AN OPEN LETTER TO RABBI YOSEF BLAU – by Leah Goldsmith
AN OPEN LETTER TO RABBI YOSEF BLAU
In the days when we prepare for Rosh Hashana, a time of soul searching and reckoning I find it hard not to call upon you as we are all in the realm of introspection now. I, a simple woman living in Israel these forty years, call upon you- a distinguished Rabbi from a renowned and reputable institution, Yeshiva University, to take heed. Your influence has earned you the dignified and esteemed position you so hold, and what you say impacts thousands of people.
My husband and I spoke at YU at a packed auditorium of close to 800 people in 2011 after the horrific massacre of the Fogel Family here in our community, Itamar. We both grew up in New York with YU being the hub of our identity until our Aliyah in 1985 with the goal of bringing to fruition the passuk “we will go up and inherit it”. What we came to was a vast emptiness. We were determined along with the blessings from Hashem in resilience to overcome all struggles in building our true home and preparing the ground for Am Yisrael to return home. I need not say what challenges we faced through the years, you must have heard.
We said “we CAN climb this mountain” as Joshua and Calev said, unlike the majority of the other “spies” who were actually the princes of the ten other tribes. The leadership looked upon settling in a negative cynical way. Their skepticism infected the masses. Their unfavorable opinion prevented the bulk of that generation from even reaching the Promised Land. I’m sure you know this being the Rabbi that you are. Negative perceptions are not new to us as we began our story with the selling of Yosef who was viewed through an antagonistic lens, a story of baseless hatred and bias.
Yosef however rose above all of his trials, including the twisted views of his brothers. We too will rise above your lashon hara and slander. When “Free Palestine” come to march down the streets of New York they will not differentiate between those that say “Settlers need a moral compass” (a blood libel and lie) or any stream of Judaism. The yetzer hara to blend in, be so called “liberal” and bash the self -sacrificing settlers who are the most peaceful segment of Israeli society will hopefully have you doing cheshbone nefesh and indeed apologizing to us. Our worst enemy is these self- destructive statements and character assassinations.
I ask you- why bad mouth the true pioneers, the body armour of Eretz Yisrael.
I ask you- when Muslim fanatics are burning down the graves of Itamar and Elazar in the murderous village down the road from here (Awarta) as well as many holy sites desecrated. why can’t you speak up?
I ask you- when hundreds of settlers are having the windows smashed driving home on these roads why can’t you speak up?
I ask you- when the barbarians come to beat up our shepherds, sometimes murdering them- why can’t you speak up?
I heard you moved to Israel- mazal tov. You are welcomed to come visit our community and apologize for this atrocity. There is no cycle of violence- there is no symmetry – Jews are being moser nefesh here. HOW DARE YOU!
Acheinu kol Beit Yisrael- have it in your heart Rabbi Blau and fix what you broke.
LEAH GOLDSMITH
ITAMAR ISRAEL
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