"You Are Thieves," They cried

In The Light of the Jewish Idea of Rabbi Kahane

by Nachum Shifren

Another year has passed, and the Jewish people have performed the commandment "Thou shall dwell in Succoth seven days..." From Europe to America, from Mexico to South Africa, we have celebrated Hashem's compassion on us during this season of the gathering of the harvest. Our age-old tradition, since the Exodus from Egypt, is what unites each and every Jew in a spirit of sharing and gratitude toward the One who spoke and the world was created.

This time of year is also the culmination of finishing the last of the five books of the Torah, and starting anew with the story of Genesis. Each time I read the very first Rashi of the Torah, right in the very first passage of Genesis, I get that same feeling: chills down my spine, blood pumping a little quicker, and my memories flash before me. It was nearly twenty years ago that I heard our saintly Rabbi Meir Kahane, (may Hashem avenge his blood), expound upon the significance of the famous quote by Rashi of Rabbi Yitzhak: "Hashem created the world in seven days. He created the seven Nations in the Land of Kanan, and gave it to them. He saw their deeds and took it from them and gave it to the Jewish People. Lest anyone say, "You are thieves!"

Truly, when a Jew contemplates the awesome significance of this Torah passage, we are comforted and given increased strength in a completely murderous world. Let this be our mantra, our calling card. It feels so good. "Ashreinu, ma tov chelkeinu!" How good is our lot!