The theological symbolism of an ass, or donkey, in Judaism is potent. As noted, the term "Messiah''s Ass" (Chamoro Shel Mashiach, in the Hebrew: חמורו של משיח) has been highlighted as a religious-political doctrine, attributed to Rabbi Avraham Yitchak Hacohen Kook who held that Heaven imposed upon secular Zionists, as it were, the task to build up a Jewish State, but once the state is established the observant Jews will then lead the state Of course Rav Kook presumed there wouldn''t really be very many secularists around since that redemptive development would impress upon all who are less-than-observant that the true roots of Zionism are religious. And there is a lot more to be said about that I (but there''s not enough space at this blog). A book on this subject, published in 1998 by the militant secularist Sefi Rechlevsky, aroused a major controversy in the Israeli public opinion.
Of course, if a donkey can speak (Numbers 22:28), anyone can - including that same Sefi Rechlevsky who has authored a bit of pit punditry recently wherein he writes, as CAMERA caught:
Israel will soon celebrate 44 years of the occupation. For a lengthy portion of that time, we are talking about the last colonial occupation on earth.
So, only Israel is an occupier? A colonial occupier? The last? There are no others?
And CAMERA correctly asks, are there no other "occupied territories" around the world? And the CAMERA blogger continues:
This surely most come as news to the Tibetans occupied by China, the Chechnyians occupied by Russia, the North Cypriots occupied by Turkey, West Saharans occupied by Morocco, residents of the Falklands occupied by the United Kingdom, as well as those living in Georgian-occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Of course, as we all know, Israel is not in any way a "colonial occupier." Odd that even CAMERA didn''t catch that out although its Hebrew-language site, Presspectiva, got it right by pointing out the theme of disputed sovereignty which exists in many areas which could parallel the case with the "disputed territories" of Judea and Samaria.
However, as my readers know full well, I consider those regions of Judea and Samaria, and Gaza as well, as part of the Land of Israel which were included in the original intent of the nations where the Jewish national home was to be reconstituted. And that intent was enshrined in international law. The Jewish communities constructed in the area are not "illegal," and surely not "illegitimate" as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been trumpeting. At least, unlike an American president, I surely do not advocate ''transfer'' to solve certain demographic problems concerned with geography.
Getting back to Rechlevsky, a true bearer of the Haaretz burden, a liberal, progressive radical secular ideology slipping off the Zionist platform, one failing to face the facts of history and reality of current political and cultural trends, he shouldn''t feel so bad about my criticism, for even jawbones have their positive aspects (Judges 15:15-16).