[Avodah] Daas Torah and Zionism

[David E Cohen]

Regarding the question of how we should view the opposition by many gedolim
to the establishment of the State of Israel, in light of the fact that it
has since flourished, R' Yitzchok Levine asks:
> What does this mean for the concept of Daas Torah and for
> the idea that gedolim can see things more clearly than the
> average person? 

Even nevi'im are not granted perfect knowledge of all future events, and I'm
not so sure that "chakham adif minavi" is referring to ability to predict
the future.

Personally, I am a religious Zionist.  However, given my general way of
looking at things, I suspect that had I been around 110 years ago, at the
beginning of the Zionist movement, I probably would have sided with those
who opposed political Zionism.  Having been born into a world in which the
State of Israel exists, though, I think one's spiritual view of a phenomenon
of such tremendous historical proportions, such a tremendous change in the
manner in which Hashem relates to am Yisrael, cannot be neutral.  One must
either say that it is "ma`aseh satan" or that it is a tremendous gift and
opportunity for am Yisrael to maximize its potential, and hopefully a
significant step on the road to the ge'ulah sheleimah.  Since I find the
first possibility very difficult to accept, I go with the second.

I do not take this as a sign, though, that I must readjust my general
hashkafah to bring it into line with a way of thinking that would have led
me to have supported political Zionism 110 years ago.  Perhaps I would have
been *correct* to have opposed it then, but Hashem, for reasons of His own,
decided to bring about a partial ge'ulah through those who were acting
*incorrectly.*

It is also important to note that "ein somechin al hanneis."  Perhaps, given
the geopolitical situation in 5708, as well as the expected negative Divine
response to an attempt to establish a Jewish state, it made a lot of sense
to oppose the establishment of the State of Israel.  However, it was
established anyway, and barukh Hashem, the State miraculously survived and
flourished, shelo bederekh hateva.  Ashreinu shezakhinu lekhakh!

--D.C.