Israel had a unique period of concessions with the Trump administration. The direction and policies regarding the Middle East of the new US administration remain to be seen. What we know for certain is that the destiny of the Israeli nation cannot be conditioned upon one leadership or another. Israel’s future depends solely on our unity.
The Trump legacy for Israel includes moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israel’s sovereignty in the Golan Heights. Under his watch, America left the Iranian nuclear agreement and imposed sanctions against Tehran. In addition, the Abraham Accords were signed to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.
One may question whether America’s friendship is now uncertain, if most of the agreements will be reversed, and particularly if the Iran deal will be reestablished. But in fact, Israel depends solely on one thing for her security–the power of connection. Foremost Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag wrote, “Social unity can be the source of every joy and success,” (The Freedom).
The only thing to cause arrest, delay, or interference with Israel’s good connection is the separation and alienation between us. As our sages wrote, “We are commanded in each generation to strengthen the unity among us so that our enemies do not rule over us,” since “When there is love, unity, and friendship between each other in Israel, no calamity can come upon them.”
Our sages also said that “All of Israel are responsible for one another,” (Sanhedrin 27b.) In other words, the level of connection among the people of Israel is outwardly reflected in the political, social, and security situations. Connection is the only thing that can redeem and protect the people from trouble and affliction.
For a long time now, the world has been one global village where we are all interconnected and interdependent. Subconsciously, the nations feel that we, the people of Israel, hold the key to happiness. However, the shirking of our historic role and the neglect of implementing the method of connection in our relationships invoke hatred upon us from the rest of the world.
Specifically only unity and unfounded love among us can lead us to congruence with nature’s system and only then will the peoples of the world recognize Israel’s merit. As it is written in The Book of Zohar, “With this composition, which is The Book of Zohar, they [Israel] will come out of exile with mercy.”
Now is the time “to rediscover the national love that was instilled within us since the time we were on our land as a nation among the nations” (Rav Yehuda Ashlag, The Nation). We must resolve that from this moment on, we will begin to treat each other as brothers–in thoughts, words, and actions.
Let us begin to cultivate the principle of mutual guarantee between us de facto. As soon as we get this connection flowing, we will see how powerfully it impacts our everyday lives and how it can truly change conditions for the better. In this way, we will gradually become “as one man with one heart,” and our security and good future will be guaranteed. Then the Israeli nation will be truly independent and will become a beacon of hope for the entire world, which will fulfill our historic role and purpose.
[U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to deliver joint remarks on a Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts]