Living Torah Archives

Shlomo Shamir is a journalist and political analyst. He was the New York correspondent for the Israeli daily, Haaretz, for over thirty-five years, and a long time columnist for the Algemeiner Journal. He met and corresponded with the Rebbe on numerous occasions over the years, but it was an indirect message that he received from the Rebbe that led him to send the Rebbe an apology. (1979)

During the first summer of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Chief Rabbi of Mexico Abraham Hershberg was selected by the United Nations to visit the Jewish hostages. Before leaving, the Rebbe gave him an important instruction: “Be sure to light the Chanukah menorah with them.”

Israel’s welfare is in the best interest of the United States, because Israel is the front line against the Arabs. The Arabs are against the United States no less than they are against Israel — and perhaps even more so! And it is imperative that there be a strong Israel in order to inhibit the influence of Syria, Iran, and the other hostile countries in the Middle East.