think big, thank you for your reply.
Joseph,I will IY’H try to find the trascript of the trial. All I will say is that I know of “living proof”‘ that Kastner saved Jews. For now, this is enough for me not to demonize him. Indeed, if in the trial notes, I find that he protected nazis for his benefit, I will grant you that he is far from being the hero claimed by some.It still does not mean that he sold out Hungarian jewry, as many intimate,
Think Big, we shall have to agree to disagree, ESPECIALLY on your remark that the crux of the issue is not history or current events. I think this is where we part company. I deeply believe that we should look at history and what has happened to us us over the centuries, “bein letovah, bein lehefech”. History teaches us what to thinkl because this is the way hakodesh Boruch huh gives us a guide finder.
Allow me to give you an example. In the late seventeenth century, there was no more biiter fight than between the “misnagdim”,(talmidei hagro and the “chassidim”(talmidei ha besht). the chassidim were vilified everywhere, put in cherem…etc..
Any neutral observer would not have been able to decide who was right. As a matter of fact. there was probably much more right on the “misnagdim” side.Hence, you could have said then that the chassidim were against Torah,etc.and would disappear…How could one decide the truth?
Well ,history told us the truth, because the chassidim multiplied and prospered. I, for, one recognize Jad hashem in that, regardless of what is imputed to the chassidim.
I look at Zionism in the same way. Whatever you want to say about the early days of Zionism, the fact is that it was the instrument of Hakodesh boruch huh to bring us back to our homeland and prosper there again. You cannot make theoretical imputations, “what if…” (as Joseph says about Arab rule). This is a fallacious argument because we don’t KNOW what would have happened.You can only deal with facts and the present. If you continue to deny that Zionism was the instrument of Hakodesh boruch huh, then ,chas vesholom, I think you deny the guiding Hand of Hakodesh boruch hu. This is the way I look at it and, incidentally, plenty of Gedolim from all sides feel the sameway.
Anyway, I will not persuade you and I will continue to believe what I believe.
Where we truly can join hands in in seeing that Eretz hakodesh becomes just that, eretz HAKODESH. In that respect, I tip my (black) hat to all of those who live in Erretz Ysroel and continue to fight for an Israel imbued withb Torah and yiddishkeit. That includes virtually all religious jews.
Well, have a guten shabbos and let us welcome Moshiach Sunday afternoon….