Shanah Tovah 5771

Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown tomorrow evening here in Galut. As the spiritual year draws to a close, we think about where we have been, what we've done, where we have failed, what we have accomplished, and what we know we must change. We continue the process of petitioning HaKadosh Borachu to forgive us for our transgressions that began with the month of Elul, and now begin the process of rectifying the wrongs we committed against our fellow people.

It is my hope for Klal Yisrael that we will earnestly begin putting our differences to the side, try to draw each other closer to Torah and service of Hashem, and increase the consciousness of our nation to understand that we are truly living in the era of the redemption of our land, and of our people. We must do our utmost to remember that we are a sanctified nation, and as such, each of us has merit, that each of us has a role to play. The traitors and heretics must be exposed, in the hopes that tshuva follows. We must take the time to listen, to draw ourselves closer to Hashem, and gain real insight into the nature of our missions in the short time we have to live as spiritual beings having this physical experience.

May this also be the year that Klal Yisrael truly understands that if we demand the right to live in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya, and a united Jerusalem that we must also demand our birthright to Hebron, Shechem, Beit El, and Shiloh. Judea and Samaria is the heart of our land, not something to be given away to the forces that call the loudest for our destruction. It is time for Israel's leaders to understand this, and if they don't, for the people to remind them, and the rest of the world, unremittingly and without apology.

Our homeland is under siege with an intensity that we have not seen in 40 years. Those who stand against Hashem are working harder than ever to delegitimize us as the indigenous people of the Land of Israel, and our human right to not only live in our land, but to live at all. We must accept the challenge to resist this new wave of Jew hate and delegitimization with all of our essence. At the same time we must continue to be at the forefront of defending the ideals of the nations in which we reside outside of Israel.

America is facing dire circumstances these days. The fabric of the Republic is being destroyed by those who we foolishly entrusted to protect it. But Americans are finally learning the lesson that the Constitution of the United States does not grant rights to its citizens. It was created to make sure that the government did not infringe on rights that are our unalienable, G-d given rights as human beings. This realization has begun to permeate the collective consciousness of American society and will hopefully stir more and more Americans to stand and preserve the first republic created on the basis of preserving individual liberty.

In order for us to defend ourselves, and our host nations we must most importantly know who we are. We must return to the source of our wisdom, our strength, and our own constitution, the Torah that Hashem entrusted to us, and that we have brought to the world. If we fail to embrace it, the rest of the world cannot help but stray even further from its light, and deeper into darkness. If we are to be a light among the nations, we must first understand what that light is, taking deeper and more meaningful steps to engage it.

May you have a joyous, meaningful new year, be inscribed for a year of good health, security prosperity, liberty, and peace.

Shanah Tovah! A good year to all, and to all of Israel.