A Nation and Its Leaders

Submitted by yehuda Ben-Asher, MD Tekoa, Gush Etzion (Israel), Jul 21, 2008 at 09:26

The phenomenon which you so aptly describe is easily understood when one looks from the side at the tide of changes in the spirit of the nation which we call "Israel". While the political zionism of the forefathers of the modern nation-state has degenerated to the present state of rigor mortis, so has the level of strategic and political foresight of its leaders.

This has occurred while the nation has turned inward to re-evaluate the spiritual tendency, moral principal, and direction of purpose of our people in this land, and less consider the issues those of which you consider in your column. The national fatigue, mostly on the scale of national politics, only pushes this process forward, worrying those who only look at the national leadership decisions, but not those who look at the undercurrent of changes within the nation. The political fiascos since 2000, the same year that the most recent "intifada" insurrection started, will only allow us to redirect ourselves into making a new leadership which will not repeat these mistakes. Only a nation who knows who they are can develop a leadership that knows what it wants.

A new zionism, based more upon faith rather than political ideology will reign in the future which will direct our nation forward. The faith of our people remains resolute that it will come soon, and I can assure you and your faithful readers that the nation will return to the glory that was last seen 2000 years ago.

Yehuda Ben-Asher, MD

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