[Avodah] Interesting Insight

[Richard Wolberg]

In a tribute written on the occasion of the fiftieth yahrtzeit of Rav Reine (Rav of Lida) and published as a pamphlet by the Religious Zionists of America, the late Rabbi Moshe Weiss quotes the following story in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Maimon (Fishman).

 In the winter of 1905 (5665), after a decision was reached at the Zionist Congress regarding the establishment of Federations within the Zionist movement, Rabbi Reines suggested that the Mizrachi be changed from a faction to a Federation….One rabbi felt that changing the status of the Mizrachi would cause it to become a completely separate unit. He quoted the famous words of Midrash Rabbah (Vayikra 30) regarding the “Arba Minim of the Lulav.” The Esrog possesses a fine taste and pleasant odor which can be compared to people who possess Torah and good deeds. The Lulav has a taste but is odorless… The Hadas has a pleasant odor but not a pleasant taste…The Arava is both tasteless and odorless…Yet God commanded that all four items be combined and tied together…Thus, [he argued], a Federation of the Mizrachi which would become a separate entity, should not be formed. Rabbi Reines however, made one observation which somewhat changed the entire picture. He pointed out that the Esrog which represents the Torah people and those of good deeds, such as Mizrachi, is not in fact tied together with the others. It is true that the Esrog is brought close to the other minim, but nevertheless, the Esrog remains distinct. It is an entity in itself.

How well this story epitomizes Rav Reines’ stance within the greater Zionist movement. It illustrates how deftly he combined his political acumen with his religious principles.

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