Year of renaissance. Yonah Shov on 5 'revolutions' of 5772

On Tuesday, 21st Tishrei 5772, in the midst of the days of joy on Succos, Am Yisroel united with another Simcha : the joy of the release of the kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit,, after 1941 days of captivity.

At the end of long days of public struggle and tiresome negotiations, Gilad looked pale and thin while stepping towards the delegation which awaited him. After so many days, he hugged his members of family.

Who didn't watch? Who didn't shed a tear of excitement?

But his release involved a price which wasn't so simple: thousands of terrorists were freed, many of them with blood on their hands.

Before the release, a debate arose about the price which the nation of Israel has to pay for the return of its sons.

But the debate was forgotten for those few minutes of joy, in which a Jewish boy saw daylight for the first time in years and was released from jail. The release and the freedom with which the year started, were the ones which determined the nature of this past year.

5772: The year of Spring.

For many ears that they got used to reign without boundaries, without criticism and without anyone daring to question their hegemony.

Many years that they did with their nation as they willed – exploited them, took advantage of them, shut mouths to whoever didn't find favor in their eyes, and raised whoever they wished to honor or whose money they wanted.

Until the uprising started. The tyrannical reigns fell, seats started rocking and suddenly these dictators found themselves thrown from their high seats.

The past year of 5772 taught the dictators, wherever they are, one important lesson: nobody is invulnerable.

Today you're sitting on a golden seat, but tomorrow things might take a turn, and you'll find yourself fighting for your life in a moldy cell.

The year of 5772 will be engraved in international history as a year in which the Arab Spring reached its peak.

This is the year in which the tyrant Kaddafi, who reigned with an iron hand on his nation for many years, found himself thrown into a sewerage pipe.

This is the year in which the unquestioned dictator of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, found himself in front of court pleading for his life.

This is also the year in which the Syrian tyrant fought for his survival.
But - will what came afterwards be any better? Are we heading for a more stable Middle East or on the contrary, a more radical and dangerous one?
The year of 5773 will tell.

There is no home in the hareidi public which doesn't know: the heavy burden which is placed on the father of the home is in terms of housing. For the sake of an apartment for a child or a large family, thousands of families have gone into financial distress and obligations. Thousands of families are living from one Gemach to the other in order to finance such an elementary detail which is supposed to be taken for granted in every society: the right to housing.

For many years this subject has been neglected, projects were not built and prices continued to shoot up. Now, towards the end of the year, the message has come in the form of a city which is supposed to be the largest of the hareidi cities: Charish.
Towards the end of the year, the news went on its practical way. About 5,000 living units will be built in the new city, 5 minutes away from Road 6 (cross-Israel), a distance of about 50 minutes from Gush Dan and about 75 minutes from Jerusalem.
There are about 10,300 new living units in the outline plan of the settlement, close to half of which will be marketed starting as of now, in the suburbs of the horseshoe area and the northern area. In about three months' time, the tender will be closed, and the marketing will be underway.

Will this do us good? Are there no doubts and questions? As always, there certainly are. Will the prices be reasonable, will no nails be hammered into the wheels of the project?

The year of 5773 will tell.

Very quietly, without us noticing, the dictatorial nature of the Supreme Court is changing.

For years we got used to the fact that the Supreme Court is omnipotent. When it wishes it raises, and when it wishes it brings down, when it wishes it forms laws, and when it wishes it annuls them.

The former president of the Supreme Court, Aharon Barak, was the first who broke through the borders and imposed a real judicial dictatorship over the authorities in Israel.

The ones who reigned here for many years was he and his colleagues. The Knesset and government were only is subservient executives.
Its faithful student was the president of Court, Dorit Beinish, who also adopted the tyrannical approach and left us a fruit of the Supreme Court's reign as a gift: the cancellation of the Tal Law.

Up until now, the political system does not know exactly how to cope with the burning hot potato which her honor the tyrant left us. We can at least be thankful that this year, for the first time, Judge Asher Grunis was chosen as president of the Court, a man with a sensible approach who believes in cutting down the authorities of the Supreme Court. He and other judges were chosen contrary to media and the leftist elitism which fought him.

Will he realize the many hopes which were attached to him? Will it at least be possible to cook an alternative and fair Tal Law without fearing the traditional dictatorship of the Supreme Court?

The year of 5773 will tell.

For many years – about two decades, the hareidi public was ruled by a closed circle which thought it has the exclusive right to pave the way and outlook of the hareidi public.

It is not sure where its people drew the power to believe in this right, to lead the public which is supposed to be ruled by Torah and halacha only.
They took control of the central newspaper of Bnei Torah, and spoke in the name of Daas Torah.

They too fell in a sudden revolution.

Are we now really destined for a change? Will we see less machlokes, less hatred, less churban? And more building and correcting?

The year of 5773 will tell.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!