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Yosef Vogel

Borders, Truth, and the Future of Israel

When all else fails, speak the truth.

The wisest of men said it best: “Truthful speech abides forever; a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”

One may choose the short-term path of lies and half-truths, delaying the inevitable. Or, one can embrace reality—challenges and all—and avoid compounding the problem into something far greater down the road.

The Talmud describes two paths in life: the “short-long road” and the “long-short road.” The seemingly quick route often proves longer in the end, while the harder, longer route ultimately leads to the true destination with less pain. 

Since its inception, the state of Israel has been compelled to continually defend its right to exist. Its leaders and advocates worldwide have relied mostly on a variety of arguments rooted in international law and numerous agreements.

Unfortunately, these efforts have largely resulted in failure.

Perhaps it is time to try something we have not attempted before: to share with the world the story of the Jewish people as recorded in the Bible—not merely as anecdotal support, but as the very foundation of our argument.

The world expects no less from “the People of the Book.” Anything less is, at best, convoluted and, at worst, disingenuous.

At a recent dinner hosted by the Israel Heritage Foundation in honor of America’s future Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, I shared the following message.

In one of the Bible’s most poignant episodes, our matriarch Rachel weeps as she witnesses her children being exiled during the destruction of the First Temple.

In one of the Bible’s most moving verses, G-d assures Rachel, “Cry no more,” promising her, “Your children will return to their borders.”

Notably, the verse emphasizes “borders” rather than “country,” underscoring a profound lesson: without defined borders, there can be no country.

While the conflict ostensibly centers on delineating these borders rather than the existence of the land of Israel itself, the reality is stark. If the sanctity of those borders is not upheld, the very existence of the country is at risk.

The problem is that we seem to have forgotten where the borders lie.

In such cases, as King David teaches, “From my enemies I have become wise.” Our enemies have reminded us clearly. As we’ve heard proclaimed in cities around the world, that the borders of the Land of Israel stretch “from the river to the sea.”

Finally, and most importantly, Israel’s destiny is deeply intertwined with that of America and the wider world. As King David writes in the Psalms, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you prosper.”

Securing Israel’s true borders is not only essential for its own peace but is also integral to securing borders and ensuring peace worldwide. Lasting peace depends on this interconnected effort.

About the Author
Rabbi Yosef Vogel serves on the Strategic Partnerships and Development team at The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute in New York, a global leader in Jewish adult education.