Page 178 - big friday
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driven out and Hebrew independence declared in at least part of the country, the whole
of which is ours.
It has been difficult to create our state. But it will be even more difficult to maintain it.
We are surrounded by enemies who long for our destruction. And that same oppressor,
who was both Hitler’s teacher and student, this very oppressor, who was smitten by us
directly, is trying indirectly to make us surrender with the aid of mercenaries from the
south, the north and the east. Our one-day old state is set up in the midst of the flames
of battle. And the very first pillar of our state must therefore be victory, total victory, in
the war which is raging all over the country. For this victory, without which we shall
have neither freedom nor life, we need arms; weapons of all sorts, in order to strike the
enemies, in order to disperse the invaders, in order to free the entire length and breadth
of the country from its would-be destroyers. But in addition to these arms, each and every
one of us is in need of another weapon, a spiritual weapon, the weapon of unflinching
endurance in the face of attacks from the air; in the face of grievous casualties; in the face
of local disasters and temporary defeats; unflinching resistance to threats and cajolery. If,
within the coming days and weeks, we can put on this whole armor of an undying nation
in resurrection, we shall in the meantime receive the blessed arms with which to drive off
the enemy and bring freedom and peace to our nation and country.
B ut, even after emerging victorious from this campaign - and victorious we shall be -
we shall still have to exert superhuman efforts in order to remain independent, in order
to free our country. First of all, it will be necessary to increase and strengthen the military
arm of Israel, without which there can be no freedom and no survival for our homeland.
Our Jewish army should be, and must be, one of the best trained and equipped of the
world’s military forces. In modern warfare, it is not quantity that count; rather, brainpower
and spirit are the determining factors. All of our youth have proved that they possess this
spirit – those of the Hagana, the Lehi, the Irgun, youth that no other nation has merited
[to raise up]. Indeed, no generation from Bar-Kokhba until the Bilu pioneers has seen
such spirit. As for brainpower, after 120 generations, the creativity of the Hebrew mind
is one of the most developed and unlimited. Our military science will be built up on the
Jewish mind and will be the world’s best. We will yet achieve strength, for we possess the
power of the brain…
Citizens of the Hebrew State, soldiers of Israel, we are in the midst of battles. Difficult
days lie ahead of us. Much blood will be spilled. Fortify yourselves. Strengthen your
morale. There is no other way. We cannot buy peace from our enemies with appeasement.
There is only one kind of ‘peace’ that can be bought - the peace of the graveyard, the
peace of a new Treblinka. Be brave of spirit and ready for more trials. We shall withstand
them. The Lord of Hosts will help us; He will sustain the bravery of the Hebrew youth,
the bravery of the Hebrew mothers who, like Hannah, offer their sons on the altar of God.
This supreme valor will save us from our enemy and bring us out from slavery to freedom,
from the danger of annihilation to safety….
176 The Friday That Changed Destiny
of which is ours.
It has been difficult to create our state. But it will be even more difficult to maintain it.
We are surrounded by enemies who long for our destruction. And that same oppressor,
who was both Hitler’s teacher and student, this very oppressor, who was smitten by us
directly, is trying indirectly to make us surrender with the aid of mercenaries from the
south, the north and the east. Our one-day old state is set up in the midst of the flames
of battle. And the very first pillar of our state must therefore be victory, total victory, in
the war which is raging all over the country. For this victory, without which we shall
have neither freedom nor life, we need arms; weapons of all sorts, in order to strike the
enemies, in order to disperse the invaders, in order to free the entire length and breadth
of the country from its would-be destroyers. But in addition to these arms, each and every
one of us is in need of another weapon, a spiritual weapon, the weapon of unflinching
endurance in the face of attacks from the air; in the face of grievous casualties; in the face
of local disasters and temporary defeats; unflinching resistance to threats and cajolery. If,
within the coming days and weeks, we can put on this whole armor of an undying nation
in resurrection, we shall in the meantime receive the blessed arms with which to drive off
the enemy and bring freedom and peace to our nation and country.
B ut, even after emerging victorious from this campaign - and victorious we shall be -
we shall still have to exert superhuman efforts in order to remain independent, in order
to free our country. First of all, it will be necessary to increase and strengthen the military
arm of Israel, without which there can be no freedom and no survival for our homeland.
Our Jewish army should be, and must be, one of the best trained and equipped of the
world’s military forces. In modern warfare, it is not quantity that count; rather, brainpower
and spirit are the determining factors. All of our youth have proved that they possess this
spirit – those of the Hagana, the Lehi, the Irgun, youth that no other nation has merited
[to raise up]. Indeed, no generation from Bar-Kokhba until the Bilu pioneers has seen
such spirit. As for brainpower, after 120 generations, the creativity of the Hebrew mind
is one of the most developed and unlimited. Our military science will be built up on the
Jewish mind and will be the world’s best. We will yet achieve strength, for we possess the
power of the brain…
Citizens of the Hebrew State, soldiers of Israel, we are in the midst of battles. Difficult
days lie ahead of us. Much blood will be spilled. Fortify yourselves. Strengthen your
morale. There is no other way. We cannot buy peace from our enemies with appeasement.
There is only one kind of ‘peace’ that can be bought - the peace of the graveyard, the
peace of a new Treblinka. Be brave of spirit and ready for more trials. We shall withstand
them. The Lord of Hosts will help us; He will sustain the bravery of the Hebrew youth,
the bravery of the Hebrew mothers who, like Hannah, offer their sons on the altar of God.
This supreme valor will save us from our enemy and bring us out from slavery to freedom,
from the danger of annihilation to safety….
176 The Friday That Changed Destiny
