and hunger exile and despair and even the most horrible fate that could befall any person any class or any nationshythat they should become p accidental with no rights anywhere belonging nowhere with no one paying attention to their needs or claims tolerated only as long as the others those who consider themshyselves entitled to rights and freedom feel that this would bring them benefit or gain

All this is depicted in that dire prediction of Israels future The Children of Israel are seen in the enemy country they are charged with the theft of the very ground beneath their feet of the very air they breathe They are despised they have forfeited that which should have been their wisdom and their insight inthe eyes of the nations

421

422

~ ~

COLLECTED WRITINGS

the ideals that should have shown to the nations of the earth how the Name of God shines upon Israel and that should have won Israel the respect of the world They preferred to compete with the cavalries of the nations with the armed might of the princes with the politics and the political sagacity of the sovereign states They attempted to vie with the others on a level not permitted them when in fact it was their mission to teach the nations by their own example in life and history that such trappings of material power are secondary transitory and wanting

And so the Children of Israel lost the respect of the nations with whose physical prowess they were never meant to compete Because they regarded the very core of their existence as merely accidental they were repaid measure for measure in that their existence truly became accidental in the midst of an arrogant mankind armed with violence which could only see that the exiles who accidentally had been scattered among them lacked the foundation upon which they the nations of the world had built their glory and greatness There is among the nations no eye which appreciates that quiet grandeur that everlasting might which should shine all the more brightly during the dark periods of Israels history an ideal which-if only the exiles themselves had perceived it as their one true remaining treasure-would have placed Israel as a shining light upon the horizon and would have presented even these remnants to thinking men as the miracle nation worthy of their respect

The nations aware that Israel does not have what they consider the trappings of power do not understand the greatness which Israel does in fact possess Therefore Israel finds itself despised in enemy country without personal and civil rights scorned as a lowly worm among earths creatures The Biblical prediction portrays the Children of Israel as rejected everywhere a foreign body disruptive troubleshysome an obstacle to the unity of the host nation intruders whom the nation 171 must literally eliminate or disgorge if it is to regain its balance

The Jews are the only element that cannot be absorbed by the state they are a problem for which political wisdom cannot find a solution

See the authors rendering of Leviticus 2640-41 in his Commentary they have walked with Me (only) by chance as compared to the conventional English rendering they have walked contrary to Me [Ed]

-an entity whlJ type p)licy ] tered abro2 a nation that jc

apart frorr 1

and custorr5 J

every peop l pattern of tte l aspect of its ~ii

do they kee~ 1 that there is ( state that ij be will opeshyand prisors that there i5 21

one authormiddot 1 is therefore J that all thi-euros look to the 5

enables anmiddot ~ authority Cmiddot~_l

profit the As a C0-50e

over the cc tnought an f these exiles a livelihooc u aim of the JI

diminish tel 0)1( -- bull

The ing him tC ~lI

objective seductia1 i

That whi 21 l

persister JI

may be 51 l

the air b~

s _J IO the nations of the earth how the ~i~le and that should have won Israel the -==~red to compete with the cavalries of

f - of the princes with the politics and r smiddotereign states They attempted to vie c -=~nitted them when in fact it was their $ =- _heir own example in life and history t2 ower are secondary transitory and

H5-lel lost the respect of the nations with e -J ere never meant to compete Because heir existence as merely accidental ~ neasure in that their existence truiy ~ nast of an arrogant mankind armed - ~ee that the exiles who accidentally en acked the foundation upon which J~~ had built their glory and greatness Egt eye which appreciates that quiet

- which should shine all the more ~SJf Israels history an ideal which-if li -r~ived it as their one true remaining f 5-e1 as a shining light upon the horizon r~ ese remnants to thinking men as the e ~espect

$e Coes not have what they consider the csa1d the greatness which Israel does Ue _iinds itself despised in enemy rr-l nghts scorned as a lowly worm 3 ~ ica] prediction portrays the Children ~-e a foreign body disruptive troubleshyt- Llte host nation intruders whom the 1C=ate or disgorge if it is to regain its

re that -annot be absorbed by the state I cal wisdom cannot find a solution

l--s 2640-41 in his Commentary _ they tLl as compared to the conventional English c--- 0 ~e_ [Ed]

ADAR VI 423

an entity which no political authority can encompass Any Hamanshytype policy will treat them as C~lIi1 rl )l) fDl) ClI (a people scatshytered abroad and dispersed among the peoples-Esther 3 8) a nation that despite its dispersion stubbornly insists on remaining apart from all the other nations a nation that with its strange laws and customs ClI )~ ml1I1 Ci1m (their laws are different from those of every people) has introduced a foreign element into the orderly pattern of the host countrys development By refusing to submit every aspect of its life to the laws of the king C1I1l7 ClN 1tll M nN (neither do they keep the kings laws-) this nation of course demonstrates that there is indeed one area that cannot be touched by the laws of the state that eludes governmental regulations one entity which if need be will openly resist the kings power defying the terrors of shackles and prisons torture and execution This nation proclaims the truth that there is one power before which even a kings majesty fades away one authority before which the might of sovereign states evaporates It is therefore the most eloquent protest against the absurd notion that all things including man with his God and his conscience must look to the state for the license to exist Such a nation naturally enables any Haman to label it as a group whom the kings absolute authority cannot afford to tolerate Cnl1l m1l1 TN 1l) (it does not profit the king to tolerate them-Esther 3 9)

As a consequence the description of Israels future predicts that over the centuries to come nations and statesmen will not devote thought and effort to finding ways of dealing justly and humanely with these exiles in their midst promoting their prosperity affording them a livelihood and aiding them in their pursuit of happiness Instead the aim of the nations and their leaders will be cn) to destroy them to diminish them to wear them down until they cease to exist

tnlN In) (let it be written that they be destroyed-Esther 3 9) The purblind policy of Haman was to demand a royal decree authorizshying him to exterminate the Jews Antiochus sought to attain the same objective with a sword in his right hand and with all the cunning of seduction in his left appealing to the senses and befuddling the mind That which cannot be exterminated physically by murder could well be vanquished morally by diabolical gentle seduction a policy that persistently employs both violence and temptation to achieve its ends may be sure of success This is indeed the policy which has poisoned the air breathed by the unfortunate exiles over hundreds and even

424

---- COLLECTED WRITISGS

thousands of years Hamans example is followed only from time to time if someones patience has worn thin or if a Haman runs afoul of a Mordecai and seeks to slake a base thirst for revenge or an even more sordid avarice under the guise of concern for the welfare of his country By and large the atmosphere in which the history of the exiles unfolds follows the pattern set by Antiochus The unfortunates have been subjected to the pressures and the ridicule of crude force on the one hand and the satanic smile of seductive temptation on the other in the hope that they will be destroyed physically and morally at the same time

And then the Roman-Christian world took a certain book from the hands of that very despised and rejected nation which had been marked for destruction and hailed this book as a promise of the worlds redemption and of their own deliverance from the corruption of paganism The adherents of this creed even began to worship a son of these exiles as their divine savior and to revere that book and that son as the foundation of all future civilizations and of the advancement of salvation on earth Then they felt they could no longer dismiss out of hand the suggestion that the origin the destiny the history and the teachings of these scattered exiles had been attended by a special Divine element At that point the urge to destroy the Jews was given an intellectual rationalization the Divine element that had been manifest in these exiles had become a thing of the past the Jews themshyselves had cast it aside and therefore God had scattered them among the nations Onl( n1 1lil to break My covenant with them

At one time it was claimed the Jews had indeed been the Chosen People whom God had blessed and found worthy of bringing about the salvation of the world But now they are the pariahs whQm God Himself has despised and rejected He Himself has canceled His covenant with them and marked them for destruction Therefore those who hate oppress and persecute the Jews are performing a sacred task that is pleasing to God il 01() il 11f1rJ (They that rule over them bring them misery in the name of God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit which might have salvaged the fate of the Jews had turned the hatred and persecution of Jews into a religion thus cutting off even the last hope of the exiles

The Biblical promise foresees all these developments nl( Ol ~I(

il 11( j onl( n1 1lil onj Cnll 1lt cnOl(rJ 1( OillK f1Kl omil

cPIlt nevertheless even though they are in enemy country I have

not de5~ to brea knnr did no -j the da ~ it shail -t

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their hee become J

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the pomiddoteshyRome ye-c deprave II

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stand toricai its ragin the mics grudgirt_ (Exodus ~

them- them a-_ upon the= kept His ~

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history to Go 1 enigm2 priori histor1 (He tl- the one G cible I

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~ ~ nple is followed only from time to e JrTI thin or if a Haman runs afoul of r E~ base thirst for revenge or an even e- of concern for the welfare of his - - sgtere in which the history of the exiles - y Antiochus The unfortunates have So _~s 21d the ridicule of crude force on the E= of seductive temptation on the other [ ~ 5royed physically and morally at th

L-_ ian world took a certain book from 5~ and rejected nation which had been

~ailed this book as a promise of the --~~ own deliverance from the corruption E - 15 creed even began to worship a son -~ 5~-iar and to revere that book and that L middot~e civilizations and of the advancement

ie e Eel t they could no longer dismiss out ~ -e rigin the destiny the history and the e-emiddot edes had been attended by a special t ~1 urge to destroy the Jews was given l2 ~e Divine element that had been ~L -21 a thing of the past the Jews themshyl _~e-ore God had scattered them among t- 2 creak My covenant with them ~-- -e ie Jews had indeed been the Chosen ~ -5 and found worthy of bringing about

3_ -middot)W they are the pariahs whom God lt ~e~eed He Himself has canceied His =~~e hem for destruction Therefore those _e he Jews are performing a sacred task - lt -0 111) (They that rule over them = 0 God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit = ate of the Jews had turned the hatred ~ eligion thus cutting off even the last

- see all these developments nKl Ol lK ~- -~~ X 0110X N OilJK fKI Omill

- ~ they are in enemy country I have

ADAR VI 425

not despised them nor have I rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il rem~in their God As the Itnl11 explains I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans I did not reject them in the days of Haman to destroy them utterly in the days of the Syrian Greeks to break My covenant with them for I il shall remain their God for that future in which no state and no nation will have power over them any longer It 0111)j 1 0110X x 11111 Oi1vX il lX 07) 7)1 011K l11 1)i1 Ol 7)1 011j 17)il 7)1 0113)

Oill 1l7 ilj 111) ilK 7l rK1I) KI (Yalkut) Even if they have lost their homeland even if they are strangers in enemy country I have not become their enemy They have not lost Me they still have Me Even if all the shrewdness of the Chaldeans all the trickery of the Greeks all the power of the Persians and all the secular and clerical prowess of Rome were to join forces to portray this nation as the most despicable depraved nation on earth they would not succeed They will never be able to destroy it not even spiritually they will never succeed in erasing Israels spiritual God-ordained significance from the minds of men-not even from their own Much against their will though they may have stormed at Israel over centuries they will ultimately have to stand hat in hand filled with awe and admiration before the hisshytorical phenomenon of this nation Israels miraculous survival amidst its raging foes its wonderful resilience its spiritual and moral vigor in the midst of all its sufferings will force its enemies to concede grudgingly that this is indeed the finger of God K1il OVK 17llrX

(Exodus 815) God was with the Children of Israel-and within them-not only in the remote Biblical past in Palestine but He is with them and within them still even today amidst the woes inflicted upon them by European perversity He said OilPK il lK l and He has kept His promise

The words and nevertheless in Gods promise and indeed in the reluctant concession by the nations have transformed the whole history of the Jewish people in galuth into a most glorious monument to God They have set up this nation in its dispersion as the great enigma of world history that defies all predictions demolishes all a priori concepts of history and mocks the statistical pragmatism of historians a nation that compellingly proclaims God 1l7K mn KP

(He that called the generations from the beginning -Isaiah 41 4) as the one Guide of all human destiny and morality as the sole invinshycible indestructible force in the lives of men and nations

426

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COLLECTED WRITINGS

However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

011 1)1 onl 1l101C1 )1) Oi n7)Yil1) 11)i 7)1 OlIYllC 1T11 1C1)1) lln

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(Ilt n 07l7)) m1 ))m 11 eJi n17)YitI I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans for I raised for them Daniel Chananiah Mishael and Azariah I did not reject them in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordechai and Esther I did not allow them to be utterly destroyed in the days of the Greeks for I raised for them Simon the Just the Hasmonean and his sons and the High Priest Mattathias I did not break My covenant with them in the days of the Romans for I

raised for thee ~= - tions

This is h~ - that God 35 ~ ~J

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and His prOle = despised or ree~e never broke ns gt~ of our exile He~

deliverance re- 3

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that should oC were forced ~ d this misf orar - as a result cmiddotf 1==1 because Is2 = from Gods Lmiddot J prophet whe ~ i before the d52r themselves oes last spark 01 e --1 and partkt~ 1l

Neyers Jewish eli bull - nobles-D = them in Cr among e J Chanania - ~ made eOCE Cl

stood firm = 1

of the king l

f middotmiddotmiddot~middot middotmiddotmiddot iiirU)JL

ely skim the surface it does II 5t ga[uth history in the light of the c~ 2 he survival of Gods covenant ha Israel in dispersion did not ~e2n5 to the arrogance of Persia to z ~ 2 1e sliord of Rome The XnllI1

t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

r 5 ith him and the homage to a king IV Oif n1I)YillV OlVl 1)1 0l10XI) x

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

them fIOIT ll

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

more than i- - on ute~ 5I

spirituall ~C51 resolveu c ~ ~~ i

the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

and the Je ~S~ J

view was Ce~~I both the e- conver ls~

cause for ie~

could see - toward He=c selves uci appealed J

chus wr~J a members 2

campaign 2 educated- l

cause of R~ educatior

~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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force if necessary

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

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e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

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Adar VI

ruu Cl 11(1-And Nelertheless The Great Enigma of World History

And nevertheless This is the age-old promise cited in a I(nlnO (1( illO) reflecting upon the perils and deliverance which Israel has experienced since the beginnings of its galuth Among these are the mortal danger and the miraculous rescue that are commemorated each year during the month of Adar

onl( n lil onl On~ll( onol(o 1( Oil1( fl( omit nl(t Ol l1(1 oli1( 1 )1( l-And yet nevertheless even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have 1rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il remain their God (Leviticus 2644)

This promise is the first half of the concluding sentence of a Biblical passage in which all of Jewish history with all its glories and sorrows was outlined even before so much as one day of it had come to pass Uttered at the cradle of the Jewish nation this passage depicts the centuries of horror through which the Jewish people will have to pass if it becomes unfaithful to its mission

Nothing is omitted from this picture fear and terror affliction and disease privation and hunger exile and despair and even the most horrible fate that could befall any person any class or any nationshythat they should become p accidental with no rights anywhere belonging nowhere with no one paying attention to their needs or claims tolerated only as long as the others those who consider themshyselves entitled to rights and freedom feel that this would bring them benefit or gain

All this is depicted in that dire prediction of Israels future The Children of Israel are seen in the enemy country they are charged with the theft of the very ground beneath their feet of the very air they breathe They are despised they have forfeited that which should have been their wisdom and their insight inthe eyes of the nations

421

422

~ ~

COLLECTED WRITINGS

the ideals that should have shown to the nations of the earth how the Name of God shines upon Israel and that should have won Israel the respect of the world They preferred to compete with the cavalries of the nations with the armed might of the princes with the politics and the political sagacity of the sovereign states They attempted to vie with the others on a level not permitted them when in fact it was their mission to teach the nations by their own example in life and history that such trappings of material power are secondary transitory and wanting

And so the Children of Israel lost the respect of the nations with whose physical prowess they were never meant to compete Because they regarded the very core of their existence as merely accidental they were repaid measure for measure in that their existence truly became accidental in the midst of an arrogant mankind armed with violence which could only see that the exiles who accidentally had been scattered among them lacked the foundation upon which they the nations of the world had built their glory and greatness There is among the nations no eye which appreciates that quiet grandeur that everlasting might which should shine all the more brightly during the dark periods of Israels history an ideal which-if only the exiles themselves had perceived it as their one true remaining treasure-would have placed Israel as a shining light upon the horizon and would have presented even these remnants to thinking men as the miracle nation worthy of their respect

The nations aware that Israel does not have what they consider the trappings of power do not understand the greatness which Israel does in fact possess Therefore Israel finds itself despised in enemy country without personal and civil rights scorned as a lowly worm among earths creatures The Biblical prediction portrays the Children of Israel as rejected everywhere a foreign body disruptive troubleshysome an obstacle to the unity of the host nation intruders whom the nation 171 must literally eliminate or disgorge if it is to regain its balance

The Jews are the only element that cannot be absorbed by the state they are a problem for which political wisdom cannot find a solution

See the authors rendering of Leviticus 2640-41 in his Commentary they have walked with Me (only) by chance as compared to the conventional English rendering they have walked contrary to Me [Ed]

-an entity whlJ type p)licy ] tered abro2 a nation that jc

apart frorr 1

and custorr5 J

every peop l pattern of tte l aspect of its ~ii

do they kee~ 1 that there is ( state that ij be will opeshyand prisors that there i5 21

one authormiddot 1 is therefore J that all thi-euros look to the 5

enables anmiddot ~ authority Cmiddot~_l

profit the As a C0-50e

over the cc tnought an f these exiles a livelihooc u aim of the JI

diminish tel 0)1( -- bull

The ing him tC ~lI

objective seductia1 i

That whi 21 l

persister JI

may be 51 l

the air b~

s _J IO the nations of the earth how the ~i~le and that should have won Israel the -==~red to compete with the cavalries of

f - of the princes with the politics and r smiddotereign states They attempted to vie c -=~nitted them when in fact it was their $ =- _heir own example in life and history t2 ower are secondary transitory and

H5-lel lost the respect of the nations with e -J ere never meant to compete Because heir existence as merely accidental ~ neasure in that their existence truiy ~ nast of an arrogant mankind armed - ~ee that the exiles who accidentally en acked the foundation upon which J~~ had built their glory and greatness Egt eye which appreciates that quiet

- which should shine all the more ~SJf Israels history an ideal which-if li -r~ived it as their one true remaining f 5-e1 as a shining light upon the horizon r~ ese remnants to thinking men as the e ~espect

$e Coes not have what they consider the csa1d the greatness which Israel does Ue _iinds itself despised in enemy rr-l nghts scorned as a lowly worm 3 ~ ica] prediction portrays the Children ~-e a foreign body disruptive troubleshyt- Llte host nation intruders whom the 1C=ate or disgorge if it is to regain its

re that -annot be absorbed by the state I cal wisdom cannot find a solution

l--s 2640-41 in his Commentary _ they tLl as compared to the conventional English c--- 0 ~e_ [Ed]

ADAR VI 423

an entity which no political authority can encompass Any Hamanshytype policy will treat them as C~lIi1 rl )l) fDl) ClI (a people scatshytered abroad and dispersed among the peoples-Esther 3 8) a nation that despite its dispersion stubbornly insists on remaining apart from all the other nations a nation that with its strange laws and customs ClI )~ ml1I1 Ci1m (their laws are different from those of every people) has introduced a foreign element into the orderly pattern of the host countrys development By refusing to submit every aspect of its life to the laws of the king C1I1l7 ClN 1tll M nN (neither do they keep the kings laws-) this nation of course demonstrates that there is indeed one area that cannot be touched by the laws of the state that eludes governmental regulations one entity which if need be will openly resist the kings power defying the terrors of shackles and prisons torture and execution This nation proclaims the truth that there is one power before which even a kings majesty fades away one authority before which the might of sovereign states evaporates It is therefore the most eloquent protest against the absurd notion that all things including man with his God and his conscience must look to the state for the license to exist Such a nation naturally enables any Haman to label it as a group whom the kings absolute authority cannot afford to tolerate Cnl1l m1l1 TN 1l) (it does not profit the king to tolerate them-Esther 3 9)

As a consequence the description of Israels future predicts that over the centuries to come nations and statesmen will not devote thought and effort to finding ways of dealing justly and humanely with these exiles in their midst promoting their prosperity affording them a livelihood and aiding them in their pursuit of happiness Instead the aim of the nations and their leaders will be cn) to destroy them to diminish them to wear them down until they cease to exist

tnlN In) (let it be written that they be destroyed-Esther 3 9) The purblind policy of Haman was to demand a royal decree authorizshying him to exterminate the Jews Antiochus sought to attain the same objective with a sword in his right hand and with all the cunning of seduction in his left appealing to the senses and befuddling the mind That which cannot be exterminated physically by murder could well be vanquished morally by diabolical gentle seduction a policy that persistently employs both violence and temptation to achieve its ends may be sure of success This is indeed the policy which has poisoned the air breathed by the unfortunate exiles over hundreds and even

424

---- COLLECTED WRITISGS

thousands of years Hamans example is followed only from time to time if someones patience has worn thin or if a Haman runs afoul of a Mordecai and seeks to slake a base thirst for revenge or an even more sordid avarice under the guise of concern for the welfare of his country By and large the atmosphere in which the history of the exiles unfolds follows the pattern set by Antiochus The unfortunates have been subjected to the pressures and the ridicule of crude force on the one hand and the satanic smile of seductive temptation on the other in the hope that they will be destroyed physically and morally at the same time

And then the Roman-Christian world took a certain book from the hands of that very despised and rejected nation which had been marked for destruction and hailed this book as a promise of the worlds redemption and of their own deliverance from the corruption of paganism The adherents of this creed even began to worship a son of these exiles as their divine savior and to revere that book and that son as the foundation of all future civilizations and of the advancement of salvation on earth Then they felt they could no longer dismiss out of hand the suggestion that the origin the destiny the history and the teachings of these scattered exiles had been attended by a special Divine element At that point the urge to destroy the Jews was given an intellectual rationalization the Divine element that had been manifest in these exiles had become a thing of the past the Jews themshyselves had cast it aside and therefore God had scattered them among the nations Onl( n1 1lil to break My covenant with them

At one time it was claimed the Jews had indeed been the Chosen People whom God had blessed and found worthy of bringing about the salvation of the world But now they are the pariahs whQm God Himself has despised and rejected He Himself has canceled His covenant with them and marked them for destruction Therefore those who hate oppress and persecute the Jews are performing a sacred task that is pleasing to God il 01() il 11f1rJ (They that rule over them bring them misery in the name of God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit which might have salvaged the fate of the Jews had turned the hatred and persecution of Jews into a religion thus cutting off even the last hope of the exiles

The Biblical promise foresees all these developments nl( Ol ~I(

il 11( j onl( n1 1lil onj Cnll 1lt cnOl(rJ 1( OillK f1Kl omil

cPIlt nevertheless even though they are in enemy country I have

not de5~ to brea knnr did no -j the da ~ it shail -t

nation J]

nl ---- Oil ~7-

their hee become J

if all tle 51

the pomiddoteshyRome ye-c deprave II

able to

erasing 15-1

men-f I

may ha

stand toricai its ragin the mics grudgirt_ (Exodus ~

them- them a-_ upon the= kept His ~

The shyin the i __

history to Go 1 enigm2 priori histor1 (He tl- the one G cible I

---- a - bull -- ~-J WRITINGS

~ ~ nple is followed only from time to e JrTI thin or if a Haman runs afoul of r E~ base thirst for revenge or an even e- of concern for the welfare of his - - sgtere in which the history of the exiles - y Antiochus The unfortunates have So _~s 21d the ridicule of crude force on the E= of seductive temptation on the other [ ~ 5royed physically and morally at th

L-_ ian world took a certain book from 5~ and rejected nation which had been

~ailed this book as a promise of the --~~ own deliverance from the corruption E - 15 creed even began to worship a son -~ 5~-iar and to revere that book and that L middot~e civilizations and of the advancement

ie e Eel t they could no longer dismiss out ~ -e rigin the destiny the history and the e-emiddot edes had been attended by a special t ~1 urge to destroy the Jews was given l2 ~e Divine element that had been ~L -21 a thing of the past the Jews themshyl _~e-ore God had scattered them among t- 2 creak My covenant with them ~-- -e ie Jews had indeed been the Chosen ~ -5 and found worthy of bringing about

3_ -middot)W they are the pariahs whom God lt ~e~eed He Himself has canceied His =~~e hem for destruction Therefore those _e he Jews are performing a sacred task - lt -0 111) (They that rule over them = 0 God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit = ate of the Jews had turned the hatred ~ eligion thus cutting off even the last

- see all these developments nKl Ol lK ~- -~~ X 0110X N OilJK fKI Omill

- ~ they are in enemy country I have

ADAR VI 425

not despised them nor have I rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il rem~in their God As the Itnl11 explains I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans I did not reject them in the days of Haman to destroy them utterly in the days of the Syrian Greeks to break My covenant with them for I il shall remain their God for that future in which no state and no nation will have power over them any longer It 0111)j 1 0110X x 11111 Oi1vX il lX 07) 7)1 011K l11 1)i1 Ol 7)1 011j 17)il 7)1 0113)

Oill 1l7 ilj 111) ilK 7l rK1I) KI (Yalkut) Even if they have lost their homeland even if they are strangers in enemy country I have not become their enemy They have not lost Me they still have Me Even if all the shrewdness of the Chaldeans all the trickery of the Greeks all the power of the Persians and all the secular and clerical prowess of Rome were to join forces to portray this nation as the most despicable depraved nation on earth they would not succeed They will never be able to destroy it not even spiritually they will never succeed in erasing Israels spiritual God-ordained significance from the minds of men-not even from their own Much against their will though they may have stormed at Israel over centuries they will ultimately have to stand hat in hand filled with awe and admiration before the hisshytorical phenomenon of this nation Israels miraculous survival amidst its raging foes its wonderful resilience its spiritual and moral vigor in the midst of all its sufferings will force its enemies to concede grudgingly that this is indeed the finger of God K1il OVK 17llrX

(Exodus 815) God was with the Children of Israel-and within them-not only in the remote Biblical past in Palestine but He is with them and within them still even today amidst the woes inflicted upon them by European perversity He said OilPK il lK l and He has kept His promise

The words and nevertheless in Gods promise and indeed in the reluctant concession by the nations have transformed the whole history of the Jewish people in galuth into a most glorious monument to God They have set up this nation in its dispersion as the great enigma of world history that defies all predictions demolishes all a priori concepts of history and mocks the statistical pragmatism of historians a nation that compellingly proclaims God 1l7K mn KP

(He that called the generations from the beginning -Isaiah 41 4) as the one Guide of all human destiny and morality as the sole invinshycible indestructible force in the lives of men and nations

426

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However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

011 1)1 onl 1l101C1 )1) Oi n7)Yil1) 11)i 7)1 OlIYllC 1T11 1C1)1) lln

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(Ilt n 07l7)) m1 ))m 11 eJi n17)YitI I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans for I raised for them Daniel Chananiah Mishael and Azariah I did not reject them in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordechai and Esther I did not allow them to be utterly destroyed in the days of the Greeks for I raised for them Simon the Just the Hasmonean and his sons and the High Priest Mattathias I did not break My covenant with them in the days of the Romans for I

raised for thee ~= - tions

This is h~ - that God 35 ~ ~J

tion in an Lres- ~l

and His prOle = despised or ree~e never broke ns gt~ of our exile He~

deliverance re- 3

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them (Jerer= succumbed [~ r~ 21 were exiled 3~ =l lay in ruins a e 1

had lost the _ Jgt

that should oC were forced ~ d this misf orar - as a result cmiddotf 1==1 because Is2 = from Gods Lmiddot J prophet whe ~ i before the d52r themselves oes last spark 01 e --1 and partkt~ 1l

Neyers Jewish eli bull - nobles-D = them in Cr among e J Chanania - ~ made eOCE Cl

stood firm = 1

of the king l

f middotmiddotmiddot~middot middotmiddotmiddot iiirU)JL

ely skim the surface it does II 5t ga[uth history in the light of the c~ 2 he survival of Gods covenant ha Israel in dispersion did not ~e2n5 to the arrogance of Persia to z ~ 2 1e sliord of Rome The XnllI1

t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

r 5 ith him and the homage to a king IV Oif n1I)YillV OlVl 1)1 0l10XI) x

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

them fIOIT ll

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

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the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

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of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

------US within 4 businesS dltlSS ltlftE

ATL ltlied Vi

432

force if necessary

ll) Jnn7)1 1lJ1 Xl17)Ulnl P111l

Already

thus arrayed dismounted from

campaigns (130 X7)1)

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COLLECTED WRITINGS

loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

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422

~ ~

COLLECTED WRITINGS

the ideals that should have shown to the nations of the earth how the Name of God shines upon Israel and that should have won Israel the respect of the world They preferred to compete with the cavalries of the nations with the armed might of the princes with the politics and the political sagacity of the sovereign states They attempted to vie with the others on a level not permitted them when in fact it was their mission to teach the nations by their own example in life and history that such trappings of material power are secondary transitory and wanting

And so the Children of Israel lost the respect of the nations with whose physical prowess they were never meant to compete Because they regarded the very core of their existence as merely accidental they were repaid measure for measure in that their existence truly became accidental in the midst of an arrogant mankind armed with violence which could only see that the exiles who accidentally had been scattered among them lacked the foundation upon which they the nations of the world had built their glory and greatness There is among the nations no eye which appreciates that quiet grandeur that everlasting might which should shine all the more brightly during the dark periods of Israels history an ideal which-if only the exiles themselves had perceived it as their one true remaining treasure-would have placed Israel as a shining light upon the horizon and would have presented even these remnants to thinking men as the miracle nation worthy of their respect

The nations aware that Israel does not have what they consider the trappings of power do not understand the greatness which Israel does in fact possess Therefore Israel finds itself despised in enemy country without personal and civil rights scorned as a lowly worm among earths creatures The Biblical prediction portrays the Children of Israel as rejected everywhere a foreign body disruptive troubleshysome an obstacle to the unity of the host nation intruders whom the nation 171 must literally eliminate or disgorge if it is to regain its balance

The Jews are the only element that cannot be absorbed by the state they are a problem for which political wisdom cannot find a solution

See the authors rendering of Leviticus 2640-41 in his Commentary they have walked with Me (only) by chance as compared to the conventional English rendering they have walked contrary to Me [Ed]

-an entity whlJ type p)licy ] tered abro2 a nation that jc

apart frorr 1

and custorr5 J

every peop l pattern of tte l aspect of its ~ii

do they kee~ 1 that there is ( state that ij be will opeshyand prisors that there i5 21

one authormiddot 1 is therefore J that all thi-euros look to the 5

enables anmiddot ~ authority Cmiddot~_l

profit the As a C0-50e

over the cc tnought an f these exiles a livelihooc u aim of the JI

diminish tel 0)1( -- bull

The ing him tC ~lI

objective seductia1 i

That whi 21 l

persister JI

may be 51 l

the air b~

s _J IO the nations of the earth how the ~i~le and that should have won Israel the -==~red to compete with the cavalries of

f - of the princes with the politics and r smiddotereign states They attempted to vie c -=~nitted them when in fact it was their $ =- _heir own example in life and history t2 ower are secondary transitory and

H5-lel lost the respect of the nations with e -J ere never meant to compete Because heir existence as merely accidental ~ neasure in that their existence truiy ~ nast of an arrogant mankind armed - ~ee that the exiles who accidentally en acked the foundation upon which J~~ had built their glory and greatness Egt eye which appreciates that quiet

- which should shine all the more ~SJf Israels history an ideal which-if li -r~ived it as their one true remaining f 5-e1 as a shining light upon the horizon r~ ese remnants to thinking men as the e ~espect

$e Coes not have what they consider the csa1d the greatness which Israel does Ue _iinds itself despised in enemy rr-l nghts scorned as a lowly worm 3 ~ ica] prediction portrays the Children ~-e a foreign body disruptive troubleshyt- Llte host nation intruders whom the 1C=ate or disgorge if it is to regain its

re that -annot be absorbed by the state I cal wisdom cannot find a solution

l--s 2640-41 in his Commentary _ they tLl as compared to the conventional English c--- 0 ~e_ [Ed]

ADAR VI 423

an entity which no political authority can encompass Any Hamanshytype policy will treat them as C~lIi1 rl )l) fDl) ClI (a people scatshytered abroad and dispersed among the peoples-Esther 3 8) a nation that despite its dispersion stubbornly insists on remaining apart from all the other nations a nation that with its strange laws and customs ClI )~ ml1I1 Ci1m (their laws are different from those of every people) has introduced a foreign element into the orderly pattern of the host countrys development By refusing to submit every aspect of its life to the laws of the king C1I1l7 ClN 1tll M nN (neither do they keep the kings laws-) this nation of course demonstrates that there is indeed one area that cannot be touched by the laws of the state that eludes governmental regulations one entity which if need be will openly resist the kings power defying the terrors of shackles and prisons torture and execution This nation proclaims the truth that there is one power before which even a kings majesty fades away one authority before which the might of sovereign states evaporates It is therefore the most eloquent protest against the absurd notion that all things including man with his God and his conscience must look to the state for the license to exist Such a nation naturally enables any Haman to label it as a group whom the kings absolute authority cannot afford to tolerate Cnl1l m1l1 TN 1l) (it does not profit the king to tolerate them-Esther 3 9)

As a consequence the description of Israels future predicts that over the centuries to come nations and statesmen will not devote thought and effort to finding ways of dealing justly and humanely with these exiles in their midst promoting their prosperity affording them a livelihood and aiding them in their pursuit of happiness Instead the aim of the nations and their leaders will be cn) to destroy them to diminish them to wear them down until they cease to exist

tnlN In) (let it be written that they be destroyed-Esther 3 9) The purblind policy of Haman was to demand a royal decree authorizshying him to exterminate the Jews Antiochus sought to attain the same objective with a sword in his right hand and with all the cunning of seduction in his left appealing to the senses and befuddling the mind That which cannot be exterminated physically by murder could well be vanquished morally by diabolical gentle seduction a policy that persistently employs both violence and temptation to achieve its ends may be sure of success This is indeed the policy which has poisoned the air breathed by the unfortunate exiles over hundreds and even

424

---- COLLECTED WRITISGS

thousands of years Hamans example is followed only from time to time if someones patience has worn thin or if a Haman runs afoul of a Mordecai and seeks to slake a base thirst for revenge or an even more sordid avarice under the guise of concern for the welfare of his country By and large the atmosphere in which the history of the exiles unfolds follows the pattern set by Antiochus The unfortunates have been subjected to the pressures and the ridicule of crude force on the one hand and the satanic smile of seductive temptation on the other in the hope that they will be destroyed physically and morally at the same time

And then the Roman-Christian world took a certain book from the hands of that very despised and rejected nation which had been marked for destruction and hailed this book as a promise of the worlds redemption and of their own deliverance from the corruption of paganism The adherents of this creed even began to worship a son of these exiles as their divine savior and to revere that book and that son as the foundation of all future civilizations and of the advancement of salvation on earth Then they felt they could no longer dismiss out of hand the suggestion that the origin the destiny the history and the teachings of these scattered exiles had been attended by a special Divine element At that point the urge to destroy the Jews was given an intellectual rationalization the Divine element that had been manifest in these exiles had become a thing of the past the Jews themshyselves had cast it aside and therefore God had scattered them among the nations Onl( n1 1lil to break My covenant with them

At one time it was claimed the Jews had indeed been the Chosen People whom God had blessed and found worthy of bringing about the salvation of the world But now they are the pariahs whQm God Himself has despised and rejected He Himself has canceled His covenant with them and marked them for destruction Therefore those who hate oppress and persecute the Jews are performing a sacred task that is pleasing to God il 01() il 11f1rJ (They that rule over them bring them misery in the name of God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit which might have salvaged the fate of the Jews had turned the hatred and persecution of Jews into a religion thus cutting off even the last hope of the exiles

The Biblical promise foresees all these developments nl( Ol ~I(

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~ ~ nple is followed only from time to e JrTI thin or if a Haman runs afoul of r E~ base thirst for revenge or an even e- of concern for the welfare of his - - sgtere in which the history of the exiles - y Antiochus The unfortunates have So _~s 21d the ridicule of crude force on the E= of seductive temptation on the other [ ~ 5royed physically and morally at th

L-_ ian world took a certain book from 5~ and rejected nation which had been

~ailed this book as a promise of the --~~ own deliverance from the corruption E - 15 creed even began to worship a son -~ 5~-iar and to revere that book and that L middot~e civilizations and of the advancement

ie e Eel t they could no longer dismiss out ~ -e rigin the destiny the history and the e-emiddot edes had been attended by a special t ~1 urge to destroy the Jews was given l2 ~e Divine element that had been ~L -21 a thing of the past the Jews themshyl _~e-ore God had scattered them among t- 2 creak My covenant with them ~-- -e ie Jews had indeed been the Chosen ~ -5 and found worthy of bringing about

3_ -middot)W they are the pariahs whom God lt ~e~eed He Himself has canceied His =~~e hem for destruction Therefore those _e he Jews are performing a sacred task - lt -0 111) (They that rule over them = 0 God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit = ate of the Jews had turned the hatred ~ eligion thus cutting off even the last

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- ~ they are in enemy country I have

ADAR VI 425

not despised them nor have I rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il rem~in their God As the Itnl11 explains I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans I did not reject them in the days of Haman to destroy them utterly in the days of the Syrian Greeks to break My covenant with them for I il shall remain their God for that future in which no state and no nation will have power over them any longer It 0111)j 1 0110X x 11111 Oi1vX il lX 07) 7)1 011K l11 1)i1 Ol 7)1 011j 17)il 7)1 0113)

Oill 1l7 ilj 111) ilK 7l rK1I) KI (Yalkut) Even if they have lost their homeland even if they are strangers in enemy country I have not become their enemy They have not lost Me they still have Me Even if all the shrewdness of the Chaldeans all the trickery of the Greeks all the power of the Persians and all the secular and clerical prowess of Rome were to join forces to portray this nation as the most despicable depraved nation on earth they would not succeed They will never be able to destroy it not even spiritually they will never succeed in erasing Israels spiritual God-ordained significance from the minds of men-not even from their own Much against their will though they may have stormed at Israel over centuries they will ultimately have to stand hat in hand filled with awe and admiration before the hisshytorical phenomenon of this nation Israels miraculous survival amidst its raging foes its wonderful resilience its spiritual and moral vigor in the midst of all its sufferings will force its enemies to concede grudgingly that this is indeed the finger of God K1il OVK 17llrX

(Exodus 815) God was with the Children of Israel-and within them-not only in the remote Biblical past in Palestine but He is with them and within them still even today amidst the woes inflicted upon them by European perversity He said OilPK il lK l and He has kept His promise

The words and nevertheless in Gods promise and indeed in the reluctant concession by the nations have transformed the whole history of the Jewish people in galuth into a most glorious monument to God They have set up this nation in its dispersion as the great enigma of world history that defies all predictions demolishes all a priori concepts of history and mocks the statistical pragmatism of historians a nation that compellingly proclaims God 1l7K mn KP

(He that called the generations from the beginning -Isaiah 41 4) as the one Guide of all human destiny and morality as the sole invinshycible indestructible force in the lives of men and nations

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However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

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t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

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of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

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1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

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Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

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among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

US witllIl4 businesS da3 ~r~r1 an

shy

EFTP$-_(e-r -~ 0 ~~

434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

-E ~rrGS

rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

s _J IO the nations of the earth how the ~i~le and that should have won Israel the -==~red to compete with the cavalries of

f - of the princes with the politics and r smiddotereign states They attempted to vie c -=~nitted them when in fact it was their $ =- _heir own example in life and history t2 ower are secondary transitory and

H5-lel lost the respect of the nations with e -J ere never meant to compete Because heir existence as merely accidental ~ neasure in that their existence truiy ~ nast of an arrogant mankind armed - ~ee that the exiles who accidentally en acked the foundation upon which J~~ had built their glory and greatness Egt eye which appreciates that quiet

- which should shine all the more ~SJf Israels history an ideal which-if li -r~ived it as their one true remaining f 5-e1 as a shining light upon the horizon r~ ese remnants to thinking men as the e ~espect

$e Coes not have what they consider the csa1d the greatness which Israel does Ue _iinds itself despised in enemy rr-l nghts scorned as a lowly worm 3 ~ ica] prediction portrays the Children ~-e a foreign body disruptive troubleshyt- Llte host nation intruders whom the 1C=ate or disgorge if it is to regain its

re that -annot be absorbed by the state I cal wisdom cannot find a solution

l--s 2640-41 in his Commentary _ they tLl as compared to the conventional English c--- 0 ~e_ [Ed]

ADAR VI 423

an entity which no political authority can encompass Any Hamanshytype policy will treat them as C~lIi1 rl )l) fDl) ClI (a people scatshytered abroad and dispersed among the peoples-Esther 3 8) a nation that despite its dispersion stubbornly insists on remaining apart from all the other nations a nation that with its strange laws and customs ClI )~ ml1I1 Ci1m (their laws are different from those of every people) has introduced a foreign element into the orderly pattern of the host countrys development By refusing to submit every aspect of its life to the laws of the king C1I1l7 ClN 1tll M nN (neither do they keep the kings laws-) this nation of course demonstrates that there is indeed one area that cannot be touched by the laws of the state that eludes governmental regulations one entity which if need be will openly resist the kings power defying the terrors of shackles and prisons torture and execution This nation proclaims the truth that there is one power before which even a kings majesty fades away one authority before which the might of sovereign states evaporates It is therefore the most eloquent protest against the absurd notion that all things including man with his God and his conscience must look to the state for the license to exist Such a nation naturally enables any Haman to label it as a group whom the kings absolute authority cannot afford to tolerate Cnl1l m1l1 TN 1l) (it does not profit the king to tolerate them-Esther 3 9)

As a consequence the description of Israels future predicts that over the centuries to come nations and statesmen will not devote thought and effort to finding ways of dealing justly and humanely with these exiles in their midst promoting their prosperity affording them a livelihood and aiding them in their pursuit of happiness Instead the aim of the nations and their leaders will be cn) to destroy them to diminish them to wear them down until they cease to exist

tnlN In) (let it be written that they be destroyed-Esther 3 9) The purblind policy of Haman was to demand a royal decree authorizshying him to exterminate the Jews Antiochus sought to attain the same objective with a sword in his right hand and with all the cunning of seduction in his left appealing to the senses and befuddling the mind That which cannot be exterminated physically by murder could well be vanquished morally by diabolical gentle seduction a policy that persistently employs both violence and temptation to achieve its ends may be sure of success This is indeed the policy which has poisoned the air breathed by the unfortunate exiles over hundreds and even

424

---- COLLECTED WRITISGS

thousands of years Hamans example is followed only from time to time if someones patience has worn thin or if a Haman runs afoul of a Mordecai and seeks to slake a base thirst for revenge or an even more sordid avarice under the guise of concern for the welfare of his country By and large the atmosphere in which the history of the exiles unfolds follows the pattern set by Antiochus The unfortunates have been subjected to the pressures and the ridicule of crude force on the one hand and the satanic smile of seductive temptation on the other in the hope that they will be destroyed physically and morally at the same time

And then the Roman-Christian world took a certain book from the hands of that very despised and rejected nation which had been marked for destruction and hailed this book as a promise of the worlds redemption and of their own deliverance from the corruption of paganism The adherents of this creed even began to worship a son of these exiles as their divine savior and to revere that book and that son as the foundation of all future civilizations and of the advancement of salvation on earth Then they felt they could no longer dismiss out of hand the suggestion that the origin the destiny the history and the teachings of these scattered exiles had been attended by a special Divine element At that point the urge to destroy the Jews was given an intellectual rationalization the Divine element that had been manifest in these exiles had become a thing of the past the Jews themshyselves had cast it aside and therefore God had scattered them among the nations Onl( n1 1lil to break My covenant with them

At one time it was claimed the Jews had indeed been the Chosen People whom God had blessed and found worthy of bringing about the salvation of the world But now they are the pariahs whQm God Himself has despised and rejected He Himself has canceled His covenant with them and marked them for destruction Therefore those who hate oppress and persecute the Jews are performing a sacred task that is pleasing to God il 01() il 11f1rJ (They that rule over them bring them misery in the name of God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit which might have salvaged the fate of the Jews had turned the hatred and persecution of Jews into a religion thus cutting off even the last hope of the exiles

The Biblical promise foresees all these developments nl( Ol ~I(

il 11( j onl( n1 1lil onj Cnll 1lt cnOl(rJ 1( OillK f1Kl omil

cPIlt nevertheless even though they are in enemy country I have

not de5~ to brea knnr did no -j the da ~ it shail -t

nation J]

nl ---- Oil ~7-

their hee become J

if all tle 51

the pomiddoteshyRome ye-c deprave II

able to

erasing 15-1

men-f I

may ha

stand toricai its ragin the mics grudgirt_ (Exodus ~

them- them a-_ upon the= kept His ~

The shyin the i __

history to Go 1 enigm2 priori histor1 (He tl- the one G cible I

---- a - bull -- ~-J WRITINGS

~ ~ nple is followed only from time to e JrTI thin or if a Haman runs afoul of r E~ base thirst for revenge or an even e- of concern for the welfare of his - - sgtere in which the history of the exiles - y Antiochus The unfortunates have So _~s 21d the ridicule of crude force on the E= of seductive temptation on the other [ ~ 5royed physically and morally at th

L-_ ian world took a certain book from 5~ and rejected nation which had been

~ailed this book as a promise of the --~~ own deliverance from the corruption E - 15 creed even began to worship a son -~ 5~-iar and to revere that book and that L middot~e civilizations and of the advancement

ie e Eel t they could no longer dismiss out ~ -e rigin the destiny the history and the e-emiddot edes had been attended by a special t ~1 urge to destroy the Jews was given l2 ~e Divine element that had been ~L -21 a thing of the past the Jews themshyl _~e-ore God had scattered them among t- 2 creak My covenant with them ~-- -e ie Jews had indeed been the Chosen ~ -5 and found worthy of bringing about

3_ -middot)W they are the pariahs whom God lt ~e~eed He Himself has canceied His =~~e hem for destruction Therefore those _e he Jews are performing a sacred task - lt -0 111) (They that rule over them = 0 God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit = ate of the Jews had turned the hatred ~ eligion thus cutting off even the last

- see all these developments nKl Ol lK ~- -~~ X 0110X N OilJK fKI Omill

- ~ they are in enemy country I have

ADAR VI 425

not despised them nor have I rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il rem~in their God As the Itnl11 explains I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans I did not reject them in the days of Haman to destroy them utterly in the days of the Syrian Greeks to break My covenant with them for I il shall remain their God for that future in which no state and no nation will have power over them any longer It 0111)j 1 0110X x 11111 Oi1vX il lX 07) 7)1 011K l11 1)i1 Ol 7)1 011j 17)il 7)1 0113)

Oill 1l7 ilj 111) ilK 7l rK1I) KI (Yalkut) Even if they have lost their homeland even if they are strangers in enemy country I have not become their enemy They have not lost Me they still have Me Even if all the shrewdness of the Chaldeans all the trickery of the Greeks all the power of the Persians and all the secular and clerical prowess of Rome were to join forces to portray this nation as the most despicable depraved nation on earth they would not succeed They will never be able to destroy it not even spiritually they will never succeed in erasing Israels spiritual God-ordained significance from the minds of men-not even from their own Much against their will though they may have stormed at Israel over centuries they will ultimately have to stand hat in hand filled with awe and admiration before the hisshytorical phenomenon of this nation Israels miraculous survival amidst its raging foes its wonderful resilience its spiritual and moral vigor in the midst of all its sufferings will force its enemies to concede grudgingly that this is indeed the finger of God K1il OVK 17llrX

(Exodus 815) God was with the Children of Israel-and within them-not only in the remote Biblical past in Palestine but He is with them and within them still even today amidst the woes inflicted upon them by European perversity He said OilPK il lK l and He has kept His promise

The words and nevertheless in Gods promise and indeed in the reluctant concession by the nations have transformed the whole history of the Jewish people in galuth into a most glorious monument to God They have set up this nation in its dispersion as the great enigma of world history that defies all predictions demolishes all a priori concepts of history and mocks the statistical pragmatism of historians a nation that compellingly proclaims God 1l7K mn KP

(He that called the generations from the beginning -Isaiah 41 4) as the one Guide of all human destiny and morality as the sole invinshycible indestructible force in the lives of men and nations

426

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COLLECTED WRITINGS

However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

011 1)1 onl 1l101C1 )1) Oi n7)Yil1) 11)i 7)1 OlIYllC 1T11 1C1)1) lln

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(Ilt n 07l7)) m1 ))m 11 eJi n17)YitI I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans for I raised for them Daniel Chananiah Mishael and Azariah I did not reject them in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordechai and Esther I did not allow them to be utterly destroyed in the days of the Greeks for I raised for them Simon the Just the Hasmonean and his sons and the High Priest Mattathias I did not break My covenant with them in the days of the Romans for I

raised for thee ~= - tions

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Neyers Jewish eli bull - nobles-D = them in Cr among e J Chanania - ~ made eOCE Cl

stood firm = 1

of the king l

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ely skim the surface it does II 5t ga[uth history in the light of the c~ 2 he survival of Gods covenant ha Israel in dispersion did not ~e2n5 to the arrogance of Persia to z ~ 2 1e sliord of Rome The XnllI1

t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

r 5 ith him and the homage to a king IV Oif n1I)YillV OlVl 1)1 0l10XI) x

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

more than i- - on ute~ 5I

spirituall ~C51 resolveu c ~ ~~ i

the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

and the Je ~S~ J

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~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

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Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

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to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

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with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

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the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

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world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

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Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

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~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

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e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

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424

---- COLLECTED WRITISGS

thousands of years Hamans example is followed only from time to time if someones patience has worn thin or if a Haman runs afoul of a Mordecai and seeks to slake a base thirst for revenge or an even more sordid avarice under the guise of concern for the welfare of his country By and large the atmosphere in which the history of the exiles unfolds follows the pattern set by Antiochus The unfortunates have been subjected to the pressures and the ridicule of crude force on the one hand and the satanic smile of seductive temptation on the other in the hope that they will be destroyed physically and morally at the same time

And then the Roman-Christian world took a certain book from the hands of that very despised and rejected nation which had been marked for destruction and hailed this book as a promise of the worlds redemption and of their own deliverance from the corruption of paganism The adherents of this creed even began to worship a son of these exiles as their divine savior and to revere that book and that son as the foundation of all future civilizations and of the advancement of salvation on earth Then they felt they could no longer dismiss out of hand the suggestion that the origin the destiny the history and the teachings of these scattered exiles had been attended by a special Divine element At that point the urge to destroy the Jews was given an intellectual rationalization the Divine element that had been manifest in these exiles had become a thing of the past the Jews themshyselves had cast it aside and therefore God had scattered them among the nations Onl( n1 1lil to break My covenant with them

At one time it was claimed the Jews had indeed been the Chosen People whom God had blessed and found worthy of bringing about the salvation of the world But now they are the pariahs whQm God Himself has despised and rejected He Himself has canceled His covenant with them and marked them for destruction Therefore those who hate oppress and persecute the Jews are performing a sacred task that is pleasing to God il 01() il 11f1rJ (They that rule over them bring them misery in the name of God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit which might have salvaged the fate of the Jews had turned the hatred and persecution of Jews into a religion thus cutting off even the last hope of the exiles

The Biblical promise foresees all these developments nl( Ol ~I(

il 11( j onl( n1 1lil onj Cnll 1lt cnOl(rJ 1( OillK f1Kl omil

cPIlt nevertheless even though they are in enemy country I have

not de5~ to brea knnr did no -j the da ~ it shail -t

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them- them a-_ upon the= kept His ~

The shyin the i __

history to Go 1 enigm2 priori histor1 (He tl- the one G cible I

---- a - bull -- ~-J WRITINGS

~ ~ nple is followed only from time to e JrTI thin or if a Haman runs afoul of r E~ base thirst for revenge or an even e- of concern for the welfare of his - - sgtere in which the history of the exiles - y Antiochus The unfortunates have So _~s 21d the ridicule of crude force on the E= of seductive temptation on the other [ ~ 5royed physically and morally at th

L-_ ian world took a certain book from 5~ and rejected nation which had been

~ailed this book as a promise of the --~~ own deliverance from the corruption E - 15 creed even began to worship a son -~ 5~-iar and to revere that book and that L middot~e civilizations and of the advancement

ie e Eel t they could no longer dismiss out ~ -e rigin the destiny the history and the e-emiddot edes had been attended by a special t ~1 urge to destroy the Jews was given l2 ~e Divine element that had been ~L -21 a thing of the past the Jews themshyl _~e-ore God had scattered them among t- 2 creak My covenant with them ~-- -e ie Jews had indeed been the Chosen ~ -5 and found worthy of bringing about

3_ -middot)W they are the pariahs whom God lt ~e~eed He Himself has canceied His =~~e hem for destruction Therefore those _e he Jews are performing a sacred task - lt -0 111) (They that rule over them = 0 God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit = ate of the Jews had turned the hatred ~ eligion thus cutting off even the last

- see all these developments nKl Ol lK ~- -~~ X 0110X N OilJK fKI Omill

- ~ they are in enemy country I have

ADAR VI 425

not despised them nor have I rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il rem~in their God As the Itnl11 explains I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans I did not reject them in the days of Haman to destroy them utterly in the days of the Syrian Greeks to break My covenant with them for I il shall remain their God for that future in which no state and no nation will have power over them any longer It 0111)j 1 0110X x 11111 Oi1vX il lX 07) 7)1 011K l11 1)i1 Ol 7)1 011j 17)il 7)1 0113)

Oill 1l7 ilj 111) ilK 7l rK1I) KI (Yalkut) Even if they have lost their homeland even if they are strangers in enemy country I have not become their enemy They have not lost Me they still have Me Even if all the shrewdness of the Chaldeans all the trickery of the Greeks all the power of the Persians and all the secular and clerical prowess of Rome were to join forces to portray this nation as the most despicable depraved nation on earth they would not succeed They will never be able to destroy it not even spiritually they will never succeed in erasing Israels spiritual God-ordained significance from the minds of men-not even from their own Much against their will though they may have stormed at Israel over centuries they will ultimately have to stand hat in hand filled with awe and admiration before the hisshytorical phenomenon of this nation Israels miraculous survival amidst its raging foes its wonderful resilience its spiritual and moral vigor in the midst of all its sufferings will force its enemies to concede grudgingly that this is indeed the finger of God K1il OVK 17llrX

(Exodus 815) God was with the Children of Israel-and within them-not only in the remote Biblical past in Palestine but He is with them and within them still even today amidst the woes inflicted upon them by European perversity He said OilPK il lK l and He has kept His promise

The words and nevertheless in Gods promise and indeed in the reluctant concession by the nations have transformed the whole history of the Jewish people in galuth into a most glorious monument to God They have set up this nation in its dispersion as the great enigma of world history that defies all predictions demolishes all a priori concepts of history and mocks the statistical pragmatism of historians a nation that compellingly proclaims God 1l7K mn KP

(He that called the generations from the beginning -Isaiah 41 4) as the one Guide of all human destiny and morality as the sole invinshycible indestructible force in the lives of men and nations

426

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However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

011 1)1 onl 1l101C1 )1) Oi n7)Yil1) 11)i 7)1 OlIYllC 1T11 1C1)1) lln

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(Ilt n 07l7)) m1 ))m 11 eJi n17)YitI I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans for I raised for them Daniel Chananiah Mishael and Azariah I did not reject them in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordechai and Esther I did not allow them to be utterly destroyed in the days of the Greeks for I raised for them Simon the Just the Hasmonean and his sons and the High Priest Mattathias I did not break My covenant with them in the days of the Romans for I

raised for thee ~= - tions

This is h~ - that God 35 ~ ~J

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and His prOle = despised or ree~e never broke ns gt~ of our exile He~

deliverance re- 3

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that should oC were forced ~ d this misf orar - as a result cmiddotf 1==1 because Is2 = from Gods Lmiddot J prophet whe ~ i before the d52r themselves oes last spark 01 e --1 and partkt~ 1l

Neyers Jewish eli bull - nobles-D = them in Cr among e J Chanania - ~ made eOCE Cl

stood firm = 1

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f middotmiddotmiddot~middot middotmiddotmiddot iiirU)JL

ely skim the surface it does II 5t ga[uth history in the light of the c~ 2 he survival of Gods covenant ha Israel in dispersion did not ~e2n5 to the arrogance of Persia to z ~ 2 1e sliord of Rome The XnllI1

t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

r 5 ith him and the homage to a king IV Oif n1I)YillV OlVl 1)1 0l10XI) x

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

them fIOIT ll

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

more than i- - on ute~ 5I

spirituall ~C51 resolveu c ~ ~~ i

the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

and the Je ~S~ J

view was Ce~~I both the e- conver ls~

cause for ie~

could see - toward He=c selves uci appealed J

chus wr~J a members 2

campaign 2 educated- l

cause of R~ educatior

~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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force if necessary

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

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~ ~ nple is followed only from time to e JrTI thin or if a Haman runs afoul of r E~ base thirst for revenge or an even e- of concern for the welfare of his - - sgtere in which the history of the exiles - y Antiochus The unfortunates have So _~s 21d the ridicule of crude force on the E= of seductive temptation on the other [ ~ 5royed physically and morally at th

L-_ ian world took a certain book from 5~ and rejected nation which had been

~ailed this book as a promise of the --~~ own deliverance from the corruption E - 15 creed even began to worship a son -~ 5~-iar and to revere that book and that L middot~e civilizations and of the advancement

ie e Eel t they could no longer dismiss out ~ -e rigin the destiny the history and the e-emiddot edes had been attended by a special t ~1 urge to destroy the Jews was given l2 ~e Divine element that had been ~L -21 a thing of the past the Jews themshyl _~e-ore God had scattered them among t- 2 creak My covenant with them ~-- -e ie Jews had indeed been the Chosen ~ -5 and found worthy of bringing about

3_ -middot)W they are the pariahs whom God lt ~e~eed He Himself has canceied His =~~e hem for destruction Therefore those _e he Jews are performing a sacred task - lt -0 111) (They that rule over them = 0 God-Isaiah 52 5) That spirit = ate of the Jews had turned the hatred ~ eligion thus cutting off even the last

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ADAR VI 425

not despised them nor have I rejected them to destroy them utterly to break My covenant with them for I il rem~in their God As the Itnl11 explains I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans I did not reject them in the days of Haman to destroy them utterly in the days of the Syrian Greeks to break My covenant with them for I il shall remain their God for that future in which no state and no nation will have power over them any longer It 0111)j 1 0110X x 11111 Oi1vX il lX 07) 7)1 011K l11 1)i1 Ol 7)1 011j 17)il 7)1 0113)

Oill 1l7 ilj 111) ilK 7l rK1I) KI (Yalkut) Even if they have lost their homeland even if they are strangers in enemy country I have not become their enemy They have not lost Me they still have Me Even if all the shrewdness of the Chaldeans all the trickery of the Greeks all the power of the Persians and all the secular and clerical prowess of Rome were to join forces to portray this nation as the most despicable depraved nation on earth they would not succeed They will never be able to destroy it not even spiritually they will never succeed in erasing Israels spiritual God-ordained significance from the minds of men-not even from their own Much against their will though they may have stormed at Israel over centuries they will ultimately have to stand hat in hand filled with awe and admiration before the hisshytorical phenomenon of this nation Israels miraculous survival amidst its raging foes its wonderful resilience its spiritual and moral vigor in the midst of all its sufferings will force its enemies to concede grudgingly that this is indeed the finger of God K1il OVK 17llrX

(Exodus 815) God was with the Children of Israel-and within them-not only in the remote Biblical past in Palestine but He is with them and within them still even today amidst the woes inflicted upon them by European perversity He said OilPK il lK l and He has kept His promise

The words and nevertheless in Gods promise and indeed in the reluctant concession by the nations have transformed the whole history of the Jewish people in galuth into a most glorious monument to God They have set up this nation in its dispersion as the great enigma of world history that defies all predictions demolishes all a priori concepts of history and mocks the statistical pragmatism of historians a nation that compellingly proclaims God 1l7K mn KP

(He that called the generations from the beginning -Isaiah 41 4) as the one Guide of all human destiny and morality as the sole invinshycible indestructible force in the lives of men and nations

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However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

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(Ilt n 07l7)) m1 ))m 11 eJi n17)YitI I did not despise them in the days of the Chaldeans for I raised for them Daniel Chananiah Mishael and Azariah I did not reject them in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordechai and Esther I did not allow them to be utterly destroyed in the days of the Greeks for I raised for them Simon the Just the Hasmonean and his sons and the High Priest Mattathias I did not break My covenant with them in the days of the Romans for I

raised for thee ~= - tions

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t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

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of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

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Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

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the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

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[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

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Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

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~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

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e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

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438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

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However the IClIlll1) does not merely skim the surface it does not simply review the phases of Jewish gauth history in the light of the Biblical promise it does not only trace the survival of Gods covenant with Israel through the historic fact that Israel in dispersion did not succumb to the power of the Chaldeans to the arrogance of Persia to the spirit of ancient Greece or to the sword of Rome The IClIlll7)

stresses that this is not the only proof of Gods almighty power and of the awe-inspiring protection He extends to Israel before the eyes of the nations (tIC 1C7)1 T O111-tl1P 1lIlIC111 Til Til 1rn11 Til Til) It delves deeply into the history of the centuries of Jewish galuth to show us in every generation that though Israel has strayed far from God God is still near to Israel and that though Israel has been dispersed among the nations God still desires His people True the fall of the Jewish state attests to the moral perversion and spiritual decline of the Jewish people But as the IClIln1) demonstrates to us the Jewish nation retained its moral and spiritual superiority and remained close to the awakening enlightening and reviving nearness of God Israels moral perversion and spiritual decline were never so complete that they could have destroyed that deep-rooted God-seeking core of life that deepshyseated loyalty which awaits irradiation from the light of God As a consequence Israel was able to produce in every age men imbued with the Jewish spirit and with Jewish loyalty men who by their teachings and their personal example by word and by action swept the whole nation along with them lifting it far above the pitfalls of perversion and corruption to the heights of learning and loyalty Israel won the respect of a hostile world forcing the astounded nations to realize that God is still not only with Israel but also within Israel so that even a mouth (Balaam) opened to curse Israel was forced to bless it 11 7) lIY11rn 11)Y 1PiC il (God is with him and the homage to a king is in him-Numbers 23 21) IC) Oil n17)Yil1) 01)) 1)1 OlIOIC7) IC

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

more than i- - on ute~ 5I

spirituall ~C51 resolveu c ~ ~~ i

the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

and the Je ~S~ J

view was Ce~~I both the e- conver ls~

cause for ie~

could see - toward He=c selves uci appealed J

chus wr~J a members 2

campaign 2 educated- l

cause of R~ educatior

~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

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long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

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a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

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ely skim the surface it does II 5t ga[uth history in the light of the c~ 2 he survival of Gods covenant ha Israel in dispersion did not ~e2n5 to the arrogance of Persia to z ~ 2 1e sliord of Rome The XnllI1

t ~- of Gods almighty power and of ie ~eds to Israel before the eyes of the ---~~~1l Til Til mIl Tilli1) It delves -=~-e5 of Jewish gaJuth to show us in Is~i ias strayed far from God God is

t~ Israel has been dispersed among rL5 ceople True the fall of the Jewish

~ ad spiritual decline of the Jewish 5e2s~ates to us the Jewish nation LL smiddotrlority and remained close to the -ltg learness of God Israels moral

lt ~e ever so complete that they could Kec God-seeking core of life that deepshyiaon from the light of God As a = roduce in every age men imbued Jewish loyalty men who by their

by word and by action swept lifting it far above the pitfalls of e eights of learning and loyalty Israel forcing the astounded nations to

Ih Israel but also within Israel so to curse Israel was forced to bless

r 5 ith him and the homage to a king IV Oif n1I)YillV OlVl 1)1 0l10XI) x

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-71 hI did not despise them in the days 0 them Daniel Chananiah Mishael en in the days of Haman for I raised c I did not allow them to be utterly Greeks for I raised for them Simon the crs and the High Priest Mattathias I hem in the days of the Romans for I

ADAK Vi 427

raised for them Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of later generashytions

This is how the xnlMl) explains the Biblical verse pointing out that God was not only with us and did not only save us from destrucshytion in all these trying stages of ga[uth history but that His nearness and His protection were demonstrated by the fact that He never despised or rejected us that He never marked us for destruction and never broke His covenant with us For even during the worst periods of our exile He created in our midst the tools to bring about our deliverance men who stood at the peak of the Jewish spirit and who knew even in the days of harsh trials how to raise their people to their own high moral and spiritual level through their teachings and their personal example

Was there ever a time when the cry onl I OXI) l God despised them (Jeremiah 6 30) seemed more justified than it was when Judah succumbed to the Chaldeans and when the princes and tribes of Judah were exiled to Babylonia The Sanctuary founded by God Himself lay in ruins and the throne established by God had been toppled Israel had lost the land that God had given to it The remnants of the nation that should have stood erect as a Divine Sanctuary among the nations were forced to dwell in the lands of their enemies Israel had brought this misfortune upon itself by its own acts the catastrophe had come as a result of Israels sins in accordance with Gods explicit sentence because Israel had opened its gates wide to idolatry and to defection from Gods Law If we read the admonitions and castigations of the prophet who had been sent to warn the people almost two centuries before the disaster struck and if we read how the kings conducted themselves despite the warnings we are led to believe that truly the last spark of the fire from Sinai had died within the heart of the nation and particularly in the hearts of its leaders and rulers

Nevertheless It was precisely from the royal family and the Jewish elite CI)l11li1 11)1 11lI)11 Yll) (and of the royal seed and of the nobles-Daniel I 3) that Nebuchadnezzar chose youths to train them in Chaldean studies and culture for service at his court But among these youths of royal lineage there were one Daniel one Chananiah one Mishael and one Azariah who when Israel in exile made contact with the customs and usages of its Babylonian overlords stood firm amidst the enticements of the gently caressing atmosphere of the kings court and showed to all future galuth generations how

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

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of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

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r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

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Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

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[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

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ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

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Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

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~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

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436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

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e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

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438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

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428 COLLECTED WRITINGS

Jewish youths and men should withstand tests such as these The kitchen at court whose delicacies these Jewish courtiers refused to sample the royal idol before which these Jewish men refused to bow the fiery furnace that could not deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah from their commitment and the threat of the lions jaw that could not keep Daniel from reciting his prayers three times each day even in the lions den-these were the shining reminders which in centuries to corne were to light for thousands upon thousands of Jewish souls the path that led them to embrace death with all its terrors for the sake of the loyalty they owed to God and to His Law To this day the story of Daniel at Belshazzars feast affords to Israel and to a marveling world a splendid example of Jewish spiritual nobility before which the power of kings and the erudition of savants pale into insignificance If a generation which was condemned to 11 and ml could produce men such as these then there could never be a generation despised by God not even during its worst periods of corruption Israel had sunk very low indeed by the measure of the high standard of its Divine mission but even in its worst time of demoralization it always shone brightly above the darkness that had enveloped the mind and spirit of a pagan world

Then carne 1lln 1) the days of Haman Not even by the waters of Babylon did all of Israel join in the Psalmists vow Ol1m 1nlIrnc ON (If I forget you 0 Jerusalem - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had remained standing unbowed before the kings pillar in the plain of Dura as described in the third chapter of Daniel (nllpII Ol nnl1)11 K they cast themselves down before the image in the plain of Dura-Kw-m 1raquo I nlll) And when the Babylonian empire was replaced by the mild regime of Persia which took pride in uniting so many different peoples and tongues beneath its scepter and which most graciously invited also the exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine of its imperial court the sons of Judah were unable to resist these blandishments In return for a condescending smile from crowned mortais they began to ignore basic precepts of Gods will (nraquooll 3m they partook of his banquet-J n-lll) They felt that in the face of so much kindness they no longer needed to cling to their rigid selfshyisolating loyalty to the Law One kind of tolerance they argued deserved another It seemed to them that whatever they might lose by forsaking Gods covenant would be amply compensated by their future friendships with princes and nations-until Haman roused

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

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of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

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1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

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Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

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[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

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[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

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nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

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Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

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i

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

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but only j ~

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e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

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e sould withstand tests such as these The r~ =-elcacles these Jewish courtiers refused to ~e which these Jewish men refused to bow

C __ C ot deter Chananiah Mishael and Azariah t j ~he threat of the lions jaw that could not =~ ~r~yers three times each day even in the _=e snmlng reminders which in centuries to sands upon thousands of Jewish souls the ~e death with all its terrors for the sake of _~ J_~nd to His Law To this day the story of Ie l~rds to Israel and to a marveling world ~ 5 Slfltual nobility before which the power l Oi savants pale into insignificance If a c e1ned to JJm and ml could prod _ uce men r d never be a generation despised b s ~ ~5t periods of corruption Israel had sun~ = --2sure of the high standard of its Divine ~5 tIme of demoralization it always shone C~5 1t had enveloped the mind and spirit of

hs of Haman Not even by the waters of ~ 1 he Psalmists vow 0lIi1 1nllliN ON (If le= - Psalms 1375) Not every Jew had ~ e Jefore the kings pillar in the plain of It =0 chapter of Daniel (n17pJJ 03 1mnlZlil

e3 Own before the image in the plain of r -nd when the Babylonian empire was C PersIa which took pride in uniting so ilt - cngues beneath its scepter and h h bull W IC 15- e exiles of Judea to bask in the sunshine e 5 of Judah were unable to resist these t clndescending smile from crowned ~ 251C precepts of Gods will (1nn)~ 1lm

- rrl~) They felt that in the face of _ ger needed to cling to their rigid selfshy1 One kind of tolerance they argued

e them that whatever they might lose b t ould be amply compensated by thei~ =-middote~ and nations-until Haman roused

AOAR VI 429

them from the drunken stupor that would have ended in their death Haman shocked them into the realization that unfaithfulness to God would not buy Israel the lasting friendship of men

Jew-hatred cannot be bought off Regardless of whether you confront the Jew-hater as a whole Jew a half-Jew a quarter Jew or a one-eighth Jew even if you drink with him and dine at his table-as long as you have not become entirely one of his own you will remain for him the 1l1 T11pound)~1 TIpound)~ 017 the isolated nation that has set itself apart from the others by virtue of its religious laws

Indeed is the Jew-hater not right in his attitude with regard to half-Jews quarter Jews and one-eighth Jews If you are a whole Jew if you consider the Law of God inviolable in both theory and practice you can cite the will of God as your explanation for any behavior of yours that sets you apart from the non-Jew In that case the way oflife which separates you from the Gentile world cannot be ascribed to your arrogance or to any contempt on your part for non-Jewish ideas and practices it is not a creation of your own will and resolve but a discipline which you follow because God has commanded you to do so You can prove this to the Gentile from your Holy Scriptures which he himself may revere as Divine Law And in any event-if hatred were capable of logic and rationality-you could easily demonstrate to him the absurdity of the hatred he has for you supposedly because of your peCUliar alien way of life

But if you are no longer a whole Jew if you yourself no longer regard the Law of God as Divine holy and inviolable how will you answer the Jew-hater if he considers any observance you may have retained from that Law anything that still sets you apart from the nonmiddot Jew as nothing but proof of your obstinate arrogance How will you explain to him your failure to discard those remnants of Gods Law which you still observe your refusal to cease being a half-Jew and to become a complete Gentile You can no longer cite God in your support because you have refused Him your obedience by defecting from His Law Therefore it is no longer His will but only your pleasure that shapes your way of life Not God but only you yourself can now justify your behavior in the eyes of your Gentile neighbor Precisely by seating yourself at his table despite your Jewishness do you give Haman the license to slander you as a member of nN 017 llli (Ha certain people )

Such Hamanic periods of Jewish half-heartedness and consumshy

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

more than i- - on ute~ 5I

spirituall ~C51 resolveu c ~ ~~ i

the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

and the Je ~S~ J

view was Ce~~I both the e- conver ls~

cause for ie~

could see - toward He=c selves uci appealed J

chus wr~J a members 2

campaign 2 educated- l

cause of R~ educatior

~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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force if necessary

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

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by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

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folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

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but only j ~

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e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

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430 COLLECTED WRITINGS

mate Jew-hatred cause the Jewish people to appear as truly rejected as having forfeited both worlds It has broken its allegiance with God and failed to win the friendship of men The nations at whose doors it begs for admittance regard it as not yet ready for acceptance in their midst and therefore will not let it in Simultaneously Israel excluded itself from the Divine covenant that was meant to preserve and sustain it forever At such times Israel seems irretrievably lost hovering precariously between heaven and earth Nevertheless God declares nox i~ on n~Yn1l1 1~n ~I OnYl X7 I did not reject them even in the days of Haman for I raised for them Mordecai and Esther He raised Mordecai n 1I1X the Jewish man who as the Sages put it O)JI n) (was crowned by his dignity) who regarded Gods Law as his crown his pride and the source of his manly dignity Mordecai maintained his Judaism without comproshymise no matter what befell him He was a Jew in exile and he remained a Jew-and nothing but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen and minister to the king And just as he was the instrument of the physical deliverance of the Jewish people so too he became one of the most important o-workers in the spiritual upbuilding of the Jewish people for the impending millennia of exile God also raised Esther the lovely daughter of Judah who even on her way to the kings throne did not forget the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life in which she had been reared at her guardians home Even as queen of Persia she remained a Jewess risking her crown and her life to save her people

A generation capable of revering Mordecai and Esther as its pride and joy must still have had healthy roots and branches the spirit of vacillation and defection could not have been so deeply entrenched in Israel as one might have thought (I nl)-OJ xx 1I1Y x on)

The example set by Mordecai and Esther and the catastrophe almost wrought by Haman were sufficient to bring the Jews under Persian rule to their senses so much so that 1111111 nn~111nx nnil on p (the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor-Esther 816) they once again honored the n1n as their light and the ml~ as their joy their bliss and their glory Henceforth the Jews in the Persian-Babylonian exile cultivated ml) nn so diligently that Babylonian Jewry was able to produce such a man as Hillel who brought new life and a new flowering of Torah learning from the land of exile to the Jewish homeland

This brings -5

more than i- - on ute~ 5I

spirituall ~C51 resolveu c ~ ~~ i

the other h~ 1 spirits of ~ I

Israel He us ments 10 demiddot-Y Persian arF~ -l to believe th j

powers of the Cri zation to SilCC-

this convic tl sword and- as the river i

mature de 21 among theT5YI countries c -e

A few gee-3 certain of -~ merciless -~e the prbc ~ Syrian-Grt~ ~

and the Je ~S~ J

view was Ce~~I both the e- conver ls~

cause for ie~

could see - toward He=c selves uci appealed J

chus wr~J a members 2

campaign 2 educated- l

cause of R~ educatior

~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

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loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

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rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

~ ish people to appear as truly rejec~td 1 ~ js It has broken its allegiance vith Ged

of men The nations at whose dOOiS it p~ is not yet ready for acceptance in he L ~ et it in Simultaneously Israel excludeci llt that was meant to preserve and sustain i= ~5 Israel seems irretrievably lost hovenlg ~~ en and earth Nevertheless Goe

-- -~-f1V l)n CI llnfll x I did not for I raised for them Mordecai alC

r -~ i11 IVX the Jewish man who as the --- Iwas crowned by his dignity) who ~ 5 crown his pride and the source of his

1e2 aintained his Judaism without compioshyi eell him He was a Jew in exile and he 1 but a Jew-even as uncle to the queen L-ii And just as he was the instrument of the e Jewish people so too he became one of bullbull 2 rkers in the spiritual upbuilding of the

-ending millennia of exile God also raised li -er of Judah who even on her way to the t =ii the Jewish spirit and theJewish way of life --ie at her guardians home Even as queen of lt J55 risking her crown and her life to save her

G f rwering Mordecai and Esther as its pride j healthy roots and branches the spirit of ~ ~Quld not have been so deeply entrenched in hcught (In nlc-olD KK 1IVlI It lln) iordecai and Esther and the catastrophe

~-1 were sufficient to bring the Jews under ~xs 50 much so that llVlV nncIV n1K mlil o-r

and gladness and joy and honor-Esther - ~0~ored the or as their light and the mlC~ as their glory Henceforth the Jews in te ~1~e cultivated mlCO 111n so diligently that 2-lle to produce such a man as Hillel who ew flowering of Torah learning from the land

neland

ADAR VI 431

This brings us to the days of the Greeks Cl1 ) in which even more than in the days of Haman Israel seemed inexorably doomed to cnl utter destruction Haman having despaired of destroying Israel spiritually because Israel had proven stubborn and incorrigible had resolved to bring about its physical extermination The Greek ruler on the other hand believed that his gods could conquer the minds and spirits of all men and consequently should also be able to subdue Israel He used a combination of physical torture and material enticeshyments to destroy Israel both morally and spiritually Ever since the Persian armies had retreated before the Greeks the nations had come to believe that the European spirit would be able to overcome the powers of the Orient hey felt it to be the mission of European civilishyzation to subdue and Europeanize the peoples of the Orient Driven by this conviction the hero of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) drew his sword and by conquering all the nations in his path as far to the east as the river Indus turned his ideas into reality that not even his preshymature death could reverse entirely His generals divided his empire among themselves with the result that the wealthiest and most civilized countries of the Orient came under the rule of Greek dynasties

A few generations later there emerged a Greek ruler so fanatically certain of the worldwide triumph of Hellenism that he set out on a merciless ruthless campaign to enforce his visions ofvictory That was the prince under whose rule Judea too became a province of the Syrian-Greek empire Antiochus Epiphanes viewed the Jewish spirit and the Jewish way of life as an insult to the Hellenist spirit that in his view was destined to conquer the world He therefore decided to use both the enticements of seductions and the terrors of violence to convert Israel to his way of life or else to destroy it He had some cause for believing that he would be able to conquer the Jews for he could see that the elite of the Jewish state already clearly tended toward Hellenism There were priests and leaders who found themshyselves unable to resist the blandishments of Greek culture which appealed to their senses and the prospects of civil rights under Antioshychus which appealed to their self-interest As a matter of fact mem bers of the Jewish priestly caste had encouraged him to start his campaign of conversion And since the leaders of the nation the educated the intellectuals and the rich had already espoused the cause of Reform toward Hellenism in their own conduct and in the education of their children Antiochus could easily dismiss the peoples

------US within 4 businesS dltlSS ltlftE

ATL ltlied Vi

432

force if necessary

ll) Jnn7)1 1lJ1 Xl17)Ulnl P111l

Already

thus arrayed dismounted from

campaigns (130 X7)1)

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COLLECTED WRITINGS

loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

US witllIl4 businesS da3 ~r~r1 an

shy

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434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

-E ~rrGS

rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

------US within 4 businesS dltlSS ltlftE

ATL ltlied Vi

432

force if necessary

ll) Jnn7)1 1lJ1 Xl17)Ulnl P111l

Already

thus arrayed dismounted from

campaigns (130 X7)1)

EF1P$pound~7lIcfampj 1M Ai~middotmiddot-

COLLECTED WRITINGS

loyalty to the Torah as mob obstinacy that could be overcome-by

At that point en) Israels destruction certainly seemed close at hand nevertheless ]1l7)UI el r1)llUlOl1 )J en) OnllX1 onox7) x

when the Greek warrior (Alexander the Great) first triumphantly planted his foot in Palestine and goaded by politically inspired rancor and anti-Jewish innuendos marched on Jerusalem at the head of his armies Simon the Ju~t one of the last of that Great Assembly of which Mordecai had been one of the earliest members went forth in full high priestly garb to meet the conqueror And to the astonishment of his princes and his troops Alexander seeing Simon

his chariot and bowed low before Simon the Jewish High Priest explaining to his men that he saw in Simon the embodiment of the ideals that had inspired his own military

mm J7)n7)J n1 lXUI) lX1 lX m UI lpl

Thus at its very first contact with Judah the Hellenists sensed that at the Mediterranean gateway to Asia there was a spirit which would be able to overcome even the all-conquering spirit of ancient Greece Japhet would be forced to bow to Shem the Greek victory would serve only as a trailblazer for the spirit of Judaism

Antiochus Epiphanes Alexanders least worthy successor in his blind fanaticism had not thought of this He believed that he had already defeated the God of the Jews he had seized His temple His priests and His princess and now he sent forth his executioners to wipe out the loyal observance of Jewish Law also among the common people When it seemed that the destruction of the Jews was imminent and that there could be no plaCe where the light of the Jewish spirit might take refuge there suddenly burst forth in the midst of that spiritual night a flame of pure Divine inspiration It came from one family from the breast of one aged priest who dwelt in the mountains far away from the bustle of the capital There in the remote countryshyside he succeeded in keeping himself and his family close to God and to His Law At the hour of temptation he was able to confront the minions of the Greek god with such Divinely-inspired courage and with such enthusiasm for God and for His holy Law that his inspirashytion kindled the spirit of the entire nation which then rose up as one man to drive the Greek god and his royal satellite from Jewish soil Then the Jews proceeded to clear the last traces of the Hellenist evil from the territory of Gods Law And so once again an astounded

people and ii~ j

instructio n th3 = Jewish loyal 31

among te pe darkest bo~_ij family which - ~ tuary from the =-2i

to the heighs z Then came middothe

in galuth the RcJ the world and [~

postponed E] jJ

with the spiri withstood the enticements c 5j

politics of the R~3 themselves ineJ and soon Rome cr Jewish state i~z= within As a coy=-~ land They lost tlt dignity and the~ into the grouncs decay toward tn ~

The world [03

the differences t in their hatred - they set up their - and they incuk3 of faith that sOe rejected Jews T Catechism and ~ barred from GJj justice and c- -

Yet for 3 -l mercy did no crozier stones ~

burnings at the 0

world In all these emiddot

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

US witllIl4 businesS da3 ~r~r1 an

shy

EFTP$-_(e-r -~ 0 ~~

434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

-E ~rrGS

rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

_s-~2cy that could be overcome-b~

~uction certainly seemed close a -~ ~ 1)l Or~l 0371 X CMX~ I(

[ 2~ror (Alexander the Great) Ilrs - 2~estine and goaded by poiiticall i- - Jc1dos marched on Jerusalem a one of the last of that Grea ~ - been one of the earliest member ~2- lt meet the conqueror And to the lS t~oops Alexander seeing Simor = - chariot and bowed low before

to his men that he saw i e5 hat had inspired his own milita r- - lXlZll lIX lX lIT 71ZI llP c - Jildah the Hellenists sensed tha -a thee was a spirit which wo[d L-quering spirit of ancient Greece

_S-en the Greek victory would ser r Judaism l-ers least worthy successor in his r~-J this He believed that he had Ie s he had seized His temple His -e sent forth his executioners te ~ sh Law also among the commo ~ - ~ction of the Jews was imminent - ee the light of the Jewish spir Ie- Jrst forth in the midst of that -e inspiration It came from 01

~e who dwelt in the mountains There in the remote countshy

ls and his family close to God ard c 01 he was able to confront tie

I 2r Divinely-inspired courage anc lt His holy Law that his inspirashy-e -ation which then rose up as 01

[~ oyal satellite from Jewish sa - last traces of the Hellenist e l-d 50 once again an astounde

ADAR VI 433

people and their descendants were shown by way of consolat~on ~nd instruction that even in such peril of spiritual eclipse and extmctlOn Jewish loyalty and the Jewish spirit will never perish entirely from among the people of God cn~l In~37l X InONe X Even in Israels darkest hour God will find in the midst of His people a Hasmonean family which will be strong enough to raise His Law and His Sancshytuary from the most abject degradation from virtual elimination back to the heights of triumphant light and glory

Then came the final most critical phase in the history of the Jews in galuth the Roman galuth in which the Jews were scatte~ed all ver the world and the fulfillment of Israels destiny seemed mdefimtely postponed Even the scions of the Hasmonean fa~ily had ~roken faith with the spirit of their forebears They who dad so trIumphantly withstood the spirit of Hellenism proved to be no match for the enticements of self-indulgence and the temptations offered by the politics of the Roman Caesars The descendants of the Hasmneans themselves invited Rome to become Judeas patron and arbItrator and soon Romes iron foot succeeded in crushing the structure of the Jewish state from without because Israel had become hollow from withi~ As a consequence the sons of that nation had to leave the~r land They lost their home their morale and very soon also theIr dignity and their human rights They were swept farther an farther into the groundswell of a world in ferment a world strugglIng from decay toward the impending dawn of a new life

The world became increasingly hostile toward the Jews DespIte the differences that divided them the nations of the world were united in their hatred and contempt for the Jews Indeed before too long they set up their hostility to the Jews as a fiendish frin~iple of religion and they inculcated into their children from earlIest mfancy articles of faith that sowed the seeds of hatred and contempt for the accursed rejected Jews The Roman empire and the Roman Church the Catechism and the Codex presented the unfortunate Jews as panahs barred from Gods mercy and therefore also from any claim to human justice and compassion

Yet for all that Gods grace did not abandon them God m HIS mercy did not permit them to be destroyed Despite scepter and crozier stones and sticks ghettoes and prisons expulsions and burnings at the stake God preserved them as a wonderment to the world

In all these developments was Gods almighty promise rNT Cl lN

US witllIl4 businesS da3 ~r~r1 an

shy

EFTP$-_(e-r -~ 0 ~~

434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

-E ~rrGS

rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

US witllIl4 businesS da3 ~r~r1 an

shy

EFTP$-_(e-r -~ 0 ~~

434 COLLECTED WRITINGS

nevertheless fulfilled only by the protection He extended to the Jews from without Or was His supreme power not also demonstrated precisely during those centuries of utter darkness by the inner life which the Jews managed to unfold despite their misery Israels flowering from within during those dark ages is the most convincing proof for any thinking Jew (or non-Jew) that Tlltl OIWlII meT Cl 11lt1 Olllt 111 lllI 0117gt7 011gt71 It CIOItO 1t7 Oi1IK even though the Jews were in enemy country God had not despised them nor rejected them to destroy them utterly to break His covenant with them 111 llI7

mTI cgtm I 111 0i17 1l1t)~lI1t 00 01 Clllt

Consider the spiritual life which the Jews developed especially during the centuries of their Roman galuth Look upon the strength and happiness which this spiritual flowering brought us enlightening and ennobling our hearts and minds our domestic and communal lives See how this spiritual life and the strength and happiness it afforded us from within gave us the courage and perseverance to absorb every blow aimed at us from without Review before your minds eye the splendid procession of those men of the spirit whom God in His grace and loving kindness raised like pillars of fire to guide every generation in this our darkest period of gauth

Seeing these wonders what blind fumbling stupidity would assert in all seriousness that God had canceled His covenant with the Jews when they were dispersed in the lands of the Roman empire

Look at the exiles that were dispersed throughout the lands of the Roman empire and then look at the Roman empire which dispersed them Certainly Rome could proudly call herself the Eternal City and look down with contempt upon Israel whose very life-blood was draining away at her feet-Israel that nation which had dared to contest Romes mission to conquer and to save the world When Rome defeated Judea she stood at the pinnacle of her imperial power The fall of Jerusalem was one of the last conquests Rome won for her empire When Rome planted her eagles upon the hills of Zion a trembling world from Britannia in the north to Hispania in the west and Judea in the south paid tribute to Rome By that time Rome had already passed the climax of her glory She collapsed beneath the burden of her own weight because her colossus had become rotten from within

But even as Rome fell her spirit triumphed over those that had defeated her and before long the spirit of Rome had placed a double

yoke of dominion 07 e J

Roman law which en -- upon the peoples of E i relations with one arDC this day the talons of t~ R

lightning terrestrial a le-ti and religious life of ClgtiZci Ii

Esau be right to comide ~ei

earth Would it not be s blessing and the covena 1

nation of Jacob a natc it from its homeland and ct ] church had debarred cr lI

grace Would the geniu Fl scornful arrogance ttal Gc ) OOIt IT11 )i17 in orde 0 ~ Israel

Yet for all that eec u of Rome upon his neck hJt the eye Before conceoirg a that his oppressor was ISeed to save the world JacocxlI salvation how much haplII had brought to mankJr a enlightenment and edua1

souls of men Jacob co~ 1 incinerated hovels the C~1 peoples the fallen na tliJr 1J that resulted from the 1i she hallowed the tr~th sC humanity the insults she ~ desolation the misery od dominion Jacob codd i)~ the most eloquent poes igJ

of Rome had brogt lP In contrast he n~

saved from the ruils c i God has appoimed 2li loyal keepers and c bull aJIIII

i=~0rI~j~~

i

-E ~rrGS

rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

i

-E ~rrGS

rclection He extended to the - -e Jwer not also demonstrated 5 il darkness by the inner life ~ despite their misery Israels z aK ages is the most convincing c Je) that fItl 01111 llltT Ol ~

-laquo X7 l1t even though the Jews lCi i~5pised them nor rejected them cu 1S ~ovenant with them 111 t-~

r - 0111t

~ the Jews developed especially 1= galuth Look upon the strength ti-i -owering brought us enlightening c =d5 our domestic and communal

d the strength and happiness it Jle il5 be courage and perseverance to

_5 rClffi without Review before your e5S~ of those men of the spirit whom LneSS raised like pillars of fire to tsbull il darkest period of galuth a ~j fumbling stupidity would assen t celed His covenant with the Jews e nds of the Roman empire 11[ persed throughout the lands of the e ~e Roman empire which dispersed k 2ildly call herself the Eternal City ~ on Israel whose very life-blood was -el that nation which had dared to ~ -]ler and to save the world When

cemiddot at the pinnacle of her imperial power rmiddothe iast conquests Rome won for her e-i jer eagles upon the hills of Zion C n the north to Hispania in the WesL

-He 0 Rome By that time Rome had er glory She collapsed beneath he cmiddoteilse her colossus had become rotten

e spirit triumphed over those that had g be spirit of Rome had placed a double

AOAR VI 435

yoke of dominion over the necks of the nations For centuries the Roman law which went forth from the City of the Seven Hills imposed upon the peoples of Europe that absolute order which dictated their relations with one another and their relationship with their God To this day the talons of the Roman eagle grasping this double bolt of lightning terrestrial and celestial maintain a firm hold on the political and religious life of civilized nations Would not the Roman spirit of Esau be right to consider itself the Divinely-appointed master of this earth Would it not be justified in regarding itself as the heir to the blessing and the covenant which God had once bestowed upon the nation of Jacob a nation which He Himself had subsequently driven from its homeland and which He Himself through His law and His church had debarred for centuries from human rights and Divine grace Would the genius of Rome not be right then if it proclaimed in scornful arrogance that God had delivered the Jews into their hands cnlt IMI Dn in order to break the covenant He had made with Israel

Yet for all that even as he lies in the dust with the Edomite foot of Rome upon his neck Jacob has every right to look Rome firmly in the eye Before conceding that he had been defeated and destroyed and that his oppressor was indeed the triumphant heir to his own mission to save the world Jacob could ask Rome just how much peace and salvation how much happiness and prosperity her world dominion had brought to mankind how much freedom and right how much enlightenment and edification her Church had bestowed upon the souls of men Jacob could question her about the ruined cities the incinerated hovels the tortured bodies the broken hearts the enslaved peoples the fallen nations the despairing spirits and the duped minds that resulted from the rule of Rome He could point to the fanaticism she hallowed the t~uths she denied the scorn she had heaped upon humanity the insults she had dealt to human dignity the crime the desolation the misery and the vice that ran rampant under her dominion Jacob could point to all these historical outrages and lodge the most eloquent protest against the mad delusion that the Esau spirit of Rome had brought happiness and salvation to the world

In contrast he need only point to the spiritual paradise which he saved from the ruins of all his other possessions and the men whom God has appointed for him at all times amidst all our misery as loyal keepers and cultivators of this garden of the Jewish spirit He

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

___~tmiddotI 14

436 COLLECTED WRITINGS

could point to the upholders and nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of Jewish knowledge in the midst of all the sufferings of gaJuth that Esaus dominion has inflicted upon the nation and upon its spirit And then Jacob could say to Esau Would you really label a nation whose spirit and knowledge could celebrate victories unparalleled anywhere else on earth as rejected and accursed by God Would you deny that even in the midst of the darkness you have inflicted upon them the Ark of the Covenant of Gods Law has traveled witr that nation at all times That the glory the grace the blessings and the spirit of God still bring new life and happiness to the last ofIsraels surviving sons When you behold a people in whose midst God has caused His spirit and the knowledge of His Word to live and flourish unlike anything else on earth would you indeed dare to assert that God has canceled His age-old covenant with them long ago

Yes unlike anything else on earth you need not look back all the way to the spiritual heroes of our remote antiquity you need look no further than miI 1lln1 11 nJ 7u (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Sages of the later generations) the chain of Israels Sages that has continued unbroken ever since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince the friend of the Roman emperor Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit of Esau showed respect and understanding for the spirit of Jacob for the first time and perhaps the only time for many centuries to come Look upon these men as they pass through the growing darkness of the ages see what they meant to us and what they accomplished and then try to find even one parallel to their character and to their achieveshyments Search the whole earth if you will for another nation in whom the elements of spirit thought and knowledge were not merely reserved for individual thinkers but became the very soul of an entire nation Look for another nation whose collective intellectual bent labored with unflagging zeal for one and a half millennia to develop one single area of knowledge a nation within which knowledge was not merely the prerogative of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind comforter of philosophers behind prison bars but the consolation the wealth the strength and the inspiration of an entire people

Jacob and Esau have been engaged almost simultaneously in endeavors which on the surface appear identical in character Almost in the same centuries during which the imperial dynasty of Rome codified Roman law and developed the Church of Rome creating the two factors that have molded the civilized world and the disseminators

lImtii

of world c Judah the p~ -~ work were e~i=~= and the C-~~ ~

ment of ~ - ~

Roman C~_ _~1

endeavo~ -0 ~

by power - ~ work of G oJ ~ 1

every sword ~~ ~j

world made - - of one natic- ~ darkness a e

The come to G~ 71

lI11l 0 X -- (

folly in W~l~- ~e-~ tions the) f ~ _~J

brought the~ 7_ to them as _ c- by Jacob 1-0 lI

fathers cou 5~gt into the ca~_ J11 tree nunCj~e~ tions h~middot _~

bringing -u To be s~e

but only j ~

appreciate e= the other ~___ - Jl

mountai J i the natios o of God ( about Hs - J

long last -~J them to p

earth This - m11iI the H s lived and ~L~

~~lliijililill

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

a

e- d nurturers of the Jewish spirit and of ~ all the sufferings of galuth that Esaus plusmne nation and upon its spirit And then ji- _ d you really label a nation whose spirit ~r~ lctories unparalleled anywhere else on ~_5~ by God Would you deny that even sgt 0 have inflicted upon them the Ark of [ t5 traveled with that nation at all times tt lessings and the spirit of God still bring e 5t of Israels surviving sons When you

ie st God has caused His spirit and the i1 and flourish unlike anything else on

I 2re to assert that God has canceled His ~ OClg ago e~ 0 earth you need not look back all the egt r cur remote antiquity you need look no -- l (the house of Rabbi Judah the Prince r ~erations) the chain of Israels Sages that Ift~ since the days of Rabbi Judah the Prince r eror Antoninus a ruler in whom the spirit l~ nderstanding for the spirit of Jacob for fS 1e only time for many centuries to come

pass through the growing darkness of the I c 1S and what they accomplished and then ~e to their character and to their achieveshy eth if you will for another nation in whom

1oilght and knowledge were not merely ters but became the very soul of an entire ne nation whose collective intellectual bent 11 for one and a half millennia to develop

a nation within which knowledge was I c of a few ivory-tower thinkers the kind 5 cehind prison bars but the consolation the -e in~ipiration of an entire people been engaged almost simultaneously in 5urface appear identical in character Almost

which the imperial dynasty of Rome dtveloped the Church of Rome creating the jed the civilized world and the disseminators

ADAR VI 437

of world civilization to this day the l r1l the House of Rabbi Judah the Prince and m Oln the chain of Sages who continued his work were engaged in the codification and developme~t of the Law and the Church of God thereby ensuring the harmomous developshyment of Jewish life everywhere even in dispersion throughout the Roman world upon the foundation of the Word of God But Romes endeavor was the work of men sustained in a manner worthy of Esau by power and by the sword Israels endeavor by contas~ was the work of God and had neither power nor weapons to assist It In fact every sword on earth was drawn against it and all t~e powers of he world made war upon it It survived only within the hfe and the spmt of one nation a spirit that shone brightly even in the midst of utter darkness a life that flourished even amidst the graves of the dead

The ~rophet (Jeremiah 16 19) predicted t~at the nations would come to God from all ends of the earth declarmg 1JnlIC m) iw 1IC

~lO OJ rIC ~l1 Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood folly in which there is no profit They will realize that of all the tradishytions they have inherited from their ancestors the only ones that have brought them true happiness and salvation were those that had come to them as pollen from the tree of life so quietly and patiently nurtured by Jacob These are the ideals for which the traditions of th~ir own fathers could serve only as frail temporary vessels Then they will look into the camp of Jacob and there they will behold the fruits which that tree nurtured by the House of Rabbi and the Sages of the gen~rashytions have yielded in the midst of all the upheavals of past centufles bringing light exaltation and happiness to the people of Israel

To be sure the nations had been aware of these facts for centufles but only in that still-distant day will they learn to understand and appreciate them This is what elevates the mountain ~f God over all the other mountains this is the reason why all the hills uphold the mountain of God and bow to its might It is to this mountain that all the nations of the world will flock They all will come to the mountain of God to the House of the God of Jacob so that they may be taught about His ways and that they too may walk in His paths Then at long last the nations will learn one Law and one Torah that will teach them to put the sword and the spear aside and to establish peace on earth This will be that Law and that Torah for which olm 1 nJ m the House of Rabbi and the Sages of all subsequent generations lived and worked Only then in retrospect will the nations truly

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-

~~ ~ -~--~

438 COLLECTED WRITINGS

understand that I1Kt 01 1K1 even though they are in enemy country I have not despised them nor have I rejected them to destrey them utterly to break My covenant with them for I I remain their God

Kn OI1OKIJ K7 OlJK YKJ On1IJ I1KT Ol 1K1

oilp7~ fl )~ on n1 m7 on77 0n7n

~FI(~ iMI -----~~-