In a rare public statement addressing Israel’s political leadership, the venerated mashgiach, Rav Yitzchok Pinchos Goldwasser, mashgiach of Yeshivas Or Yisrael in Petach Tikvah, spoke out with heartfelt words of hakaras hatov for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.
During a vaad reflecting on the miraculous events surrounding the conflict with Iran, Rav Goldwasser sharply rebuked those who claimed Netanyahu’s actions were solely politically motivated.
“To say that the prime minister did everything just because of the elections? That’s pure malice,” Rav Goldwasser stated. “He toiled and exerted himself on our behalf. And does it really matter if it was lesheim Shamayim or not? Do we do everything lesheim Shamayim? It appears he had a genuine desire to save Am Yisrael.”
Rav Goldwasser opened his talk by reflecting on the extraordinary hashgachah pratis evident in recent events. “We are living in a time when the Divine hand is being revealed in astonishing ways,” he said. “We were months away from reports that Iran had completed a nuclear bomb. Does anyone grasp what that means? In World War II, one atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed 100,000 people instantly—and that’s not including those who suffered burns, poisoning, and other horrific effects. Another bomb on Nagasaki followed. The destructive force of a nuclear weapon is measured in incomprehensible terms. That large missile fired at Bat Yam? That was maybe a ton. A nuclear bomb? That’s over 13,000 tons of explosive power. The devastation is unimaginable.”
Rav Goldwasser reminded his audience of the explicit intentions Iran has declared. “They’ve always been clear: the goal of their nuclear program is Israel. According to their deranged and barbaric theology, they must reach Al-Aqsa in Yerushalayim and kill or expel every Jew. They are devout in their beliefs, and their fanatical imagination makes such a scenario very possible. That it didn’t happen is incredible. They called it a ‘preemptive strike,’ but we know everything comes from Shamayim. Even Jewish ingenuity is a gift from Hashem—it’s utterly wondrous.”
“This was an extraordinary salvation,” he continued. “While not open miracles, anyone paying attention can see this was a Divine act. We must strengthen our perspective—how Hashem brings us to a place of vehiniach Hashem Elokecha lecha mikol oyvecha misaviv. These events, which defy natural explanation, form a glorious chain of providence. They show how much Hashem loves us, watches over us, and is constantly thinking of us. When we say Elokeinu, it means something entirely different now.”
At this point, Rav Goldwasser addressed Netanyahu directly in an unusually candid manner. “I think—I despise, I’m angry, I even hate the prime minister to a degree. He’s a rasha. If there were a Sanhedrin, he’d be tried for his many transgressions and thrown down the stairs. But the truth is, he endured a campaign of slander and humiliation, regardless of whether he deserved it. And Hashem chose him as a shliach. He led a campaign that succeeded. It’s obvious that he is under tremendous pressure—his shoulders carry an unimaginable burden. And to say it was ‘just for the elections’? Nonsense. He feared losing his seat? That’s evil speech! That’s selfishness and stupidity! The one who said we kill babies for fun—he’s meshukatz, an Amaleki!
“Yes, the prime minister is secular. Yes, he has many faults. But the man is breaking himself and leading this operation. Shouldn’t we feel a sense of hakaras hatov? I believe we must. And it’s for our sake—not because he’ll ever hear about it, but because we owe it to ourselves. Someone who put in such effort on our behalf—why does it matter if his intentions were pure? Do we always act lesheim Shamayim? Most of us take pleasure in our actions. Who really does things selflessly? It seems that he truly wanted to save the Jewish people.
“Sure, he also wants a place in history and the praise of millions. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s a Jew. Why twist everything? He’s a Jew, and he wants to save us. I hope you at least understand what I mean. If there’ll be pashkevillin, so be it… as long as I know you agree.”
He concluded with a call for chizuk: “The war isn’t over. We are the Neturei Karta—the true guardians of the wall. We must strengthen ourselves in Torah, in tefillah, in mussar, in middos, and in every area that needs chizuk. With Hashem’s help, peace will come speedily.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
How can you acknowledge a Prime Minister who has turned on Israeli citizens and has become the modern day Czar Nicolas with his Cantonist Draft Law?
Nicholas I wrote in a private memorandum; “The chief benefit to be derived from the drafting of the Jews is the certainty that it will move them most effectively to change their religion.” The Tsar’s memorandum demonstrated his personal interest in using conscription to convert and assimilate Jews, despite guarantees provided to maintain religious freedom. —– Precisely the reason for drafting chareidim.
Thank G-d we hear from such a sage, rather than from foolish younger voices. As the Torah tells us, we follow the elder sage rather than rash youth.