הביקור ההיסטורי של שגריר ארה"ב מייק האקבי בבתי גדולי ישראל | הווידאו המלא

[Music] Well, this is part of getting, you know, to know the ultraorththodox world. You're you're experiencing Ben Brock. You know why it's like this right now? >> Why is that? >> Because the kids are out of school now. It's the lunch break and you see like you know thank god all all the school kids and they're coming out of and it's just a mob and all of the people not only the kids in the higher education the people are all learning so many people are studying you know so this is a a kind of a unique phenomenon that you have this city where the majority of the people are studying and are learning so it's lunch break so the whole city gets clogged >> but it sure does it It does that. >> So, were you from New York? >> No. Uh, no. My my parents came after the Holocaust. They were in Hungary. Uh, my in-laws, my formers from Poland and my mother-in-law was actually from Awitz. >> Oh my god. >> She's from the city from that's where >> and um they all ended up in Toronto. >> Wow. >> They came penniless and broken and and they were built they built their businesses. They built their lives. But they rebuilt a community >> almost first soon as they started to have any success they started rebuild community synagogues etc and uh schools and and rebuild and remarkable really remarkable you know that to me that was the catalyst the impetus to to start leadership and to the worldwide movement >> that the the example and the lesson and the energy to do that and they came >> and he was broken. Isn't it amazing though how many people came out of the Holocaust with nothing but the clothes they were wearing and a generation later there was wealth and businesses and success. It it's almost like the resolve that got them through that horrific experience also is the resolve that got them to be able to create extraordinary things. the the book I know you've >> read it man's search for meaning by Victor Frankle that I read in high school >> right >> and he was at you know he he the whole premise of the book of course was >> why do some people survive so >> and it was all because whether they believed there was a purpose for their lives and those who believe that >> they will themselves to go forward and not give up and I see how many Holocaust survivors that I meet even here in Israel that are 95, 100 years old and still in good health and they've done remarkable things. Remarkable things >> and I just stand back and say it's a miracle. >> It absolutely is. You know, there was interesting a few years ago you know Howard Schultz from uh Starbucks who was the CEO of Starbucks. So it was here a number of years ago with a contingent of people, wealthy philanthropist from the United States and they came to see one of our great rabbis. He's no longer alive >> but uh then they brought in and it's very interesting. He's a person that had Parkinson's terrible trip. But he but he ran this enormous and with the state of Parkinson's for years. >> Gave lectures ran with Parkinson's. >> My goodness. >> And he he you know despite all that and he traveled the world raising money for this institution. He gave lectures just you know to your point. >> Yeah. Purpose. So he asked this group of people, he asked them care about the Holocaust and they said, "Of course you did." >> So he asked them, "What lessons did you take out of what did you learn from that?" And they said that the Jewish people never again and we have to be strong and we have to have connections in Washington and we have to get out have affiliation with senators and congressmen and sure this never happens again. So he smiled and he said there was another lesson that I took out of the holocaust said somewhat of a different lesson. And he said the people that went through the Holocaust and after that torture that that hell of all that they were able to focus on was themselves. >> Yeah. and their deprivation or something and then they became less human. >> Yes. >> And the people who came out of that in spite of all that had a mission and caring about others and doing for the for the nation and doing for the people, >> they became far greater people than they would have been had the Hong Kong not happened. I love that. Which is true. It's true. >> Probably my favorite story in the Bible is Genesis 50, the story of Joseph when after all of his lifetime of being sold off into slavery by his brothers, left for dead, imprisoned falsely, everything in his world fell apart from this wonderful wife that he started out with. And then when his brothers come totally convinced that Joseph would kill them for what they had done to him and he says to them, "What you intended for harm, God has used for good." And there are two great lessons that I always like to remind people. Number one, yeah, the brothers really did try to harm. This was not it was not God's will to inflict that level of but God was able to take the worst things in our lives. Not that he created them but he could take them to turn them for something that would be better than we ever could have imagined. What a great encouraging story though. So just a small anecdote on that to that point our rabbis teach us that in that first encounter with Joseph and Benjamin his long lost brother who noticed and that great historical and first encounter and they seem to be ready. I want to hear the rest of the story. So we want Okay. And he has even in the past even before becoming ambassador he has written articles on the yard side of the about the importance of the solution speaking civil speech in the public realm and not restraining yourself from acrimonious speech. He's a great friend of the Jewish people. >> He also knows and appreciates and deeply feels the importance of the Torah. Yeah. And he also is a great protector of the Jewish people, the state of Israel and even now in the war with Iran, looking out for the interests of the Jewish people. So we'd like to ask I want ask the ambassador orthodox community to our community if there's any specific questions that the ambassador has from our great rabbi any message to give to President Trump >> and anything that they want to discuss and I'll translate it. >> Okay. What was that? >> Rabbi, thank you for seeing me today. >> Be cool. Okay. >> He says he's very pleased to meet you. He's very happy to meet you. Well, the honor is mine to uh have the opportunity to visit with you and to express my deep appreciation to the Jewish people and their resolve and their steadfast faithfulness to the Bible. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Thanks you very much. Is there a message that you wish for me to convey to the president? [Music] The Torah and only the Torah is what has kept us and maintained us during all of the times of the exile. And it's only the merit of the Torah that we we'll be able we have a right and ability to exist. that any decree against the those who learn Torah is not only a decree against them. It's against the entire Jewish people and not only the entire Jewish people, it's against the whole world. That the world's existence is on for the merit of the Torah and those who learn the Torah. As it says in scriptures, if not for my covenant of the Torah, then there would be no no existence of the world. Donald Trump Once the rabbi wants to express his gratitude, his thanks to Donald, President Donald Trump and to the American people for their steadfast support of the Jewish people and particularly in this last episode, last war with Iran and express his thanks and gratitude. >> Thank you, Rabbi. And owners. He says he thanks the ambassador and has great gratitude. He said, "Whoever helps the Jewish people He expresses again his great deep gratitude on behalf of himself, all of those who study Torah and all of the Jewish people on this very important mission because whoever helps the those who learn Torah helps the Jewish people. It helps the whole world. >> I agree. It helps the whole world. Without the Torah, without the law, >> there is no way toward the path of what's right. So again he reiterates that only if what you understand so many others and only Jewish people would understand. >> Maybe I will have to make aliyah [Laughter] He said that's a matter of the American business in the United States. He doesn't interfere in matters in internal matters of >> Very well said. Very well said. He >> says from time to time he says from time to time you say some things that are good. He says good things. >> My view is that you say a lot of things good. Not just from time to time but all the time. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Huh? He blesses the president. He blesses you and the American people. good >> that are people and the president that brings right and wrong to the world and brings justice to the world and he gives you deep blessings to all of you. >> My heartfelt thanks for the blessing. >> Thank you. >> It's nice to see you again. It's my pleasure and honor to be with you. [Music] Rabbi for speaks English is actually Americanborn. >> We've had a telephone conversation right >> a few weeks ago >> before the war. >> Before the war. Very, very good conversation and very helpful. >> Good. Good. Well, I enjoyed getting to visit with you. It uh you have a wonderful reputation. uh you're beloved in this uh in this country and it was a honor to get to talk to you about a greater honor to get to visit in person. >> It's my pleasure and honor to meet the ambassador. >> Thank you. Raser mentioned about the rabbi's reputation. The rabbi had just returned from America and I'm sure the ambassador knows internally what's going on with the the yeshivas with the schools of higher learning and the uh cutbacks on the funding and Rosha made a the rabbi made a tour in America and they covered the deficit. That shows the great respect that the uh the people have not only in here, not only in Israel, but in America and around the world. That the great respect that all of the Orthodox people have for for the rabbis. >> Well, I may need to recruit you to do some fundraising for some projects I have. I'll see if we can get you to do that. >> Sounds like you're pretty good at it. So, >> not at all. Not at all. How long were you in the States on your recent trip? >> About two weeks. >> Two weeks. >> Probably long enough. >> Yeah. >> I was there a couple of weeks ago. I was with the prime minister and president during those visits for that week. And I told everybody I needed to get out of that crazy city of Washington DC and get back to Jerusalem where it was safe. You were here during the war? >> Oh, yes. >> Yeah, >> very much so. But, you know, it was uh it was challenging. We had to go to the shelter every night, >> several times a night, >> very little sleep, but I never was in any way feeling in danger. I knew that I was uh in the most important city in the world. And I told my friends back home, they would say, "Are you nervous? Are you worried? What What if you don't make it through the war? I told him, well, don't worry about it. If the end of life comes for me in Jerusalem, my next move is a local move. >> So, I keep keep that perspective with me all time. >> The ambassador has a very interesting view of anti-semitism. Rashid grew up uh in in America there was anti-semitism of course uh what I've experienced we've all experienced it the ambassador has a very interesting view of that he says people are you can't understand anti-semitism he says people who are anti-semitic it's because they're against God against and we are representatives his people and that's why they're anti-semitic otherwise it doesn't make any sense >> interesting viewpoint >> it's interesting view. There's another view that since we consider the chosen people, so people are very who are you? What do you why are you taking big shots? >> Yeah, chosen people. >> And that's part of it is that uh because you are the chosen people given a chosen place for a chosen purpose. And if someone is angry at God, he'll be angry at the people who represent him. >> That's it. >> So I tell people anti-semitism is irrational. There's no reason for it unless you understand the spiritual reason, which is what I believe is at the heart of it. It is not the left versus the right. It is good versus evil. It is the creator versus those who rebel against the creators. >> Mr. Ambassador, how do you understand the increase in anti-semitism? Why? In fact, I I heard there's even studies that even amongst in the United States evangelicals, >> yeah, >> that there's an increase in anti-semitism and they're believers. And what has happened over the last couple of years? >> Two things, uh, Rabbi, I think have happened. One, younger generations have not fully embraced the scripture as absolute truth. >> The the more we deviate from scripture, the more we are likely to veer in life on all points. And I think that's first as a lot of younger people want to embrace a different culture because the scripture is in conflict with modern culture time after time. And so one has to decide do I do I side with scripture or do I side with culture. It's a huge mistake when we decide with the very changing culture rather than the unchanging scripture. But in America, I happen to have with me my uh my my my passport and they have in the passport I have uh certain sayings of all the almost always there's mention of God. America was always with with with with Eloim with >> that was America everybody >> even even on the money that they had. >> Right. Right. Right. In God we trust. Right. You know some some people would have said that they they believe in in the mighty dollar but no even that the dollar they but things changed and I think also another reason it has happened even among young evangelicals is many of them have been educated in universities that have been very highly financed by Middle Eastern study programs billions of dollars are spent to brainwash them into an anti-semitic point of view. >> Yeah. And they and and and it affected even the evangel >> unfortunately younger ones. >> Younger ones, >> not old people like me, >> but young people uh even my children do not have this problem. They're very strong uh strong Zionists, but they're in their 40s and to the late 40s. So that that's not affecting that. But if the under >> then it's it's a larger problem. >> That's the entire in East also the the name main problem is that the young people. >> I I agree. I believe it is. And uh I hope we can start reclaiming them and uh repairing some of this because it's dangerous not just to Jewish people. It's dangerous to the world. If a world rebelss against the law of God and against his existence and his creation and his directions, uh the old saying we kind of grew up with was that if you don't play by the rules of the game, you can't win the game. And you can't play by the rules if you don't know the rules. If we don't know what God says, we can't do what he says. And if we fail to do that, there's no way that we end up winning at life. What steps are being taken to address this problem? >> Well, I think there's a an effort on the part of many of us who are in I would say the older generation to recognize that we have to do a better job talking to Christian universities and colleges and frankly to pastors and reminding them that they need to be bold. They need to be biblical. They need to not assume that younger people are growing up with a worldview that they grew up with because they're not. And those are the the immediate things. But frankly, I think the number one thing, obviously, we can't bring everyone because it would be logistically challenging. But I'm convinced that the number one thing we can do is to take young leaders, bring them to Israel, and just let them see for themselves. You don't have to indoctrinate them. You don't have to twist their arms. They will see for themselves what Israel is, why it's unique, why it's such a incredible partner to the United States and to their own worldview. Because western civilization is based on a Jewish and Christian heritage of the power of the individual that we have individual responsibility to God because he gave us individual worth and value. That is totally unique to Western civilization. That does not exist in the cultures that believe in collectivism. That I only matter because I'm part of a larger collective. And that's the real contrast between even socialism and capitalism, between freedom and between slavery. If if I believe in collectivism and I'm a slave, I accept that as that's what I'm supposed to be. But if I believe in freedom and individual worth, that means individual responsibility, that puts me in a very, very different mindset. and western civilization all of it is based on that premise the ambassador has talked about if they come to Israel they'll see what's special and what's unique about Israel the ambassador is unique and special and because for many reasons one is he has the view that what makes Israel special what makes it unique is because of the terra because >> he told me the pastor told me that That is very important. The the army is very important. But even more important, it is a spiritual. That's what he told me in my decision, my last discussion with him. >> And that's the foundation of Israel and that's what makes it unique and gives it a right to exist. >> Right? >> So people ask me when I say that they ask did the ambassador did he study in Benet Brock? Uh maybe I should have I would have been better off had I done so. >> How long has this institution been here teaching here? It's in in Israel. It started in 19 in the late 40s. But originally it's a continuation from a from Sabatki is a continuation from from Europe which was from >> Lisa >> from Lithuania. >> Lithuania. Mhm. >> Lithuania which was before the before 18 in the end of 1800s and and the beginning of 1900s. >> Just to give some historical perspective this this institution which was in Lithuania produced some of the greatest scholars who they themselves the great institutions many of them that you see in Israel all around large institutions are from the graduates from the rabbis who came from this great yeshiva. So this institution here carries the name Sabodka but there are many others >> you said. >> Yes. It's also originally was was part of Sluska and at a certain point they had there was a um the wasn't there was a conscription a military conscription in in Europe >> and they they decided they're coming to Israel to Israel and when half more or less half of the boys came here already the construction stopped so half was here and that turned to and the part which remained was Sabotka. So we continuation of the part that remained in in in Europe >> and that part B was was all killed out. They were all all killed out. My father-in-law was was left. My father-in-law happened to be in America at the beginning of the war and he couldn't get back so he stayed in. my mother-in-law and her three children all all survived the war and he and my my my father-in-law my my my father-in-law's father-in-law who was originally the Shiva the head in Saboska also survived the war so they made over they continue the yeshiva here I think 1947 it's >> quite the irony that they left to avoid conscription And now this is what they're facing. >> The biggest challenge in the >> biggest challenge that they have right now. >> Well, I uh I told the rabbi when we spoke on the phone what I said a moment ago that it's uh it's important to have the scholars. They remind us why we exist and what the purpose is. And you can't have soldiers without scholars. It's a very strong point. >> We were by the Russia just now. He said halavai that that the yen would understand this point as well as the ambassador. But >> how many students are at the issue >> in here in in the we have many branches but right here in the we have the the school itself about 550 560 >> but we have also many branches of of lower schools and and ky and and marries and for married for married people alto together we have over a thousand people Yeah, there's all of >> all in Israel. >> All in Israel. Yeah. Various parts. >> You know, I was just discussing with the ambassador just beforehand about the the miracle that after the war, the rebirth of individuals of the Jewish nation. When we talk about the number of of yeshiva students and and people in Kyle, when we talk about the numbers, let's put in perspective after the war, what would be an estimate of how many yeshiva students there were people in Ka in the whole world maybe in the whole world right after the war there was 100 200 >> in the world >> there was very little here >> 500 you very commat nothing in Europe and America was very weak also and it built up after the war in a fantastic way and today Lean what would be an estimate who knows I don't know uh 100,000 >> you have in Lakewood New Jersey a yeshiva one yeshiva alone with 10,000 people learning >> 10,000 >> 10,000 with married and unmarried together 10,000 That's one. They have and you have to have another 100 yeshivas around them. >> That's a remarkable growth. What What was it that caused such an explosive growth from the end of the war until now? Because that's >> Well, as we discussed, there's the human factor, there's the resolve. >> Yeah. >> There's the purpose and rebuilding, but but there was also it's from above. It's beyond our comprehension. It's beyond our ability to to imagine how such an explosive growth can concern can can really occur. I mean >> after the war the Almighty left us with some very very big rabbis, >> extremely big rabbis here in Israel and also in America. And because they were way way above the the generation, they were able to pick up the entire generation and do all the fantastic things. That's what it was. They had the special special very specially big people here and in Israel, Israel and in America. So in mysterious ways, God always takes care of us >> and gave us certain leaders that really belong to a different time in a different era and a different world and they were able to energize and galvanize the Jewish people and motivate them in a way that is just totally beyond comprehension. It's if one would look even on the most simple elementary basic level look at the financial capabilities of the Jewish people after the Holocaust >> and to be able to carry the burden of the move beyond comprehension. That's what we were talking about earlier uh when the rabbi and I were talking that many people came out of the Holocaust with nothing but the clothes on their back. They came to America. They came to Israel and within a generation they were the leading scholars, the leading surgeons, the leading scientists and theologians. I mean, it was it's been remarkable. And then you see in their children and now in their grandchildren and great grandchildren, the legacy explodes and continues in so many fields that more Nobel Science Prize winners in Israel than any other country. that's disproportionate to the population or to what should be. How do you explain that? >> Really can't be explained. It's something >> well it can. It's just God. It's it's a spiritual answer. It's not explainable by human means because it doesn't it doesn't compute into a normal calculus that we would have. But it's also more more the reason to believe that the nation is special that it is not just another geopolitical place on the map. >> But as we discussed earlier in our human understanding of it, a big huge part of it is as ambassador just mentioned is the continuity and it's educating the young generation. And if there's not the proper education and it's not given over, then that legacy can't continue as we've seen and we see all over. And without that strong continuity and continuation of the study in the faith, then one wonders, well, in a couple generations, will that be true about Nobel Prize winners? because there probably won't be a lot of Jewish people anymore. People who consider themselves Jewish unless they are educated and given the education and the commitment and the tradition to be Jews. I'm afraid that the ambassador's schedule is uh conflicting with our with our enjoyable meeting. Maybe if the Rashiva can is there any message to give to the president or to give to the ambassador? But first of all, we appreciate very much what America is doing for us and we realize and we're very happy with that and we hope that'll continue being our friend and doing for us and uh we'll do our best what we can do that to make peace and and should be peace and prosperity for everybody. >> That's a wonderful message. Thank you. Is there a bra a blessing to the ambassador said only the best the best thing should happen to him should do do everything good in his life. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Benjamin his long lost brother and they sold him into slavery and he had the capacity to cry for his brother >> on a tragedy that would occur in 2,000 years. >> Wow. >> I never thought of that. That that's the greatness and that's type of >> Thank you. And that's character trait that allows a person to be that great or that great a leader to have the capacity to to suffer and endure so much but still care about so deeply about his brother that the character trait of a leader. Joseph was leading his brothers. It always occurs to me too that Joseph had an enormous level of unhealthy pride early in his life. And it was all those experience that humbled him and brought him to where he no longer was filled with a selfish pride but a uh humility that gave him the capacity to see those things and and to experience it. And that's pretty powerful to me. and look upon it. >> It's it's taking s suffering and growing through it rather than being defeated by it. It's growing through it. Is this ambassador's first encounter, personal encounter with the rabbis, with rabbis of this type and and with this community and this >> I've been to I've visited a yeshiva before, but never one this large. >> And this influential, this intense, and uh what a history it has. >> Yeah. Yeah. Even some of the institutions in America are outgrowths of the same Sabbathka Yeshiva. This started then >> they are students of the Slabatki in Lithuania and and they also some of them came to America and started institutions in America and Baltimore and other places. Yeah, that's the power of it. The power of a great leader. >> I think the uh the thing that I'll walk away from here most is that how few um yeshiva students there were at the end of the war. >> Yeah. And what has happened >> and what has happened you know even the world of deers show we have over 20,000 people taking written examinations regularly and over 100,000 that are part of the program there is when I was growing up you know there was literally and and I'm not right after the war I I was born in 55 so >> so was I >> oh 55 models a great year by the way. >> Right here. Well, I don't know. Uh, were you in February? >> August. I'm not quite to the 70. Next month I hit it. >> Well, I'll tell you. Uh, hang on to the 60. But you know it's important to know and you know when somebody looks at the Jewish people you know when we talk about education we talk about and and as the as the ambassador so so rightly and and astutely points out that this is the foundation of the Jewish people on this but this is the entire f future. You know, I know I've heard many times that President Trump has expressed frustration with the Jewish community that that many of them don't vote for him. >> And >> he's pretty blunt about that. >> He's pretty blunt about about many things. >> Everything. Let's be honest. The one thing about him, you don't have to wonder what what he's thinking. >> It's what I find most charming about him. The transparency. I'm saying >> it's refreshing to me that he's not someone who is difficult because he's always changing his message depending on who he's talking to. He's the same always. I find that very >> particularly in the political realm it's it's >> he he someone says he defies political gravity and he truly does. >> He throws out all the conventions of how it's supposed to be done. Same in foreign policy. his uh his view of diplomacy is not to go in and go to the EU and sit down and compliment them on what nice haircuts they have. He looks them in the face and says, "You guys aren't paying up for NATO. Either pay up or we leave." Everybody says, "That was rude. I can't believe he said that." What happened? Everybody started paying up. So NATO gets saved. He He's accused of wanting to kill it. He's the one who saved it. >> I mean, he really did. >> It was a remarkable thing. And very few people would have had to they would have maybe done individually behind closed doors. He said it to their faces in public and I thought whoa >> but it worked. So you know in his frustration I mean it is important to realize that the Jewish people the ones who are not religious who don't not believe don't believe in the Bible don't study the Bible etc. the connection to Judaism gets weaker and weaker >> and the connection to Israel will get weaker and weaker. Now they may consider themselves Zionists >> and they probably are very strong Zionist but question whether their children or their grandchildren or the great child will be and that's what we're witnessing now >> these years after the the state of the Israel was established that that connection gets weak and rigorous. So it's not such a surprise that they don't vote for President Trump because there it's not that the weakness of the connection to the president. >> Yeah. >> It's their connection to Israel and connection to Judaism. And so it's the people who were are have Judaism and Israel close at heart. That's the Jewish constituency when you're talking in the political world and political realm. That's who you're really dealing with. Because to the ones who are unaffiliated, what are their issues in life? What are the primary issues? Well, maybe there many issues that many other people in New York or New Jersey in California, maybe that's what's important to them. Maybe it's the environment, you know, maybe >> that that is their god. In some cases, they they worship the created instead of the creator. It's a very dangerous thing. to see. But I mean, I see the people who focus their lives on either human justice, but they don't believe there's divine justice. Um, other people who believe in the environment more than they believe in the one who created it. >> It's uh it's a form of paganism >> or idolatry. >> I know they would never see it that way, but that's really what it is. When you start worshiping something, >> if it's a a worship of modern culture or whatever it may be, >> if it becomes more important than the creator who gave it to us for a purpose, >> but you know what you just said about the younger Jewish people mirrors exactly what I was saying about evangelicals >> as as the generations get further and further away from their roots, from >> what gave their parents a foundation, >> it's Um, >> that really is something that we all have to address. >> One thing that I will say, I I have such a I'll use the word envy. I My wife and I go to Shabbat dinner with with families who invite us. It's a wonderful thing. But what blesses me the most is the tradition of knowing that on Friday evening, that family is going to turn off their phones. They're going to not go to ball games. They're not watching television. They're going to be together. And when I watch the father put the blessing on his children, I think, "Oh, wow. I feel so bad that the Christian movement did not adopt and mirror that in our traditions. I I don't I mean there was a time it's no longer the case where Sundays were somewhat um sacred but not not to that level. Not to whether you just black didn't have distractions and I think it is one of the most magnificent traditions. I know it's biblical, >> but it really to me gives an identity. And I I just every time I'm around a family when they observe Sabbath, I'm thinking this is why the Jewish people have foundation. I hope it never gets to where people quit observing. >> Your daughter is now in politics and she's carrying the family tradition. She shares your views on these types of relationship. >> I brought her to Yad Bashm and to Israel when she was 11. Transformational moment in her life. She's the youngest of our three. All of our children have been here several times. She's coming in two weeks to do a trade mission for the state of Arkansas. >> But she led state to sign a law. She signed it as governor. That any reference to Judea and Samaria can never be called the West Bank. >> Wow. That's state law. >> That's state law. >> The state retirement funds for both teachers and state employee retired persons have now invested heavily in Israel bonds. And um she's she's a strong young Zionist. She could be as strong as any young Jewish lady her age anywhere in the world. She's and I'm proud of that. You know, >> you should be. You totally should be. I feel like the greatest joy I ever is not that she's governor, but that she and my two sons have embraced the fundamental values that they grew up with. You know, it nothing pleases me more than that. I I would say that it's really something you should be proud of and to your credit because particularly nowadays in the world that we live in, many many parents are not able to do that. [Music]