What is Really on Trial at the International Court of Justice

In what may go down in history as the biggest show trial in the history of show trials, the nation of South Africa is alleging that the nation of Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. Their evidence? In a pep-talk to soldiers heading into Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to have mentioned the biblical imperative to wipe out Amalek, the embodiment of human evil & chaos, from the face of the earth.

By some magical extrapolation, the “Palestinian” people are Amalek, ergo Israel designs to commit genocide against them.

Gaza comprises an area of a mere 139 square miles. Even with hundreds of thousands of boots on the ground, the military echelon admits it will take another year before all the Hamas combatants are neutralized in Gaza. Let’s put that in perspective: in 1943, Patton’s 7^th Army (with a little help from Montgomery & the British 8^th Army) conquered Sicily in a bit more than a month. Sicily is almost 10,000 square miles.

So why hasn’t Israel already conquered Gaza, an area 1.5% the size of Sicily, in three months? The reason this war drags on is precisely BECAUSE Israel is going to extraordinary and unprecedented efforts to minimize civilian casualties. This is despite the fact that Gaza Arabs willingly protect Hamas terrorists.

No other nation at war would give succor to their enemy while guns are still blazing – except the Jews. And we do this, knowing full well that much of the fuel and food being allowed into Gaza winds up in the hands and bellies of the very combatants we are trying to kill. The reason we have only neutralized 25% - 30% of the Hamas-niks is because they are comfortable in their bunkers – plenty of food, water, and gas for electricity – compliments of the Government of Israel.

They understand, as we do, that if Hamas is not destroyed root & branch, they have won. And they think time is on their side.

For years, Israel has provided Gaza with free electricity and drinking water – a sure indicator of genocidal intent.

Israel used to allow tens of thousands of Gazan, Judean & Samarian Arabs to enter Israel daily to work, since the “Palestinian” economy does not exist, other than the kleptocracy at the very top.

Israel can document tens of thousands of cases of Gazan, Judean & Samarian Arabs being treated in Israeli hospitals. Even the fat cat PLO plutocrats prefer to be treated in Israeli hospitals for their diseases of affluence – heart disease, obesity, cancer and all the rest.

If we’re mass murderers, we’re pretty bad at it.

The International Court of Justice should laugh this complaint out of court. Since the facts refute the frivolous charges, and the South Africans surely know this, what is really on trial here?

I have the privilege to teach Torah to middle school children. We are currently studying the rebellion of Korach (Numbers 16 ff.). Korach’s rebels essentially say to Moshe & Aharon: “Thanks, but we don’t need your leadership, we have no use for your guidance. We are all capable of being our own priests and leaders, for we are all holy, just as holy, in fact, as you. Why do you make yourself superior over Gcd’s holy people?”

What is on trial in the Hague is nothing less than the Bechirah, the Choseness of the Jewish People.

The world proclaims at the Hague:

-        We reject your claims of moral superiority on the battlefield. You are – have to be - just as guilty of genocide as we are.

-       Why do you set yourself as exceptional among the nations? We are all children of Gcd. You are no better, and perhaps far worse, than we are.

-       We reject your moral example to be a light unto the nations. We don’t need your guidance, and we certainly don’t need your moral leadership. In fact, your very existence offends us.

-       We are quite proud of the sophisticated, woke, relativist moral constructs that we have created for ourselves. And in our narrative, the Jew is the new Nazi.

So in light of the foregoing, it must be asked:

At what point do we stop groveling for the approval of the “U”s – the UN, the US, the EU? They all have Jewish blood on their hands - especially & including the Roman Catholic Church.

At what point do we stop caring about anti-Israel resolutions in the UN?

At what point do we start putting our own survival above the needs of those sworn to our destruction?

At what point do we prioritize the needs of the innocent over the needs of the guilty?

At what point do we turn inward for validation instead of outward?

We witness miracles in Israel everyday. The presence of Gcd is palpable among us. While we enjoy the support of millions of ethical people around the world, we are nevertheless a nation destined to dwell apart.

Let us emerge from the mentality of the Galut (diaspora) which craves for acceptance from our neighbors. Instead let’s cultivate a mindset of Geulah (Redemption), where we stand upright in our Land, acknowledge our Bechirah, i.e., our Divine calling to create a world of universal brotherhood and peace under the banner of ethical, compassionate monotheism. It is high time we stop giving power to and focusing on the haters and welcome those of all backgrounds who wish to join us in this holy endeavor. “All those who are thirsty, let them come & drink.”

An Appeal from the Heart on the War in Gaza

I'm not a politician and I'm not a general; I am a simple rabbi, least among rabbis. But I have devoted my life to studying the Torah - the authoritative Word of Gcd in this world - its depth, its eloquence, its mysteries, and its urgent messages for our time.

As a Jew, I share the pain and distress of our People in this difficult hour and I am confident that, with Gcd's help, we will eventually prevail over the Axis of Evil arrayed against us. Though I alone cannot bring this war against the forces of evil to a successful conclusion, I believe that, working together, even simple people like ourselves can bring that goal much closer.

Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook taught that the way to combat evil is to flood the world with good.

I believe Gcd is urging us to quantify the mitzvot "ben adam l'chaveiro" - good deeds which directly impact others. Let's flood the world with gratuitous acts of kindness: greet everyone with a genuine smile; open a door for an elderly person; perhaps buy a homeless person a meal; give tzedakah directly into the hands of the needy.

There are those who would characterize the Jews as monstrous, genocidal mass murderers. What better way to combat this pernicious slander than by showing who we really are - Rachamanim b'nei Rachamanim - kind-hearted people, from a long & distinguished lineage of kind hearts.

Every Jew is an ambassador of the A-lmighty. A long-term, sustained kindness campaign, especially direct to our non-Jewish neighbors, will win hearts and change perceptions, and will of course hasten the Ultimate Redemption.

If this idea resonates, please do the following: (1) repost; (2) PM me to coordinate, share ideas and spread this message; and (3) consider purchasing my book, Holistic Judaism, contains detailed instructions on how to hasten the Messianic Age of universal brotherhood and peace to which we all aspire.

Hashem yikom damam avadav hashafuch.

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14Judy Livny, Akiva Hollinger and 12 others