Moshe Burt.

Our parsha Vayigash tracks the confusion and bewilderment of the brothers
as expressed by Yehudah to the Egyptian Viceroy leading up to the latter's revelation
that he is indeed Yosef; their brother who they sold into slavery years before.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, in his sefer "Growth through Torah," explains that immediately
upon the brothers' hearing the words "I am Yosef", all of the confusion, bewilderment
and difficulties in understanding events were instantly clarified.

Rabbi Pliskin quotes The Chofetz Chayim who said that "whn the entire world will hear the words 'I am Hashem', all of the questions and difficulties that people had regarding the history of the world will be ... clarified and understood. Everyone will see how the hand of the Almighty caused everything for our benefit." (Growth Through Torah, Parsha Vayigash, p. 123)

Rabbi Pliskin also quotes The Chazon Ish who says that "...suffering elevates a person to a world that is full of light.  It elevates a person above his body's natural tendencies and this is the essence of man."  (Kovetz Igros Chazon Ish 1:201; P'air Hador, Vol. 3, p. 23 as quoted in "Growth Through Torah, Parsha Vayigash, p. 124.)

There is no way to claim that anything said here subsequent to the above can even attempt to approach the level of clarity or enlightenment of Yosef HaTzaddik, the Chofetz Chayim, the Chazon Ish or any of our great commentators or Tzaddikim.  Have said this, I hold that the profound clarity and meaning of "I am Yosef" is a seguy to a discussion of a profound issue of our day -- the Sharon Government's bulldozing attempt in Gush Katif, it's possible ramifications and consequences for all of Israel and for all Israelis and what we can do to halt it on higher spiritual levels.

I have spoken in the past of some of the costs, the huge resultant increase in the Ma'as Hachnasa Tax monkey on Yosef Q. Israeli's back, from the possible expulsion and displacement of Jews from their homes and communities in Eretz Yisrael; the costs of military infrastructure to chas v'chalila bring about an expulsion, the cost of compensating the expelled, the costs of reestablishing communities for them in different locations in Israel (some for the second time in their lives), the costs
of the resultant traumas of an expulsion of Jews who never for a second thought that their brethren were capable of stooping to the level of the gentile nations who expelled Jews again and again over the past nearly 2,000 years.  And lest we forget both the huge tax cost and impact on the already stretched-beyond-the-limit collective Israeli Minus bank balance as well as the mental impact and trauma of the inevitable Kassam attacks on Ashkelon, Ashdod, Rechovot and maybe even Ramla and Beit Shemesh resulting from Kassam launchers placed at the upper edges of Gaza and the Arab smell of victory over a weak-willed Israel.

There are additional costs and consequences.  What about the profound loss to Israel's economy which would result from the uprooting of a major investment in the blooming Agricultural Technology which flourishes in Gush Katif?  Who can gauge the magnitude of the loss to the Israel's economy and loss in fruit and vegetable shortages and resultant inflated prices?

I've always held that the machinations and cheshbonot of Israel's politicians is a test for all of us from Hashem; How badly do we want our land?  How intense is our collective "fire in the belly?"  How deep is our belief, our faith in Hashem?  What are we willing to do, when and if the time comes, to "put it on the line?"

There is action that we can do, where we can express our feelings by giving comfort,
support, and chizuk to our brethren in Gush Katif in a non-controversial, yet in a enormously tangible way.

Through the Sefer Torah Recycling Network which I founded 10 years ago and am director of, I am seeking donation of a used Sefer Torah and/or funds donations, in order to acquire a used Sefer Torah and see to its repair and restoration for placement in the newly completed Chasdei Shimrit Community Center in Neve Dekalim in Gush Katif.

This Community Center, built by David Bonfeld in memory of his daughter Shimrit who was niftar from a rare blood disease several years ago, will serve as a multi-purpose learning center with regular weekday and Shabbos davening as well as providing regular daily shiurim for the community.

During the past 10 years, The Sefer Torah Recycling Network has seen to acquiring donation of 10 Sifrei Torah, the restoration and placement of 8 S'forim to date in locations in Eretz Yisrael. 2 S'forim are currently in process of restoration -- 1 which will be placed upon it's completion,  IY'H in late March, 2005, in the facilities of Rachel's Children Reclamation Foundation located next to Kever Rachel and the other which will be placed in a new Junior/Senior High School/Yeshiva to open next September.

In donating a Sefer Torah, or by donating funds toward restoration costs of a Sefer Torah for a needy location, such as for Chasdei Shimrit Community Center in Neve Dekalim, you can help make the place a Mokom Torah, a secure, permanent lcation where Hashem's Torah resides.  And in these days, as the calculations of political chesbonot include attempts, please G'd unsuccessful, to expel Jews from Jewish land in Gush Katif, donating a Sefer Torah, or the funds to acquire and restore a used Sefer Torah for this community center is to take positive, decisive action to grasp and possess our land, Eretz Yisrael, as your own.

As a lover of Eretz Yisrael and B'nai Yisrael, I am sure that all who read this D'var Torah share in my wish that the Chasdei Shimrit Community Center in Neve Dekalim, as well as every community in Eretz Yisrael will become a true Mokom Torah.  With your help, we can make this wish and prayer a reality and we can speak loudly and strongly with our actions, just as Yehudah spoke to the Viceroy.

For the time is coming when IY'H HaKadosh Borchu will reveal to B'nai Yisrael, just as Yosef revealed himself to his brothers in few words, yet words of clarity or enlightenment. The coming of Moshiach, the Ge'ula Shlaima will be sufficient explanation regarding the hows, whys, wherefores, etc. of the generations of our Galut, "Yom Hashem Al Kol HaGoyim", the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b'yameinu -- speedily, in our time, -- Immediately; Achshav, Chik Chuk, Meiyad, Etmol!!!
 
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of the Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh and can be reached by phone at 011-972-547-305-497 ( in Israel #0547-305-497)