Bibi’s Sparta-Athens Analogy

By: Yekutiel Ben Yaakov

Bibi’s Sparta-Athens analogy, preparing Israel for redemption? And what happens to Trump and Diaspora Jewry in this whole equation?

PM Netanyahu declared that Israel should become “Super Sparta,” recognizing that Israel was facing international “isolation” and foreseeing that the Israeli economy would need to develop “autarkic characteristics,” – less dependent on external trade. He alluded to a potential international arms embargo that could force the Jewish State to rely entirely on its domestic defense industry. For those who believe in the Torah, Bibi’s words echoed Bilaam’s prophetic blessing that he bestowed upon the people of Israel – to be a nation that dwells alone. According to Jewish tradition, Messiah will only come after Israel stands alone, showing her unwavering faith in G-d and when there remains no ally or superpower to attribute Israel’s great and miraculous victories to, in the final war of Gog and Magog. It was these messianic undertones that caused Israel’s secular left to panic. For them the blessing for Israel to stand alone, is the greatest curse imaginable.

“We’ll need to develop our weapons industry,” Netanyahu said, adding: “We’re going to be Athens and Super-Sparta combined. We have no choice, at least for the coming years when we’ll be required to deal with these isolation attempts.”

This analogy is an honest and accurate portrayal of the severe international backlash Israel is experiencing, with France, Australia, Canada and others recognizing a Palestinian State. And with Israel’s popularity plummeting to all-time lows in America and around the globe, as anti-Semitism soars and a dark cloud hovers over world Jewry’s collective horizon.  Despite mounting international criticism and accusations of genocide—Netanyahu remains on course to destroy Hamas and to take action in Yemen, Iran Qatar and in places that nobody ever would have dreamed about in the not so distant past. Albeit, Israel is not moving nearly as quickly as it could, and often risks its own soldiers bending over backwards to satisfy world opinion in suicidal pinpoint attacks so as not to kill “innocent” enemy “civilians” and effectively rearming Hamas with the insane humanitarian aid that everyone knows falls straight into the hands of Hamas.

Netanyahu’s use of the “Sparta” analogy

Clearly Netanyahu meant to boost morale and to prepare Israel, while siting Sparta for its formidable military prowess.

A central theme of Bibi’s speech was the need for economic autarky and military self-sufficiency. Sparta, was a society that valued military readiness above all else, at the expense of trade and foreign relations. By comparing Israel to Sparta, Netanyahu is preparing the public for economic sacrifices.

The phrase “Athens and super Sparta combined” is interesting and seemingly contradictory, at a first glance. Sparta represents military might, self-reliance and isolation. It symbolizes the discipline and strength needed to survive in a hostile world. Athens, on the other hand represents innovation, democracy and cultural-intellectual influence.

By combining the two, Netanyahu is portraying Israel as a nation that will not only possess overwhelming military power but also retain its democratic values and technological prowess. This suggests a nation that will use its strength to protect a society that is a military powerhouse as well as a beacon of democracy and culture, a “super” version of both. Israel’s more religious Jews, while thrilled to hear Bibi’s Sparta vision about Israel taking the necessary military actions that could lead to isolation are not over thrilled with the cultural, pluralistic, democratic connotation of Athens. However, one can argue that Netanyahu used the Athens analogy to refer to Israel’s technological and intellectual strength and less  in respect for cultural and democratic values.

By Netanyahu’s choice of Sparta, the victor of the Peloponnesian War, Netanyahu is telling Israelis that military power, not international favor, is key to their long-term survival. By closing with the words, “with the help of G-d” he is implying that military might and technological prowess alone will only prevail with the help of G-d.

There are very uncertain days ahead of us. One thing is certain, for the Jew in the Exile it is time to buy a one way ticket to Israel. For Israel, I am not over concerned because the only place of refuge for the Jew will be in Zion, Yoel 3;4. As for Donald Trump, he has two choices: Trump will either fulfil his pledges and show true love of Israel, and if that is so, he and America shall be blessed as the Torah states, Breishit 12;3.

On the other hand, and I know Zionist Trump-lovers have a hard time accepting this, Trump could turn into Israel’s worst enemy and nightmare, and in that case, America will be cursed. Israel will do just fine with or without America; in G-d we trust.

TRUMP WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT IF HE CONTINUES HIS STEADFAST SUPPORT OF ISRAEL      At the end of the day, for the Jew as well as for the gentile there is an eternal internal conflict; a side of light that has faith and does the right thing and a dark side that lacks faith and that pushes man to do the wrong thing. There are, however, special moments in a man’s life when he must take a stand. These are great moments when man can pass or fail his test; when he can grasp greatness or plummet into the waste baskets of history.

Similarly for a country and for the nations of the world, there are certain periods in history where the fate of all mankind and the fate of Israel stand more delicately on the balance. This is such a critical crossroad in Jewish and world history. Trump’s fate and the fate of the U.S.A. is simple, if Trump truly continues to stick his neck out for Jews and Israel he may just make America great again and he may just bring great blessing to the land. That is, if the nation allows him to govern without assassinating him or shutting down the country. As for Israel, have no fear, we will survive in the land and we will prosper with security immediately if we do the right thing and show our faith in G-d.

DONALD SPELLS “HAAYIT” IN GEMATRIA – SYMBOLIZING THE EAGLE

This is all summed up interestingly in Parshat Lech Lecha the portion of the Torah which we will read in a few weeks in synagogues around the world. How timely that we will be reading it soon after the UN anti-Israel declarations, specifically on the week that Trump was first elected. At the beginning of the parsha we read in Breishit, chapter 12, verse 3, that those who bless Abraham will be blessed and those who curse Abraham shall be cursed.

After, the parsha describes the great victory that Abraham had over the 4 empires that had captured his nephew Lot, the Torah speaks of how Abraham will be victorious due to his faith in G-d, (Chapter 15, verse 6). None the less, Abraham requests a reassurance from G-d that his children should also be redeemed, despite their future sins and betrayal of the Torah way. In verse 8 there, Abraham requests a sign to show that G-d will not forsake his descendants and that they shall indeed inherit the land and merit their chosen destiny. (The commentaries explain that this is not a breach of Abraham’s faith, but rather Abraham seeing that his descendants would sin, wanted a reassurance that G-d would not forsake them, and that they, in the end, will enjoy a final redemption).

Donald in gematria – spells HaAyit – the eagle, which is the symbol of America and it is also mentioned in the parsha in a particularly messianic context.

In the following verses, G-d shows Avram that he has nothing to fear and that his children will be redeemed: G-d establishes His covenant to Abraham and to his descendants by having Abraham perform a ritual “brit ben Habetraim” the covenant in between the dissected parts of the animals he sacrificed. While the bird (dove) which symbolizes Israel (shir HaShirim 2:14) remains whole to symbolize the indestructability of the Jewish people. The dissected animals, on the other hand, symbolize the nations of the world, who will find their demise (perhaps in the war of Gog UMagog).

And then the eagle descends upon the animals (the nations of the world). However, they are dispersed. Rashi says that King David wishes to come to (exact vengeance against the nations) but he is not permitted until Moshiach comes. When the eagle hovering over is sent away or when the nations are sent away, then Moshiach can come and then the final redemption shall be ushered in.

This messianic vision is unclear. Who is driven away? Is it the eagle that comes to eat the nations or is it the nations that attacked Israel? If it is the eagle, that needs to be driven away before the coming of Moshiach then why does it say that they will be driven away (plural) to explain a single eagle and if it is the nations, that are driven away, then why must they be driven away, if they are already dissected? The plural language would imply that it is the nations, driven away by Abraham that will precede Moshiach coming.

I think that this can be explained in two different ways, just as the redemption can come in two different ways. From the perspective of America, it is their choice whether or not to support Israel and to  be blessed. They can play some role of fighting the enemies of Israel and one needs be blind not to see that divide between Trump and Europe when it comes to arming and support for Israel -The Biblical vision of a vulture or eagle hovering over the nations, or Trump can serve as a protector of the nations, supporting Israel only to be able to control the intensity of Israel’s response in its defense against the nations. Trump, the eagle seems to play both sides.  Befriending Turkey, Qatar, Egypt on the one hand, while standing with Israel. Tipping off Qatar on the impending air strike and condemning Israel for the strike on the Hamas leadership in Qatar, for example.

However, in the end, Israel will need to garner the faith and the courage to drive out her enemies and to show acts of faith to merit redemption and the coming of moshiach. The eagle can come to Jerusalem in the final war of Gog to fight the Moslems, but their swords can also be turned against Israel and then both Ishmael and Esav – the xtians find their deaths in the final war before moshiach comes, as most commentaries explain the prophecy in Zecharya 14 and in Yehezkel 38. Israel needs to be prepared to stand alone. Super-Sparta, however, with the understanding that G-d is with us. This is the common understanding so that the great victories will be attributed to the Hand of G-d and not to the aid we received from allies.

This sending away of the eagle could mean taking action alone, without the eagle playing a direct active role. Thus, the eagle is spared, but before moshiach comes Israel will need to take proactive action on its own. This could explain the differences in opinion about the role of the HaAyit-eagle = Trump in Gematria, in the final showdown. Will he be playing some sort of role in an alliance with Israel, or will he, too, ultimately join with the rest of the world when they converge on Jerusalem?

For Israel to have allies is not a sin. For Israel to place her faith in these allies or to accept bribes and aid creating reliance on these allies is a problem, particularly when appeasing these allies contradicts the way of the Torah (see Lech Lecha chapter 14, verse 13, Avraham’s allies, yet later in verses 22-24 Abraham refuses to take anything from the King of Sedom.) It seems that, regardless, America potentially has a unique and special role. They can break from Europe; the rest of the Esav-world and from the Arabs and the Islamic world.

The dissected animals – symbolizes perhaps that break and the divide between the nations; two sides – one pinned against the other – Islam vs Esav – the Muslims against the Western world, who are at war with each other. In the end they unite against Jerusalem. However, Trump-land USA will need to decide if he will join with the rest of the world and fall or if he will side with Israel and survive that final war. The eagle is being sent away from that final battle, and from falling in that battle. Trump will have to decide his own fate and whether or not he will restore greatness to America.

In the end, Israel will win regardless. Trumps embrace of Israel can only help America. Don’t worry Trump, Israel is behind you all of the way, that is if you do the right thing. Make no mistake, Israel does not need America. The redemption will come one way or another regardless of what America does. Trumps support of Israel will determine only the fate of America. Will the eagle stand ready to take on the rest of the world together with Israel or will the eagle side with the rest of the western world and Islam against Jerusalem?

According to most interpretations of the Rashi that speaks of the eagle and the final redemption, Moshiach will come when Israel drives away the eagle. However, some commentaries do say that Israel drives away the (animals) nations and not the eagle (Ibn Ezra). Thus, there is a possibility to explain that the eagle is not united with the rest of the nations, and while Israel needs to fight that final war against the nations alone, the eagle can choose to do the right thing and separate itself from sharing the same dark fate as the enemies of Israel. Some say that Israel sends away the animals so that the eagle will leave and set their targets on the nations – their prey.

This would imply that the eagle can also play an active role in the war against the nations, if they so choose to do so. According to the more likely interpretation of this Rashi, Israel will send away the eagle, and this can mean that Trump will turn sour and that when Israel has the courage to say “no” to his future dictates then this will be a sign of the redemption to follow.

What can be learned from all of this, regardless, Israel must not rely on Trump or the nations and Israel must do what it needs to do and show full faith in G-d. The true  barometer to measure Israel’s faith and the absolute test, is how willing Israel is to do the type of mitzvoth that might anger the world, such as expelling her enemies, allowing unlimited “settlement” in all of the land including Gaza and building the Temple. For the Jew in the Exile his test is siding with Israel and making Aliya to Israel, in spite of all of the obstacles and apparent risks.

Big things are coming down and the time is ripe for all Jews around the world to come home to Israel. Only in Zion shall the Jews find refuge, as the Prophet Yoel warns, (Yoel 3;5). Time to come home!

Psikta Rabati 36: Rabbi Yitzhak says: In the year that Moshiach will be revealed, all of the rulers of the world will be provoking each other (see recent  latest intensification of the conflict with Russia and America, and all of the other conflicts and wars around the globe and in Israel’s seven-front war…)…and the King of Persia (Iran) provokes an Arab King (The Saudis and others including Iraq) and the Arab King (Saudis and other Arab regimes) seeks help from Edom (represented by Europe or US – the leader of the pack). Then Persia destroys the world.

The rest of the world shudders in fear and asks from where will we come and where shall we go. G-d answers them: My Children, don’t be afraid! Whatever I have done I have only done for your sake. Why are you afraid? The time of your redemption has come! And this last redemption will not be like the redemption from Egypt when you had sorrow and further exiles afterwards. In this last redemption there will never again be sorrow and bondage under the nations again.