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Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Yehuda Meshi Zahav praises Israel in letter to his Uncle former leader of Neturei Karata, Rabbi Amaram Blau

Open letter from Yehuda Meshi Zahav to his Uncle former leader of Neturei
Karata, Rabbi Amaram Blau
18.04.2018
https://zaka.us/Breaking_news/180418
[Original Hebrew version appeared in a Makor Rishon supplement of letters to
historical figures]

On the occasion of Israel's 70th Independence Day, ZAKA Founder and Chairman
Yehuda Meshi-Zahav composes a letter to his uncle and former leader of the
Neturei Karta, the late Rabbi Amram Blau z "l, reflecting on the
achievements of the State.

To my dear uncle and leader of the Neturei Karta Rabbi Amram Blau z"l,

When I was young, I would join the demonstrations you led against Shabbat
desecrations and any other issue. For me, you were the epitome of the
general, a leader and a fearless, uncompromising fighter for the principles
of Judaism. We grew up with your stories of heroism, like the time you put
your head in the Edison Cinema ticket window in Jerusalem to prevent
desecration of the Shabbat, and you were beaten with clubs until you lost
consciousness.

From you, we heard again and again about the great danger inherent in the
Zionist state, to the extent that you would ask to cross the border to the
protection of the Kingdom of Jordan. We heard about the decrees of
annihilation of the Zionist regime, whose sole purpose was to rid the Jewish
people of its religion and faith. We heard your warnings that within a few
years there would be no remnant or refugee surviving from the people of
Israel. You taught me about the importance of separating ourselves from
everything that is part of the Zionist regime, not to take any money from
the state, and that anyone who participates in the elections is effectively
indulging in idol worship. You said in public forums that the Zionists were
to blame for all the troubles of the people of Israel, including the Shoah
itself.

As I grew older, motivated by my belief in your path, I too became involved
in organizing demonstrations and protests. I was arrested countless times,
and my bones were crushed by the beatings of the "Zionist soldiers." But you
taught us that every bruise from these blows is another level in the lofty
ranks of "self-sacrifice," and therefore we too did not feel the pain.

Today, after 70 years of a Zionist state, I am pleased to inform you, my
dear uncle, that your fears were groundless: we have a wonderful, amazing
Jewish-Zionist state that serves as a model for the entire world. A state
that is blossoming in almost every sphere - education, economy, health,
immigrant absorption, and Judaism itself. About 7 million Jews - over fifty
percent of the Jewish people - live in the State of Israel, and in Jerusalem
alone we are approaching one million residents, which probably was not the
case even during Temple times.

Who would have believed that, 73 years after the Shoah, when the people of
Israel were almost annihilated and there was hardly any trace of Torah and
Hasidism, we would have a Jewish state of our own. A state in which the
world of Torah would reach a level unparalleled in the history of the Jewish
people. Since King Hezekiah, there has not been as much Torah study in the
Land of Israel as it is today, and you will be surprised to hear that the
“Zionist regime” is the greatest supporter of Torah education in the world,
investing billions of shekels.

It is hard to believe that it was only 75 years ago that a Jew had no place
to go. At the end of that terrible war, every refugee returned to his home,
but the Jews were the only ones in the world who had nowhere to go, neither
home nor country. That is, until the establishment of the State of Israel.
Thousands of generations of Jews dreamed of a state, and today, we have
merited what so many did not.

My uncle, if you were able to open your eyes today, you would see that in
the “Zionist state of destruction”, 73% light Chanukah candles, 78% fast on
Yom Kippur, and over 200,000 people take part in Selichot prayers at the
Western Wall. How hard you had to fight so that every road in the
ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods would be closed on Shabbat. On the 70th
anniversary of the Zionist state, there are seven cities led by Haredi
representatives, where the roads are closed on Shabbat and holiday, as well
as in other cities with large Haredi.

According to the Neturei Karta anthem which we would sing at demonstrations,
"We follow the path of Torah to sanctify the divine name.” We were sure that
our place in Heaven was guaranteed. Yet here, in the Zionist state, the
degree of "devotion" reaches the highest level, the level of the very symbol
of self-sacrifice, Rabbi Akiva. Nearly 24,000 IDF soldiers have been killed
sanctifying God's name while defending the State of Israel and the Jewish
people.

If only you knew just how wonderful the youth is here. Several times a year,
thousands of youngsters born and raised in the Zionist state gather near the
remnant of our Temple, swearing their willingness to sacrifice their lives
for the sanctification of God’s name in defending the homeland and the
people of Israel. How many tears did I shed during this sacred ceremony when
I saw two of my own sons enlist and take that oath, one in Golani and the
other in the Paratroopers. No one forced it on them. They did so of their
own free will.

My dear uncle, this "state of Sodom and Gomorrah," as you called it, is
today the state with the largest number of charitable organizations – and
many of them were founded by Haredim such as Yad Sarah, Ezer Mizion, ZAKA
and United Hatzolah. Israel is the first to offer help and assistance to
others in mass disasters around the world, and takes unimaginable risks in
operations such as Entebbe to rescue its people. We have a state that is the
very embodiment of the concept of mutual responsibility.

Rest in peace, my dear uncle Rabbi Amram. There is no need to fight anymore.
Although your generation may have feared the Zionist state, 70 years later
it has been proven that the State of Israel, with God’s help, is the savior
and protector of the people of Israel, and this is indeed the safest and
best place to live as a Torah observant Jew.
--------------------
Yehuda Meshi-Zahav is the founder and chairman of ZAKA Search and Rescue, a
UN -recognized international humanitarian volunteer organization with nearly
4,000 volunteers in Israel and around the world. Meshi-Zahav was chosen to
light a beacon in the 2003 Independence Day celebrations.

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