Value the Nation of Israel

Jewish people living under oppressive rule, have always been part of the diaspora experience. At times the religion practiced by the Emperor, Czar or Sultan was forced upon the Jews. One such incident occurred during the twelfth century. At that time the Almohad Caliphate, an Islamic Berber dynasty from Morocco,  controlled North Africa, and presented the Jews (and other non-muslims) a choice; conversion to Islam or death. 
Numerous Jews refused to profess Islam and were killed by the Almohads. Others, wishing to save their lives, proclaimed a belief in the Prophet Muhammad. Yet privately they carried on with Jewish traditions. Thus they worshiped in mosques but secretly recited their own prayers. These Crypto-Jews lived with fear on the outside and guilt (part of the tradition perhaps) from within. 

Around the year 1160 a rabbinic judicial opinion was circulating, claiming that “Whoever attests the mission of Muhammad thereby renounces the Lord God of Israel. One should rather be killed than profess.” The author claimed that observing Jewish law secretly, while acknowledging Islam externally is futile. If the law is not followed publicly it is worthless! He added that turning to God in prayer, after proclaiming belief in Muhammad, is in itself a sinful act.

A young scholar in the city of Fez Morocco, by the name of Moshe recognized the danger in this widely circulating responsum. He was quite concerned of the unnecessary martyrdom and superfluous  shame and guilt that will be caused by the mistaken author of the rabbinic opinion. So the young Moshe went on the offensive, and wrote his own epistle. 

Moshe’s Epistle on Forced Conversion was written in Arabic, the language used by the masses, yet today we only have a Hebrew translation of the letter. Scholars believe that the original may be lost since Jews tried to conceal it from Muslim officials. Several significant points are made by the author of the epistle.  Among them he condoned conversion to Islam for the sake of saving lives, discouraged martyrdom, and recommended migration despite the danger of the journey. 

Moshe noted that the author of the circulating responsa failed to differentiate between accepting Islam voluntarily and doing so only under compulsion. “Even ones who worship idols, if done under coercion, are not barred from the world to come” he noted. Moshe used harsh words (“even brainless people would not say such things”) towards the author who failed to make a distinction between acts done willingly and acts done under constraint. 

The author of the rabbinic opinion claim, that the prayer by a Crypto-Jew is meaningless and even a misdeed, were sharply criticized by Moshe. He proved from numerous rabbinic sources that even the prayers of an actual sinners is treasured by God. “How much more so regarding individuals who are only making statements due to duress” he noted. 

Moshe added that throughout the Biblical narrative, individuals, even great ones like Moses Isaiah and Elijah, who were critical of the People of Israel were rebuked or punished by God. Thus wrote Moshe “how can the author of the response allow his tongue to talk negatively on the community of Israel and call them sinners and evil doers and heretics? one can only wonder how great will be his punishment for castigating those who made choices to avoid the sword.” Moshe added that despite their public proclamations the people are not sinners and God has not abandoned them.

The value of Klal Yisrael, the People of Israel is the essence of this paragraph and perhaps of the whole letter. The young author, who grew up in a home of scholarship and leadership, understood the value of the Children of Israel. When one values the nation, the message and spirit of every conversation or written communication will carry a different tone. 

This message is quite relevant today as it was centuries ago. Any Issue that relates to the Jewish People, Torah or the State of Israel, will generate a wide range of viewpoint, opinions and philosophical perspective. What is crucial for the welfare and unity of our nation, is to appreciate the value of the Nation of Israel. If we adopt the outlook of the young Moshe of Fez, -known to all of us today as Moshe ben Maimon, Maimonides- respect and tolerance will come naturally. 

Updates From Trip with the PM of Canada- January 2014

I will not burden you with what is known.  PM Harper addressed the Knesset. "Through fire and water, Canada will stand with you" was his message. 

The delegation arrived over an hour before the speech, thus I had an opportunity to have several conversations with some Israeli politicians. 

I had a brief conversation with Ruth Calderon, Yair Lapid, Dov Lipman and Yakov Litzman and said hello to Amir Peretz, Nachman Shai and Menachem Moses. At one point I was standing in the wrong place and was almost knocked over by Reuven Rivlin.

For many years people have asked if I am related to Terry Milewski of the CBC. Today I had the opportunity to meet him and have a detailed discussion about his roots.  

Terry Milewski & Rabbi Milevsky

As we were standing waiting for PM Harper to enter, I conversed with the Ambassador of the Philippines to Israel. He introduced me to the Ambassador from Vietnam. We talked about the war in Vietnam, a topic I took a course on. He was very excited and invited me for a visit. We shall see....
I had a brief word with the Ambassador from Cammeron as well. (we talked soccer)

The event in the Knesset was historical and moving. Like many I was disturbed by the Arab MP Tibi's heckling of the PM. What a Chutzpah! 
After the event I asked Yair Shamir- the second ranking member of Yisrael Beytenu- how such a thing can occur. He told me that Tibi is from a tenth world country.

The next day started with a breakfast and a talk from Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States. An excellent communicator and a true intellectual, fighting the PR battle for our beloved state. 

We made our way to Yad Vashem (never an easy visit). Prime Minister  Harper placed a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance. As we were waking through I had a great conversation with Chungsen Leung, the  MP for  Willowdale. His father helped Jewish refuges during the war. He was excited to hear the fact that my mother was born in Shanghai.

We followed the PM to the Kotel. The crowed clapped with great enthusiasm. Israelis recognize his greatness. 

In the evening JNF hosted a dinner, graced with the presence of two PM's. I had the opportunity to talk with Robert Aumann, recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 2005. A very great and humble man. 

On the political side I had a brief talk with Naftali Bennett, Uzi Landau, Moshe Ya'alon, Yitzhak  Herzog. PM Netanyahu was gracious enough to shake my hand. We had great entertainment from our rock star PM Harper.

During the dinner I sat with MP Blake Richards from Alberta. It was a great opportunity for me to fill him in on the realities of the Middle East. Like many of the other MP's on this trip he is a great friend of Israel. We developed a good relationship.

I have no doubt that you can get far more details from the media. (Please remember to take with a grain of salt.)

Wednesday started off with a long bus ride from Yerushalaim to the Hula Valley. The event that generated the long trek, to northern Israel was; the laying of the cornerstone for the Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor and Education Center. On the bus I meet Stockwell Day, a true friend of Israel. 

We had a great tour of the area seeing large flocks of the long-legged and long-necked bird known as the crane. 
PM Harper addressed the crowd briefly, and with his traditional humility, thanked the Jewish community of Canada.

Our expedition continued to Tel Aviv University, Where the PM was going to receive an honorary doctorate. A short Q&A session followed the ceremony. I was struck by the clarity Mr. Harper has of the complex Mideast region. Few westerners-and clearly no Western leaders- are like him.
 In my opinion the PM of Canada is a righteous, humble and brilliant man. We as Jews must proclaim our appreciation without inhibitions. 
 Right before leaving to the Airport I had the privilege of shaking the PM's hand. I thanked him and noted that it is a pity that we did not have a world leader like him in the nineteen-thirties. 
 In the airport I opened my bag and pulled out my passports. As a dual citizen I travel with my US and Canadian document. Gazing at my Canadian passport I experienced a great feeling of pride. How lucky is this country to merit such a leader. (Did not feel the same with the other document.)

 May Hashem protect our outstanding and remarkable Prime Minister Stephen Harper.