Sukkot: Let's Be Honest: We Won't Divide the Land

by Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed, translated by Hillel Fendel

Dateline: Erev Sukkot 1994, a year after the signing of the Oslo Accords

The Sukkot holiday brings to the fore the deep connection between the Nation of Israel and the Temple Mount – the site of the Holy Temple. For example, Jews all over the world wave their lulavim and etrogim throughout the week of Sukkot, even though the Biblical command is merely to do so only at the site of the Temple; during the rest of the week, outside the Old City of Jerusalem, there is no Biblical command to take the Four Species in hand. The reason we do so every day of the holiday is, as the renowned Talmudic sage R. Yochanan ben Zakkai instituted, in order to preserve the memory of the Temple and continually anticipate its reconstruction each and every year.

This and other Jerusalem-related practices on Sukkot do not jibe very well with the government's diplomatic activity regarding our holy historic capital. The government seems to be willing to make concessions not only in the Land of Israel, but in Yerushalayim as well.

It is true that there are men of faith, in both the religious-Zionist and hareidi sectors, who identify with these concessions. This minority feels that when the hour arrives for the Complete Redemption, and when the Heavenly spirit comes upon us, everything will be different: The gentiles will recognize our absolute rights over the entire Land and over all of Jerusalem. However, they say, in the meanwhile until that happens, we have no choice but to cede parts of our holy land, for the sake of peace and to avoid continued danger to life.

And there are others, still fewer than the previous group, who say that we must make these concessions not only because of this concept of pikuach nefesh, but also for ethical and humanitarian reasons that the Torah guides us to follow. They agree that in future times, when G-d helps us and brings us Redemption, He will certainly restore the entire Land to us and will enable us to rebuild Jerusalem and the Holy Temple. And then, they say, if G-d instructs us via His prophets of truth and justice to forcefully conquer the Land and expel our enemies, we will certainly fulfill His word – but that as of now, the Torah instructs us to compromise and accommodate our neighbors.

But these approaches paint us in a very negative light. Every intelligent observer will understand that our willingness to compromise is neither sincere nor genuine, but is rather temporary and transient. They see how precisely as we speak of compromise, we at the same time offer up prayers to G-d that He redeem us speedily, and expect with all sincerity that it can and will happen any minute: "speedily in our days, Amen."

I find it hard to believe that there can be even one non-Jew who understands our heart's hopes and longings, and also hears our "willingness" to give up our G-d-given assets – and continues to respect us. He will see that "our hearts and mouths are not equal," and that we say one thing while we believe and think something else. It would be hard to assume that he will accept our excuses and explanations that the Redemption we await and pray for is only in the upper spheres of existence, when everything will be different. It is more logical that the gentiles will say: "Don't trust those Jews! They are not being honest! Look how, precisely as they negotiate with us all sorts of agreements, they commemorate the Sukkot festival – holding their Four Species all week long simply to remember their Temple, and celebrating the Simchat Beit HaShoevah in remembrance of their Temple festivities as they dance and pray for its quick rebuilding! Look how they come to visit Jerusalem en masse on Sukkot and other holidays and pray at the Western Wall for the Temple's rebuilding so that they can renew the Temple service!"

The non-Jews know the truth: These celebrations are not just nostalgia and emotional longing for days gone by – but are rather real preparations for the future! They see that we have deep and strong anticipation and tremendous desire to restore the Jewish Nation's status to what it was in the past.

"What value, then," the gentiles will ask, "is there to their empty words about 'peace' and concessions? And even the left-wingers among them can't be trusted, for some of them leave the camp to become more observant, and in general, the religious population in Israel is increasing, and everything could quickly change!"

The truth is, they're right! The non-Jews who fear that our concessions are not genuine are correct, and their predictions are on target. The People of Israel will in fact, with G-d's help, return and rebuild the Holy Temple, and all talk and agreements that contradict the inner will of Am Yisrael will not endure. It is therefore better for us to be open and straight about our plans and say openly: "This Land is ours, and we have no authority or ability to give up on it. We have no desire or permission to make concessions."

We must be clear: "Peace is possible only when our enemies understand that it will happen without concessions of land on our part."