CAN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY SAVE ISRAEL OR THE JEWISH PEOPLE?

The United States is limited in its power and has its own interests, which do not necessarily correlate with Israel’s interests or the Jewish people’s interest to save themselves.  The United States had an opportunity to save Jews prior to and during World War II under Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR).  They did not save any significant number of Jews prior to World War II, did not pressure the German government to not kill Jews, and did not do any sufficient actions to prevent Jews from being killed.  These were all conscious decisions.  The United States was complicit with the crime, but they were not an active collaborator. 

We are taught, however, that we can save ourselves in every generation through our own behavior.  Furthermore, we were respectful of the Egyptians after we left Egypt, and this may be because they provided refuge to us, despite their harshness.  Egyptians were allowed to convert to Judaism after three generations. 

Our savior will be Hashem, and we have failed to live up to his expectations in every generation so far.  Our God (really God of all people) created billions upon billions stars; he created life including man; he created nature; and he created the laws of nature.  Can any country claim they can do any one of those activities.  No, they can’t make that claim because they cannot do any one of them.  Even more important, our God breaks the laws of nature to save us—we call them miracles.  God allowed Sarah to have a baby at 90 years of age.  He selectively put plagues on the Egyptians.  He selectively killed the first born in Egypt.  And he drowned the Egyptian army. These are just some examples. 

When we count on a strong country, it is an insult to God.  The 10 spies who gave a bad report about Canaan and refused to capture Canaan, were all tribal leaders.  They saw all of the above miracles and more, yet they refused to trust in Hashem.  It was a political decision since Egyptian civilization had its benefits and no risk of death.  God’s intended result for this behavior was to eliminate them, but in deference to Moshe and to prevent the wrong view to the world, he gave them 38.6 years of exile instead.

As I noted, we have the ability to bring Moshiach in every generation, so let’s blame ourselves and not others for why Moshiach did not come.  In this light, we should treat every nation with respect.  And even in the days of Moshiach, we should offer peace to every nation, even if they were WWII collaborators; otherwise, they have no incentive to accept peace.  Let God bring about his vengeance. 

While we should respect every nation, we should not count on them.  Let us count on God; he is all powerful. 

BN 11-6-23