An expulsion by any other name...

Let's get the title out of the way first. There will be a connection to Parshat HaShavua, but not at first. There was an article in the Jerusalem Post the other day about a Supreme Court decision that government-approved TV and radio stations cannot accept even paid ads that refer to the expulsion from Gush Katif, using the word expulsion. Evacuation, yes. Expulsion, no. That would be a political statement that is not approved. [Personal comment: In my opinion, the term political is incorrect - it is an expression of moral indignation for what the government did that summer that will live in infamy in our hearts. If you disagree with my tone or sentiment, at least remember that it is mine and not necessarily the OU's or the Israel Center's - Phil]

We've referred to the Women in Black protesters that wave white on black posters just a few blocks from the Center that demand an end to the occupation. Would be okay if they referred to the occupation of parts of Eretz Yisrael by Arabs, but it is not okay if they suggest that we are occupiers. Just open a Chumash.

Before you open the Chumash, let's make this clear - the following is for those who believe what the Torah says. For those who believe that G-d created the heavens and the earth. That G-d took the Jewish People out of Israel and gave us the Torah at Sinai. That G-d commanded us to keep Shabbat and observe many other mitzvot and forbids us to violate a whole list of other mitzvot.

If you don't believe in the sampling just presented, them you might doubt the truth of the following as well.

But if the Torah is TORAH EMET (a phrase that occurs only once in Tanach, in this week's haftara), then let's review the following:
In Lech L'cha, after Avra(ha)m arrived in the land to which G-d commanded him to go, G-d tells him that the Land will be given to his (Avraham's) descendants. A promise that is repeated a number of times.

So far so good. But wait. Yishmael is Avraham's son; not only Yitzchak. In Vayeira, G-d makes matters clearer. KI V'YITZCHAK YIKAREI L'CHA ZARA - through Yitzchak will offspring be considered yours. Yes, there is Yishmael. Yes, there are the children of Ketura. But Yitzchak is your complete heir.
Okay, we're still good. No, wait - what about Eisav. Blessings of wealth and position in the world - who got them? Who was meant to get them? Not relevant to the topic of the Land. Yitzchak gave the "bracha of Avraham - which is defined in the end of Toldot as, "that you may possess the land of your sojourns which G-d gave to Avraham." This blessing, this legacy, this gift from G-d of Eretz Yisrael, was given by Yitzchak with "his eyes wide open", to Yaakov. And only to Yaakov.

This gift is in perpetuity. It is forever. We might get kicked out when we turn away from G-d. We might be scattered throughout a long exile. But this land is ours.

When a misguided government gives any of Eretz Yisrael away... when a misguided government forces Jews to leave their homes - the homes and communities the government encouraged them to live in, to use a term other than expulsion is to pervert the truth for political reasons and to futilely attempt to gain something in return.

This is one of the main messages and lessons of sedras of Lech L'cha through Toldot. It is a lesson that is repeated throughout the Torah.

It is a truth just as "In the beginning G-d created..." is. It is as true as Y'tzi'at Mitzrayim and Matan Torah.

If the nations of the world don't believe it or don't want to believe it, or want to change things around to suit themselves... that's their problem.
(Well, it is our problem, but not our biggest one. Not our priority problem. The following is.)

WE, the Jewish people, living in Israel or anywhere else in the world, need to accept and internalize the fact of our claim to the Land of Israel. Arab claim to this land is falsehood. Arab attempt to delegitamize our claim and history here is falsehood. It is obscene.

Sad that so many people around the world swallow the Arab attempts to take away our claim and replace it with one of their own.

Sadder still are the Jews who aren't convinced of the Truth of the Torah.

Some say that the political reality of the world requires us to do this or that. A point to debate. But even with that position, there still must be a clear recognition and acceptance of G-d's gifts to us through the Avot. We must not be ingrates before G-d.

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