Adam, what I found most interesting is that both Herzl and Ben-Gurion were essentially secular men. These were two of the great architects of modern Israel, and I think both would be astounded to see how much political power the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox parties now carry.
And I'm not saying this as an attack on religious Jews. My point is the political system itself. I think both men would be aghast at a structure where relatively small religious parties can hold the balance of power and exercise influence far beyond their actual percentage of the population.
In fact, Adam, your article made me wonder whether that might be one of the biggest surprises of all for both men. They helped create a modern Jewish state largely through a secular Zionist vision, yet today small religious blocs can sometimes determine who governs it and what policies survive.
Thank you for this excellent and thought-provoking article Adam; well done! As I read, my mind was there with you in your walk, and I agreed with everything you said as we walked together, until we drew close to the end:
“But it does mean we are living in the chapter they never wrote, working from a blueprint whose final pages are blank.”
The Tanakh provides enough details scattered throughout its pages to understand the gist of the full Play, all the way to the Final Act.
But, it seems most of the Chosen People have eyes that can not ‘see’, or hearts that can not or will not accept, that the Tanakh is the Word of God, or that the Author of the Story, the God of Israel, means exactly what He had laid down in writing by His prophets.
Tragically, this is not a problem unique to the Chosen People, though it is a stunning phenomena, given the Play is centered on them, and the Land of Israel is the major setting.
No, the phenomena is to be found throughout Judeo-Christian Western Civilization and, indeed, the world at large. There are myriad reasons underlying it, but certainly the major one is unbelief, and a very close second, found amongst professing believers, is trusting in the judgment of ‘experts’ who, in most cases, are ‘blind guides, leading the blind’.
Matthew 15:12-14 (CJB)
“The talmidim came to him and said, "Do you know that the P'rushim were offended by what you said?" He replied, "Every plant that my Father in heaven has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Let them be. They are blind guides. When a blind man guides another blind man, both will fall in a pit."
It occurred to me after posting the above, that I had omitted a reference from the Tanakh itself in the post. There are several instances in which the true prophets spoke of those who have eyes but cannot see, or ears but cannot hear (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc.), but this one is particularly apropos:
Jeremiah 5:21-31 (Tanakh)
“21 Hear this, O foolish people, devoid of intelligence, that have eyes but can't see, that have ears but can't hear!
22 Should you not revere Me—says the LORD—Should you not tremble before Me, Who set the sand as a boundary to the sea, as a limit for all time, not to be transgressed? Though its waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass it.
23 Yet this people has a wayward and defiant heart; they have turned aside and gone their way. 24 They have not said to themselves, “Let us revere the LORD our God, Who gives the rain, the early and late rain in season, Who keeps for our benefit the weeks appointed for harvest.”
25 It is your iniquities that have diverted these things, your sins that have withheld the bounty from you.
26 For among My people are found wicked men, who lurk, like fowlers lying in wait; they set up a trap to catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of guile; that is why they have grown so wealthy.
28 They have become fat and sleek; they pass beyond the bounds of wickedness, and they prosper. They will not judge the case of the orphan, nor give a hearing to the plea of the needy.
29 Shall I not punish such deeds—says the LORD—Shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?
30 An appalling, horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule accordingly; and My people like it so.
But what will you do at the end of it?”
May the Lord continue to bless, guide, protect, and redeem His people - for His glory, and the glory of His Kingdom. Amen
Adam, what I found most interesting is that both Herzl and Ben-Gurion were essentially secular men. These were two of the great architects of modern Israel, and I think both would be astounded to see how much political power the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox parties now carry.
And I'm not saying this as an attack on religious Jews. My point is the political system itself. I think both men would be aghast at a structure where relatively small religious parties can hold the balance of power and exercise influence far beyond their actual percentage of the population.
In fact, Adam, your article made me wonder whether that might be one of the biggest surprises of all for both men. They helped create a modern Jewish state largely through a secular Zionist vision, yet today small religious blocs can sometimes determine who governs it and what policies survive.
I think that would absolutely astonish them.
Made me tearful in both a sad and joyous way. Am Yisrael chai
Same! Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱
Thank you for this excellent and thought-provoking article Adam; well done! As I read, my mind was there with you in your walk, and I agreed with everything you said as we walked together, until we drew close to the end:
“But it does mean we are living in the chapter they never wrote, working from a blueprint whose final pages are blank.”
The Tanakh provides enough details scattered throughout its pages to understand the gist of the full Play, all the way to the Final Act.
But, it seems most of the Chosen People have eyes that can not ‘see’, or hearts that can not or will not accept, that the Tanakh is the Word of God, or that the Author of the Story, the God of Israel, means exactly what He had laid down in writing by His prophets.
Tragically, this is not a problem unique to the Chosen People, though it is a stunning phenomena, given the Play is centered on them, and the Land of Israel is the major setting.
No, the phenomena is to be found throughout Judeo-Christian Western Civilization and, indeed, the world at large. There are myriad reasons underlying it, but certainly the major one is unbelief, and a very close second, found amongst professing believers, is trusting in the judgment of ‘experts’ who, in most cases, are ‘blind guides, leading the blind’.
Matthew 15:12-14 (CJB)
“The talmidim came to him and said, "Do you know that the P'rushim were offended by what you said?" He replied, "Every plant that my Father in heaven has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Let them be. They are blind guides. When a blind man guides another blind man, both will fall in a pit."
Am Israel Chai, to the glory of God!
It occurred to me after posting the above, that I had omitted a reference from the Tanakh itself in the post. There are several instances in which the true prophets spoke of those who have eyes but cannot see, or ears but cannot hear (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc.), but this one is particularly apropos:
Jeremiah 5:21-31 (Tanakh)
“21 Hear this, O foolish people, devoid of intelligence, that have eyes but can't see, that have ears but can't hear!
22 Should you not revere Me—says the LORD—Should you not tremble before Me, Who set the sand as a boundary to the sea, as a limit for all time, not to be transgressed? Though its waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass it.
23 Yet this people has a wayward and defiant heart; they have turned aside and gone their way. 24 They have not said to themselves, “Let us revere the LORD our God, Who gives the rain, the early and late rain in season, Who keeps for our benefit the weeks appointed for harvest.”
25 It is your iniquities that have diverted these things, your sins that have withheld the bounty from you.
26 For among My people are found wicked men, who lurk, like fowlers lying in wait; they set up a trap to catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of guile; that is why they have grown so wealthy.
28 They have become fat and sleek; they pass beyond the bounds of wickedness, and they prosper. They will not judge the case of the orphan, nor give a hearing to the plea of the needy.
29 Shall I not punish such deeds—says the LORD—Shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?
30 An appalling, horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule accordingly; and My people like it so.
But what will you do at the end of it?”
May the Lord continue to bless, guide, protect, and redeem His people - for His glory, and the glory of His Kingdom. Amen