BY ZE’EV JABOTINSKY, AFSI—
As this day of mourning, Tisha B’Av, approaches, it is fitting to read the words of a great prophet and Zionist, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, as he pleaded with the Jews of Poland 73 years ago to save themselves from the certain death that Hitler was planning for them. In addition to seeing the horrible danger, he also foresaw the birth of the State of Israel.
“…it is already three years that I am calling upon you, Polish Jewry, who are the crown of world Jewry.
I continue to warn you incessantly that a catastrophe is coming closer.
I became grey and old in these years.
My heart bleeds, that you, dear brothers and sisters, do not see the volcano which will soon begin to spit its all-consuming lava.
I see that you are not seeing this because you are immersed and sunk in your daily worries.
Today, however, I demand from you trust. You were convinced already that my prognoses have already proven to be right. If you think differently, then drive me out of your midst! However, if you do believe me, then listen to me in this 12th hour:
In the name of God! Let anyone of you save himself as long as there is still time. And time there is very little…and what else I would like to say to you in this day of Tisha B’Av:
whoever of you will escape from the catastrophe, he or she will live to see the exalted moment of a great Jewish wedding: the rebirth and the rise of a Jewish state. I don’t know if I will be privileged to see it; my son will! I believe in this as I am sure that tomorrow morning the sun will rise.”
AFSI will be sponsoring its annual Jabotinsky Memorial program on Wednesday evening, Sept. 14, 2011, in NYC. Please save the date. Details will be forthcoming shortly.