The Torah Trumps Trump

 ד׳ לחודש העשירי תשע״ז

U. S. President-Elect
Donald Trump

Don't get me wrong.

The theoretically better candidate won the recent U. S. Presidential election. What bothers me is the insistence of Jews on the Left, as well as on the Right, to place their focus on human powers, and even more so, non-Jewish powers, for their salvation, instead of making an intellectually honest examination of what HaShem really wants from us, and then making it happen, to the best of our ability.

Halakhah (Torah Law) is not the rocket science many "rabbis" want us to think it is. This is not about different understandings and interpretations, and me pushing the ones I happen to like on you. We simply need to examine the [uncensored] sources, listen to refutations of them, and check which point of view stands up to scrutiny.

If we do this, using uncensored sources, and freeing ourselves from hashqafah (in this case: preconceived notions) and distorted notions, based on our feelings, then I believe it will be revealed to you

The Torah touches every aspect of our lives, not just "shabbos and kashrus shailos." It covers everything from running a truly Jewish government, running a Jewish military, fighting a war in a Jewish manner, and relating to non-Jews, both in times of war and peace, whether Israeli politicians and their State "religious" yes men, like it or not.

There is no separating any particular aspects of our lives from Torah. We cannot call one thing halakhah, and another thing "politics," letting so-called "rabbis" off the hook from their responsibility to teach the truth.

So, what does this all have to do with the outcome of the recent U. S. Presidential elections?

U. S. President-Elect Trump's 16 point position paper on Israel was recently released, and it behooves us all to examine it, through the only perspective a Jew should use, a Torah perspective.

If you disagree with my understanding of this perspective, by all means, you should say so. Just don't forget to support your position with sources, so that we can have a discussion which enables us to discern the truth, as opposed to simply throwing around our opinions, based on nothing more than our feelings.

Here, I have addressed Trump's 16 point position paper on Israel, point by point:

Jason D. Greenblatt, EVP/Chief Legal Officer of The Trump Organization, co-chairman of Mr. Trump's Israel Advisory Committee; Co-Founder of InspireConversation.com - Nov 2, 2016

Joint Statement from Jason Dov Greenblatt and David Friedman, Co-Chairmen of the Israel Advisory Committee to Donald J. Trump

It has been an exhilarating election cycle. Approximately seven months ago, we were blessed to have been tapped by Donald J. Trump to be his top advisors with respect to the State of Israel. We have been fortunate to work with a talented team of people and have put together the below positions. Each of these positions have been discussed with Mr. Trump and the Trump campaign, and most have been stated, in one form or another, by Mr. Trump in various interviews or speeches given by him or on his social media accounts. For those of you who are true friends of the State of Israel, and for those of you who believe that the State of Israel and the United States of America have an unbreakable friendship, we urge you to read the below. We would like to express our gratitude to those individuals who have helped us over the past few months. We truly appreciate your efforts, friendship and guidance. We would also like to express our gratitude to our friend, a great friend of the State of Israel, Donald J. Trump, who gave us the tremendous opportunity to serve in this capacity. May God bless the United States of America and the State of Israel.

1 - The unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel is based upon shared values of democracy, freedom of speech, respect for minorities, cherishing life, and the opportunity for all citizens to pursue their dreams.

Unbreakable bond? It would take too long to elaborate on all that is wrong with this first point on the list, and so I will be brief. The bond between the United States and Israel should have been broken long ago. Unfortunately, those calling for Jews in Israel to be "realistic" and "practical" are simply covering up the lack of emunah (faith) in The Almighty being propagated. The only reason for this bond not to be broken would be if Israel, a Torah-observant Israel, was calling the shots. This hails back to that old canard, the artificial notion of "Judeo-Christian Values."

Who said that the current manifestation of democracy in the world actually has anything to do with Torah? And, even if it did, how on earth could anyone mistake the State of Israel's system of governance for a democracy, especially with the incessant legislation from the Bench by the anti-Torah Israeli Supreme Court? It is not. Rather, it is a deMOCKracy.

Furthermore, according to halakhah, there are limits on speech, limits on respect for non-Jewish minorities, who are only allowed to reside within Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) under certain circumstances, and thus also limits on their "opportunities....to pursue their dreams" here (See Deut. 7:2; Mishneh Torah Laws of Foreign Worship and Non-Jews and Laws of Kings and their Wars).

2 - Israel is the state of the Jewish people, who have lived in that land for 3,500 years. The State of Israel was founded with courage and determination by great men and women against enormous odds and is an inspiration to people everywhere who value freedom and human dignity.

This one is a reminder of the trendy, "Indigenous Argument." Whoever was here first has nothing to do with the Jewish People's claim to Eretz Yisra'el. Rather, our claim to the Land should be based solely on the decision of the Holy One, Blessed Be He, and who he decides will conquer it, at any given time. First, it was the Canaanites, then it was us, then it was the Babylonians, then it was us again, and so on.

3 - Israel is a staunch ally of the U.S. and a key partner in the global war against Islamic jihadism. Military cooperation and coordination between Israel and the U.S. must continue to grow.

Four words: American Troops on Israeli Soil.

4 - The American people value our close friendship and alliance with Israel culturally, religiously, and politically. While other nations have required U.S. troops to defend them, Israelis have always defended their own country by themselves and only ask for military equipment assistance and diplomatic support to do so. The U.S. does not need to nation-build in Israel or send troops to defend Israel.

Culturally, religiously, and politically? Most Ashkenazy Jews from the U. S., both Torah observant and non Torah observant, will agree that the U. S. and Israel have cultural similarities. They may even be correct. But, they should not be. The feelings-oriented "culture" of Edom has most definitely infiltrated into Israel, and it must be eliminated, or at least tempered and filtered. This goes for the influence of the Christian conservatives, just as much as the libertine, "progressives." I have already explained "religiously" and "politically" above.

5 - The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the American and Israeli Governments is a good first step, but there is much more to be done. A Trump Administration will ensure that Israel receives maximum military, strategic and tactical cooperation from the United States, and the MOU will not limit the support that we give. Further, Congress will not be limited to give support greater than that provided by the MOU if it chooses to do so. Israel and the United States benefit tremendously from what each country brings to the table. The relationship is a two way street. 

Sure. Let's become even more financially dependent on the U. S. (sigh)

6 - The U.S. should veto any United Nations votes that unfairly single out Israel and will work in international institutions and forums, including in our relations with the European Union, to oppose efforts to delegitimize Israel, impose discriminatory double standards against Israel, or to impose special labeling requirements on Israeli products or boycotts on Israeli goods.

Good for the U. S. But, Israel should stop caring about what the non-Jewish, "International Community" thinks of us already.

7 - The U.S. should cut off funds for the UN Human Rights Council, a body dominated by countries presently run by dictatorships that seems solely devoted to slandering the Jewish State. UNESCO's attempt to disconnect the State of Israel from Jerusalem is a one-sided attempt to ignore Israel's 3,000-year bond to its capital city, and is further evidence of the enormous anti-Israel bias of the United Nations. 

OK. I agree.

8 - The U.S. should view the effort to boycott, divest from, and sanction (BDS) Israel as inherently anti-Semitic and take strong measures, both diplomatic and legislative, to thwart actions that are intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or persons or entities doing business in Israeli areas, in a discriminatory manner. The BDS movement is just another attempt by the Palestinians to avoid having to commit to a peaceful co-existence with Israel. The false notion that Israel is an occupier should be rejected.

It does not matter what the so-called BDS movement's motivation is. The Arabs calling themselves Palestinians have no interest in a peaceful co-existence with Israel. See above, regarding a non-Jewish presence within Eretz Yisra'el, under ideal circumstances. Meanwhile, Jews should be instituting their own Jewish BDS.

9 - The Trump administration will ask the Justice Department to investigate coordinated attempts on college campuses to intimidate students who support Israel.

As it should be. However, we Jews need to ask ourselves why any Jews, and I assume that some of these "students who support Israel" are Jewish, still remain on U. S. college campuses. Most everything which needs to be learned in university can be learned at Hebrew University, Tel-Aviv University, Bar-Ilan University, the Technion, etc. There are even B. A. and graduate programs, including three medical schools, where students may study in English. Besides, whoever said that Jews had to study in university??

10 - A two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians appears impossible as long as the Palestinians are unwilling to renounce violence against Israel or recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Additionally, the Palestinians are divided between PA rule in the West Bank and Hamas rule in Gaza so there is not a united Palestinian people who could control a second state. Hamas is a US-designated terrorist organization that actively seeks Israel's destruction. We will seek to assist the Israelis and the Palestinians in reaching a comprehensive and lasting peace, to be freely and fairly negotiated between those living in the region.

Well, there are several other Arab groups I would add to that Department of State's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations Abbas's Fata"h, among them, which also believes in wiping Israel from the map (see Fata"h's map of "Pseudostine," embedded in its emblem to the right). In addition, Jewish groups should be removed from this list, which, I believe, were only added because of their religious beliefs.  So much for "freedom of religious expression." However, we Jews must also finally realize that gestures of "friendship" from Esau (Edom/The West) can be just as dangerous as the open hostility and aggression from Yishma'el (Arabs/Muslims).

11 - The Palestinian leadership, including the PA, has undermined any chance for peace with Israel by raising generations of Palestinian children on an educational program of hatred of Israel and Jews. The larger Palestinian society is regularly taught such hatred on Palestinian television, in the Palestinian press, in entertainment media, and in political and religious communications. The two major Palestinian political parties, Hamas and Fatah, regularly promote anti-Semitism and jihad.

No arguments here.

12 - The U.S. cannot support the creation of a new state where terrorism is financially incentivized, terrorists are celebrated by political parties and government institutions, and the corrupt diversion of foreign aid is rampant. The U.S. should not support the creation of a state that forbids the presence of Christian or Jewish citizens, or that discriminates against people on the basis of religion.

If the U. S. really wants to support up, then it will do everything in its power to prevent any additional sovereign, or semi-sovereign, state to be created anywhere within the borders of Eretz Yisr'ael.

13 - The U.S. should support direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians without preconditions, and will oppose all Palestinian, European and other efforts to bypass direct negotiations between parties in favor of an imposed settlement. Any solutions imposed on Israel by outside parties including by the United Nations Security Council, should be opposed. We support Israel's right and obligation to defend itself against terror attacks upon its people and against alternative forms of warfare being waged upon it legally, economically, culturally, and otherwise.

Jews must recognize the hidden agenda here, being pushed by the Christian-right. Christians (some of Esau's spiritual descendants) have changed their strategy against the Jews. Missionizing has been put on hold by an increasing number of Christian groups, including Christian "friends" and "volunteers," in favor of working toward gaining a foothold in the Land. Actions toward this goal have included maintaining residences for volunteers within Jewish communities, for employees of "pro-Israel," non-profit organizations, interfaith events and activities, and even lobbying for rights to immigrate and obtain citizenship. Read all about this in The Kiss of Esau.

14 - Israel's maintenance of defensible borders that preserve peace and promote stability in the region is a necessity. Pressure should not be put on Israel to withdraw to borders that make attacks and conflict more likely. 

I suppose. See above for what I wrote about Israel's borders.

15 - The U.S. will recognize Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish state and Mr. Trump's Administration will move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem

Once again, I expect that we Jews will hail the act of moving the U. S. Embassy as some sort heroic act, but not one of propagating the truth. Rather, underneath all of the "you did the right thing, Mr. Presidents," there will be a plethora of slobbering over America, how much of a friend it is to us The status of the State of Israel as the 51st state of the United States will be solidified, and the majority of the Jewish People will be reduced to the lowest form of co-dependence

16 - Despite the Iran Nuclear deal in 2015, the U.S. State Department recently designated Iran, yet again, as the leading state sponsor of terrorism, putting the Middle East particularly, but the whole world at risk by financing, arming, and training terrorist groups operating around the world including Hamas, Hezbollah, and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. must counteract Iran's ongoing violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran's quest for nuclear weapons and their noncompliance with past and present sanctions, as well as the agreements they signed, and implement tough, new sanctions when needed to protect the world and Iran's neighbors from its continuing nuclear and non-nuclear threats.

Sound reasoning, right? The best lies are filled with mostly truth. Expect closer ties and "friendship" to lead to more IDF deaths, fighting America's proxy wars. We WILL see U. S. troops in Eretz Yisra'el, whether the U. S. views it as Eretz Yisra'el, or not.

Jason D. Greenblatt

EVP/Chief Legal Officer of The Trump Organization, co-chairman of Mr. Trump's Israel Advisory Committee and Co-Founder of Inspire Conversation.com.

And so, before you start criticizing me for being "unrealistic" and "impractical" --my two favorite criticisms-- I suggest that you read the above again. Being wary of foreign influences is very realistic and practical. And, protecting our status as a people, separate and distinct is very... Torah. Of course, this will not do us in Eretz Yisra'el, nor you, still living in the golah (exile) one darn bit of good, until you wake up to the fact that American influence, financial, military, emotional, and otherwise, IS foreign influence.

The better candidate for the U. S. Presidency may have won, but here in Eretz Yisra'el the sky has, indeed, begun to fall.