The Big Freeze: An Open Letter to Mr. Obama

Dear Mr. Obama:

As I enjoy the beautiful, spring weather in Israel, I am following with interest the total shut down of Washington, D.C. caused by historic snowfall in the capital-4 blizzards in two weeks, to be exact, and another is expected to hit the capital in a few more days. Lest I point out the obvious, Washington is in a complete freeze. Federal agencies have been closed for 5 days at the writing of this letter and there is no end in sight. Even snow plows were ordered off the roads to protect the drivers from the record breaking weather.

As an orthodox Jew who believes that G*d runs the world and nothing is forgotten or by chance, it occurs to me that you, Mr. Obama, forced a freeze on Jewish building in Judea and Samaria and in return a freeze has been put on you by G*d.

Since in your youth you were busy studying the Koran, it is clear from your speech in front of the UN in September 2009 that you do not know what is written in the bible. Your statements that “The U.S. does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements (in Judea and Samaria)”, that Israel has to "end the occupation that began in 1967." and that “Israel (needs to) respect the legitimate claims and rights of the Palestinians.” demonstrate gaps in your historic knowledge. Therefore, I take this opportunity to give you a quick lesson.

Three land purchases are described in the bible, all located in what you refer to as “Israeli occupied territory”; the purchase of Hebron by Abraham-the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rifka, and Leah-the fathers and mothers of the Jewish people, the purchase of Schem (Nabulus) by Jacob-the burial place of the holy Joseph, and the purchase of Jerusalem by King David-the holiest site of the Jewish people and the location of our two past holy temples and the place where our third holy temple will be built.

Why were these places purchased while historically the rest of the land of Israel was conquered by the Jewish people at the command of G*d? Our ancient Rabbis teach that in the future the world will come and dispute the legitimacy of the Jewish claim to the whole land of Israel and we will be able to say emphatically, “Read the contract signed by G*d, Himself. The entire land is ours.”

As John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said after your arrogant statements to the UN, you “put Israel on the chopping block.” Now, Mr. Obama, Washington is on the chopping block-trying to break through the blocks of ice that cover your city.

One more point: Based on a study done by Likud legislator Ze’ev Elkin, the building freeze that you forced upon Israel is expected to cost the Israeli government over $100 million in lost tax revenues and higher unemployment payments. The Israeli government will also need to cover compensation costs for homeowners who are struggling to pay back bank loans on their suddenly frozen property projects. News reports have stated that the shutting down of your federal government is estimated to cost around $100 million a day in lost productivity. Nothing is random. Everything is determined based on our actions.

I urge you, Mr. Obama, to concentrate on governing your own country and leave Israel alone. Thaw the freeze and perhaps you will merit to receive warmth in Washington, both outside and within your constituency.

With prayers for peace,
Anonymous