 when it is necessary to fight, he is prepared to fight. One who rejects the choice of aggression out of a sense of compassion may be a kind human being, but a wholly inadequate leader, because the long-term violence resulting from a failure to battle evil is far worse than the violence of the battle itself.
In modern terms, Moses is politically incorrect. He does not lecture the Egyptian taskmaster about the cycle of violence or give him a lesson on rage management. Moses knows that by the time he will complete his lecture, the Hebrew might be dead. Moses is aware that at times, violence is a moral, though difficult, choice. It saves the lives of the innocent.
Prohibiting moral killing guarantees immoral killing. It is "violence" used by police that stops violent criminals from murdering and hurting innocent people. There are many innocent men and women alive today solely because someone used violence to save their lives. If someone had killed the hijackers of 9/11 before they commandeered the planes, thousands of lives would have been saved.
"I would like you to lay down the arms you have which are useless for saving you or humanity. You will invite Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini to take what they want of the countries you call your possessions. Let them take possession.... If these gentlemen choose to occupy your homes, you will vacate them. If they do not give you free passage out, you will allow yourself, man, woman and child, to be slaughtered, but you will refuse to owe allegiance to them."
"I am as certain as I am dictating these words that the stoniest German heart will melt [if only the Jews] adopt active non-violence. Human nature... unfailingly responds to the advances of love. I do not despair of his [Hitler's] responding to human suffering even though caused by him."
Had Gandhi convinced the English to lay down their arms and practice non-violence, the Jewish people would have been annihilated, democracy and human rights would have disappeared, and our world would have been plunged into a new Dark Age of unimaginable cruelty. War, while always unfortunate and painful, is not always evil; sometimes, fighting a war is the most moral thing to do.
Astonishingly, the nation that Moses created has in recent years emulated Gandhi rather than Moses. With the Oslo accords, we invited our sworn enemies to take parts of our homeland in the belief that they would reciprocate with peace and good will. Instead of declaring outright war against the terrorists and their infrastructure, we chose to practice restraint and non-violent diplomacy. Many of us believed then, and some still believe, that the stoniest terrorist heart will melt in response to our peaceful advances.
War, Dishonor, or Both?
In 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain appeased Adolf Hitler by allowing the German Fuhrer to occupy the Sudetenland for a mere promise of peace. Chamberlain then returned to England and announced that he had brought "Peace in our time." Winston Churchill denounced him as a naive appeaser who believed that he could buy Hitler's good will by giving in to his immoral demands: "You were given a choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war."
Sadly, the same has transpired with Israel. By relinquishing parts of our homeland, Israel chose dishonor. In return, Israel received war. Today, we are in the midst of the worst bloodletting in Israeli history. The relentless terror is a direct result of the tragic policy that believes in appeasing terrorists and not destroying them. Appeasement is suicidal for the innocent and ensures victory for the evil.
The terror war on Israel, like World War II, is a war against the Jews. Losing is catastrophic. Losing is not an option. This is no time for appeasement or restraint. This is a time for righteous might.
The prophets of Israel were the first to conceive of peace as an ideal. Isaiah gave voice to the great words engraved in the imagination of the West: "Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation; neither shall they learn war anymore." But the way to hasten Isaiah's vision is to fight evil, not allow it to flourish.
At another time, when the Jews needed to forcefully confront their enemies, the prophet Joel declared, "Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears." The use of moral violence must always be the last resort. But when all other attempts fail, righteous might is the only response to immoral violence.
Fighting Back The Almighty has laws that are consistent across the board. When Abraham settled in the land promised to him by the Owner of the universe, Abraham did not throw out the residents of the place. His coming was a mercy to the inhabitants of the land. He bought land, wells and caves. Did not use or abuse his special relationship with the Most High.
This Israel was created by Theodore Herzl who was given four children, but his generations are no more. Abraham in contrast has more children than any other man! Mercy leads to blessings. Injustice of Atilla the Hun or for that matter the Muslim hordes only breed hate. Those who choose to follow Atilla or the Muslim hordes can not be blessed. Those who follow Abraham in mercy, but also fight for justice shall have nothing to fear or to regret!
The truth is clear to those who think beyond prejudice. The Mighty One created all of us, but has put the righteous above the unrighteous among us all.
Response to Vicky Anderson You are correct that, as the many accounts of his life indicate, Mahatma Gandhi was a great man who performed many extraordinary acts of self-sacrifice. Indeed the nonviolent resistance espoused and practiced by Gandhi and Martin Luther King in their respective struggles against British imperialism and American racist institutions was a monumental moral achievement: It attained its moral ends without recourse to killing. In many instances, however, nonviolence would not attain its moral ends and would lead to the triumph of the evil it wished to resist.
I can't believe that you overlooked the power of disobedience and ACTIVE non-violence. You tore Gandhi apart and left him in shreds. People -- that is my belief -- usually don't think for themselves; how many people will now view this great man with real distaste because of an article written by you, where you failed to say anything at all about the power of disobedience and active ( active ) non-violence.

"Todah" for your wonderful article. I must say in all honesty Mr. Greenberg this is one of the "finest articles" I have read in recent years in defense of Eretz Yisrael's position. Excellent, simply Excellent. Please keep up the great work that you do in defense of our "homeland."
I have always been under the impression that Mahatma Ghandi was a leader because he had prevented the slaughter and destruction of his own people.... [But] in the context of the Jewish Nation, it is obvious that Ghandi had no real, in-depth understanding of the systematic oppression and destruction of Hebrews in world history, amongst ALL nations.
Indian history did require leadership of the kind he was able to provide. His leadership was relevant to his society, culture, and own traditions. He touches people everywhere, for he reflects that quality of Shalom. However, this is not pertinent to the Historic Jewish Nation, in its travails for redemption.
Jewish Heritage, as far as I have always understood it, has required a sense of bravery, and commitment to a much higher standard than is required for the world's nations.
Sydney's Front End Loader are back for what promises to be another mammoth Pigsty in July set. Picture: Supplied.
It’s been a long time between drinks, three years in fact, but the Boss Hogg of the Dashville calendar – Pigsty in July – is back for another crack at the feeding trough.
Considered the ‘sinister little sister’ to the now ubiquitous Gum Ball, the wintery good times will be flowing on Saturday 3 July.
The age old tradition of gathering with friends and family on one of the longest and darkest nights of the year is what it’s about with PigSty in July, and what better way to stave off Old Man Winter than with a hotter than hell line-up that is sure to warm the cockles of even the iciest of hearts.
This time around lauded Sydney rockers Front End Loader are back to reprise their barnstorming 2018 Pigsty In July set, alongside the New Orleans-inspired punk revelry of Melbourne’s Jazzparty.
The line-up is rounded out by Hunter psychobilly kings Casino Rumblers, Sydney colonial punk lords The Bottlers, Newcastle’s very own Ladies of Loud Bitchcraft, Sydney indie-pop four-piece Jet City Sports Club, The Punk Rock Hillbilly, Newy progressive funksters Well? and Maitland psych-rockers Autumn Hearts.
Kicking off at midday, the day’s entertainment will also feature a number of special guest comedians, which will be announced shortly.
With equal measure of decadence and debauchery, PigSty in July honours an age-old tradition of winter feasting in a celebration at the deepest, darkest time of the year so, combine the feast with a popular ‘second-hand formal’ dress code, a huge display of live music, comedy, and a few toasty bonfires and the tone is set for a great PIG day out with friends.
Pig