| | OPINION
Losing Faith in Trump — But Keeping Faith in Geulah
by Yated Ne'eman Editorial
The vision of "the best friend of Israel who ever sat in the White House" is getting cloudier and more obscure, day by day, from one decision to the next, from report to report, from declaration to declaration. In Jerusalem, people are rubbing their eyes and shaking their heads in great surprise and unbridled disappointment. Even if outwardly, we are trying to broadcast optimistic messages of 'all's well', 'take it easy', and that "the rapport between the two nations is as solid as ever."
After years of Biden and his distortions, which were perceived, justifiably, as being hostile to Israel, there were expectations of the return of the Republicans to the government to 'straighten matters out' and put America back on track of its historic role (at least in the eyes of Israelis): namely of paving Israel's way along the corridors of world diplomacy, clearing obstacles set by hostile organizations and countries, and a clear declaration of "if you start up with Israel, you'll have to deal with us (US), its ally."
Indeed, with the return of Trump to the White House, a sigh of relief originated in Jerusalem and echoed throughout the world. A new era is born. "We have upon whom to lean. And even if Netanyahu falters and fails, Donald Trump will come to the rescue." That was the prevalent atmosphere here.
Then, suddenly, different tunes are being sung in Washington. Unpleasant surprises are landing on the government and the Israeli public. Time after time, our biggest champion of all time lands a hearty slap on our face.
And suddenly, it becomes clear that if Israel does not knuckle under one hundred percent and with full enthusiasm to his idiosyncrasies and whims, which are known to change from morning to evening, Trump will show us exactly where he wants to put us. He does not visit Israel on his way to Iran, does not lose energy on turning his back on us while shaking hands with the Hutim, but time and again, simply chooses to ignore Israel and its survival needs.
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"Ben David (Moshiach) will only come when all have lost hope of the Redemption, as is written, 've'efes otzur ve'ozuv" that is, when there is no [perceived] champion or support for Israel" (Sanhedrin 97b).
This quote, writes HaRav Yaakov Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshivas Torah Vodaas (quoted in KeMotzei Sholol Rav - Bein Hametzorim), demands clarification, for there is a condition where not even chas vesholom, one basic tent of the Rambam's Thirteen Principles will be forgotten, and one of them is the anticipation of the Ultimate Redemption. It appears that this gemara says that all hope of Redemption is lost.
The real meaning is that so long as Jewry longs for and anticipates the arrival of the Geula in a natural way, whereby the nations of the world have mercy on us and allocate a place for us to rebuild a homeland, the Geula will certainly not arrive because the 'kindness of nations is sin' and surely not reliable. And truly, we are despised by the whole world.
Only when we become fully despaired of such illusions and understand that our salvation can come only from Hashem, only then can Moshiach Ben Dovid come. We must arrive at the realization and conclusion that all regular help will fail and must stop looking to the right and left for help.
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