First, if an enemy of our people says he seeks to destroy us, believe him. Don’t doubt him for a moment. Don’t make light of it. Do all in your power to deny him the means of carrying out his satanic intent.
Second, when a Jew anywhere is threatened, or under attack, do all in your power to come to his aid. Never pause to wonder what the world will think or say. The world will never pity slaughtered Jews. The world may not necessarily like the fighting Jew, but the world will have to take account of him.
Third, a Jew must learn to defend himself. He must forever be prepared for whenever threat looms.
Fourth, Jewish dignity and honor must be protected in all circumstances. The seeds of Jewish destruction lie in passively enabling the enemy to humiliate us. Only when the enemy succeeds in turning the spirit of the Jew into dust and ashes in life, can he turn the Jew into dust and ashes in death. During the Holocaust it was after the enemy had humiliated the Jews, trampled them underfoot, divided them, deceived them, afflicted them, drove brother against brother, only then could he lead them, almost without resistance, to the gates of Auschwitz. Therefore, at all times and whatever the cost, safeguard the dignity and honor of the Jewish people.
Fifth, stand united in face of the enemy. We Jews love life, for life is holy. But there are things in life more precious than life itself. There are times when one must risk life for the sake of rescuing the lives of others. And when the few risk their own lives for the sake of the many, then they, too, stand the chance of saving themselves.
Sixth, there is a pattern to Jewish history. In our long annals as a nation, we rise, we fall, we return, we are exiled, we are enslaved, we rebel, we liberate ourselves, we are oppressed once more, we rebuild, and again we suffer destruction, climaxing in our own lifetime in the calamity of calamities, the Holocaust, followed by the rebirth of the Jewish State.
So, yes, we have come full circle, and with God’s help, with the rebirth of sovereign Israel we have finally broken the historic cycle: no more destruction and no more defeats, and no more oppression – only Jewish liberty, with dignity and honor. These, I believe, are the underlying lessons to be learned from the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust.
(33) Sy, January 29, 2020 3:05 AM
So true
Well said and so very true! But one thing needs to be clear to us: As much as we need to do to defend ourselves, the State of Israel cannot become fully secure until the coming of Moshiach! We need to do teshuva and daven to Hashem to save us, for He is the only one that can guarantee victory.
(32) Avraham Sonenthal, January 31, 2019 1:33 PM
Takeaway from Begin: learn how to fight
This article is just drivel unless the point is: gain some expertise with firearms, learn to handle them safely and fire them accurately. Obtain a firearm and a carry permit if you can. Learn principles of unarmed combat. Krav Maga is a good choice. You will only have learned Menachen Begins lesson when you start making yourself into a dangerous person. That is when you can stop those who want to hurt Jews.
Ben Pearlman, January 29, 2020 1:33 PM
AMEN Avraham!
(31) Herzl Melmed, January 30, 2019 5:44 PM
The world will never thank the Jews for what we teach them
As much as we would like the world to leave the Jews alone they never will. We are too prominent every where in all things making the world a better place.
We can see that "in every generation they will try to destroy us".
As Begin has said only if & when we are strong will we have peace.
(30) simon weiss, January 30, 2019 11:55 AM
My Dad agrees with Mr Begin
I didn't realize that my Dad was right in supporting Mr Begin, when everyone else found him wrong!
But as a refugee on the Kindertransport, I should have realized that Dad, the refugee, was right!
(29) Barry Steinhart, January 30, 2019 4:56 AM
Menachem Begin
I fully understand Begin’s sentiments, it is human nature. But I doubt if that is the Torahdige Hashkofo. There is a difference of opinion amongst the true Rabbis whether the Warsaw Ghetto uprising was justified. Many hold that more were killed there than if they wouldn’t have rebelled, as the other ghettos show. But I do understand the great pleasure of seeing the German blood of those Nazi scum.
(28) Anonymous, January 28, 2019 8:30 AM
A jew against another jew
Terrible experience! A jew against another jew! Horrible to think of. Search Beth din! Go to the leadership of the community. How do you resolve such an issue $ is definitely involved. Not a pitiful amount. Why it happens!...life savings gone at a click of moment! Going public and humiliating the adversity is 1 option. Community will suffer. What is the alternative. Legal way. Costly $ and lengthy bureaucracy!
(27) buzz, January 28, 2019 7:08 AM
Forget the past & you will repeat it
In 1978 a neo-Nazi group wanted to march in the village of Skokie with their Halloween costumes and swastikas. David Goldberg, a disgrace to the Jewish people from the ACLU fought for them all the way to Supreme Court and won.they won right to march in Skokie. The Jewish Defense League had met them in the streets several times and beat the hell out of them. When it came time for the march an Illinois state senator was working with the FBI negotiating team and spoke to Frank Collin, the Nazi leader. An article, quoting the senator, was printed in a local paper. However, I personally spoke with the senator and he told me Collin "begged" him to find an alternative site because the JDL would kill him if he went to Skokie. I think Collin made a wise choice. The feds instead let him demonstrate in a downtown location. I knew Collin's Jewish father. Early on he had been in the Dachau Concentration camp, but got out early and fled. Collin loved to dress up in his Nazi uniform, but when push came to shove he was a coward on his own. Not long after the furor over his march died down his party kicked him out and he was subsequently went to jail for molesting 2 quite young boys. .
(26) Alex Goldis, January 28, 2019 1:28 AM
Brilliant answers
These 6 lessons of the Holocaust are pertinent today as they were throughout the history of Jewish dispersment-prosecution's pogroms- culminating in Holocaust. Menachem Begin was a visionary and all Jews should be proud of such a Leader.
(25) Shirley Hiller, January 28, 2019 1:10 AM
Very well said.
But for the bravery of Menachem Begin and those like him, the State of Israel would not have been reborn.
We most certainly need him now.
Anti-Semitism has not just risen it’s ugly head again, it simply never went away. Our people must be taught to defend themselves wherever they are in the world. We must never worry about the world condemning us, sooner that than their pity.
I stand with everything that Menachem Begin said.
Rest in peace Sir. Shalom
(24) Harold, January 27, 2019 4:27 PM
Many thanks for reprinting this!
.
(23) Anonymous, January 27, 2019 4:21 PM
All the Jew is responsible for each other !
(22) Edward, September 22, 2016 5:36 AM
Menachem Begin - tough as nails !
Menachem Begin was a deciple of Jabotinsky as was my father. Israel has had many great leaders but Begin stands head and shoulders above all to date. Netanyahu also a great leader for the time. But Begin paved the way.
(21) Ben, March 22, 2015 4:00 AM
Please check out this petition
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/treat-democratic-ally-israel-respectfully-demand-more-accountability-palestinians-and-iran-supporting-terror/QdPYVLxp
(20) Sheila Novitz, March 21, 2015 3:49 PM
Menachem Begin Said ...
Brilliant. Perfect. It is beyond my understanding that Western Liberals disagree with Menachem Begin's statements quoted here. Why do they bother being Jewish when they're busy trying to get Israel destroyed, and when they describe our defensive wars as "stupid"? Are we supposed to be deaf when we receive repeated, constant death threats? And then do the "Liberals" expect us simply to roll over and die? They make no sense.
(19) Moshe Akiva, March 21, 2015 3:09 AM
something comes to mind
Gee, why do I suddenly think about Iran and its crazed mullahs?
(18) Anonymous, March 18, 2015 11:22 AM
I disagree
Why does the founding of the State of Israel mean we have broken the cycle of Jewish history. That has nothing to do with us, that is the Hand of G-d as explained in the Torah.
Anonymous, March 19, 2015 2:08 AM
Because...
Now the Jewish people have the means to defend themselves. We are no longer pawns in another country, we have our own land and the right to defend that land and the people within it.
Rebecca, April 16, 2015 7:51 AM
But, the Torah shows...
It would seem that God is telling us through the Torah, that the Jewish people do not liberate themselves - rather God liberates His people. The attitude of relying on human strength (the nation rather than God) is antithetical to Torah teaching. And it's the turning towards human ideas of redemption rather than God's protection that leads to the exiles in the first place.
Anonymous, January 27, 2019 4:28 PM
Agree
Thank you for your post, Rebecca and what the Torah shows.
Dvirah, January 27, 2019 8:27 PM
Amalek
I think you have forgotten the lesson of Amalek, where we are commanded to destroy utterly the hateful nation...naturally the victory is granted by the Commander, but we still all need to do our part.
Anonymous, January 28, 2019 3:21 AM
We cannot know the identity of Amelek today
It has been lost and it is for HaShem to know.
(17) KILETE DENNIS DIONIN, March 18, 2015 9:45 AM
A LESSON FOR ALL FAMILIES
This is a great lesson to be learnt by all families and ethnic nationalities of the world. United you stand divided you fall.
(16) Bobby5000, March 18, 2015 4:08 AM
lessons and one more
This was very good and he is correct that the policy of accommodation was disaster. Note though, be careful of taking too many lessons from one event. The French and English took these lessons from World War I, don't let personal disputes degenerate into war, give the other party the benefit of the doubt, and an overreaction to World War I helped cause WW11.
I read Ariel Sharon's biography written by his son. One striking fact, he took no advice from any world leader and 99% of the book was his lecturing other leaders and the skepticism became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
(15) Anonymous, March 17, 2015 1:02 PM
Great lessons and sadly so true! Thanks for posting this!
(14) Anonymous, March 17, 2015 12:11 PM
Exactly What We Need To Do
Thank you. We need to carefully read and follow these words. No more victims and stand together. Everything written here is what I have believed all of my life. The world can just wake up. We are not here for these murderers pleasure. They hate our beloved Israel because we have the nerve to stand up for ourselves; finally.
(13) Shelly, March 17, 2015 3:35 AM
My Hero
Menachrm Begin has always been a heroic figure to me. I remember when he spoke at Hunter University in NY many (40 ) years ago. There was a bomb threat called in to the university. He said (paraphrase) "we will not be threatened and we will not leave this auditorium because our enemies attempt to scare us". Not one person stood to leave. He continued his speech to a cheering crowd. Too few leaders like him anymore. What a shame! But everything he said, in the above mentioned article, is true. If only all Jews could comprehend and practice! AM YISROEL CHAI !!!
(12) Margarita, March 16, 2015 8:38 PM
Great statement
He was a great person with great understanding of many things. I dread to think about political pressure from "friends" like carter as now we are getting a glimpse of the hate. in my opinion Menachem Begin obm still has many lessons to teach us.
(11) CoCo Banken, March 16, 2015 12:35 PM
Holocaust lessons
Amazing wisdom.
(10) Ana E Ehrenpreis, March 16, 2015 4:13 AM
He was a great man and a greater leader to the jewish people. He was my dad's friend from Kobryn Poland . I have great admiration for him.
Men's him Begin was a great man and a greater leader.
(9) Kees van den Bosch, March 15, 2015 10:47 PM
Proof of higher intelligence!
One only has to peruse the list of Peace Price achievers to see that over 80% of them were Jews.
(8) Fred, March 15, 2015 9:37 PM
Heartening
Heartening and how true. I believe in these sentiments. These are wise word one should follow. Dayenu, enough.
(7) Al H., March 15, 2015 7:34 PM
Treat Threat as Work In Progress
The mouth speaks the mind aka heart. Read of how law enforcemeat sees threat or provocation. Words are not taken lightly. Nowhere is threat treated as idle chatter. Same in military as well.
(6) Victor Hafichuk, March 15, 2015 6:55 PM
Mr. Begin's Legacy
An excellent article. Prime Minister Begin was a realist, warrior, revolutionary and statesman. A great thinker, dead serious, eloquent, and true to his sober principles. He learned, taught and accomplished much... on this plane.
But there is much more that has happened by the historic trying fires upon Jewry besides those things Mr. Begin has discerned. It's not so much in terms of social, political, military, economic and other kinds of lessons in this world but of what has been accomplished in the psyche and nature of Jews and consequently the Gentile world. None of what the Jews have suffered is in vain, not a moment or an atom.
(5) Helen Schwab (Chaiah), March 15, 2015 6:05 PM
I voted for Begin. I agree with him on almost everything.
Everything he says here is good, except that he leaves out the ultimate Arbitrator of history. Many thoughtful Israelis agree there is no solution without the Almighty's help.
(4) Morton Friedman, March 15, 2015 5:49 PM
Too Bad
Too bad Begin is not around to speak to jewish Americans about the threat they face at home. Yes, I speak about the jewish voters that are lock-step Democrats, and gave Obama a free pass, not once, but twice.
Lee, March 15, 2015 9:49 PM
Agree with Morton Friedman 100%
I tried to find it in my heart to forgive those who voted for BO in 07, but haven't been able to forgive them a 2nd time. I pray before I die we have a better world.
(3) jon lukas woodenman, March 15, 2015 5:29 PM
i hear words of defence celebrating staying alive against all odds
i find its forever hard to comprehend this engrained hatred against such an intelligent progressive warm self sufficient brave strong race that has survived its annihilation all these years ... and has to live with this throughout to date and furthermore ... sad indeed ...
(2) Ezra, March 15, 2015 5:07 PM
Perfect encapsulation or lessons learned
Succinct and clear statement by one modern times greatest Jewish leaders. We should never forget that this champion for a free, strong and modern Jewish state was also the one who made the peace with Egypt. The lesson taught was that even a so called Jewish nationalist will make a genuine peace with his enemies when there is mutual respect and tolerance.
(1) Mike, March 15, 2015 4:35 PM
Good advice for todays youth.
I hope that the former Prime Minister's words will give strength to those Jewish students who are confronting the BDS movement and other anti Zionist organizations at our nation's colleges.
Al Hoffman, March 15, 2015 7:37 PM
"Wh? ! BITE BAIT?!"
Beware of the method of disturbers of the peace. They can provoke a fight to justify further wrong on their part.