Editing The State of Israel (section)

== Attitude Towards the State ==
The Rebbe Rashab, who lived during the period when the idea of establishing the state was raised by the Zionist Congress, related to it with absolute negativity, and even expressed himself sharply: "And if chas v'shalom they succeed in holding the land as they imagine, they will defile and abominate them with their abominations and evil deeds, and they will thereby lengthen the exile." He explained his central reason based on the prohibition of the Three Oaths, which forbids Bnei Yisroel from rebelling against the nations and ascending to Eretz Yisroel by their own power until the coming of the redeemer: "Even those who are complete with Hashem and His Torah [...] in this golus we must await our redemption and salvation from Hakadosh Boruch Hu not through flesh and blood [...] and certainly not through physical forces and strategies, meaning to leave the exile by force of arms we are not permitted." Additionally, he explained his opposition due to concern for assimilation and decline from the path that Zionism would cause by not emphasizing the completeness of Torah and mitzvos and focusing on settling the land as a national symbol.

After the Balfour Declaration in 1918, when permission was given by the British government to establish the state, the Rebbe Rashab said "They are preparing rachmana litzlan new pogroms against Am Yisroel.

The Frierdiker Rebbe initially viewed the establishment of the state negatively. However, after its establishment became practical, he began to view it positively. During a seuda on the second day of Rosh Hashana 5708, the Frierdiker Rebbe said: "In Eretz Hakodesh there are young people who are moser nefesh for Yidden. They are doing very good work, Hashem should strengthen their hands with hatzlacha. They need a tikkun in keeping mitzvos maasiyos, they need to keep Shabbos, put on tefillin, kashrus etc., but these are menschen, just with chesronos. We need to put in the greatest kochos to be mekarev them to keeping mitzvos maasiyos. But for the good things they do with their burning Yiddishe mesiras nefesh, all Yidden - without party differences - need to say and bless: 'May their hands be strengthened.'"

Again on the same topic, the Frierdiker Rebbe expressed on the night of Shevii Shel Pesach 5708: "They are doing the ratzon of above, although in other matters they are lacking, but in this matter that they are doing, they are correct."

On 3 Iyar 5708, the Frierdiker Rebbe wrote a letter addressing the situation in Eretz Yisroel and "the spirit of recruitment that has enveloped the youth." The Frierdiker Rebbe writes, among other things, that not through might and not through power will the Jewish people defeat their enemies and oppressors, but through Hashem's help. The Rebbe adds that all our Jewish brothers are obligated to participate in helping our brothers living in Eretz Hakodesh, but this is not everything, and we need to know and do the main thing - to awaken the feelings of our Jewish brothers regarding keeping religion, knowledge of Torah, and fulfillment of mitzvos.

In a letter from 14 Iyar 5708, the Frierdiker Rebbe writes a detailed letter to Anash and Temimim extensively addressing the events that occurred during that period (the establishment of the state and the War of Independence). The Frierdiker Rebbe quotes his father, the Rebbe Rashab, "Not by our own will did we go into golus, and not by our own power will we be freed from golus" etc.

Towards the first elections in Eretz Yisroel in 5709, the Frierdiker Rebbe called on chassidim to participate, writing: "Certainly it is an obligation on everyone eligible to vote not to give up this right... One should try to participate with the more G-d-fearing group, but not with those whose entire purpose is to create machlokes and division of hearts while waving the flag of Torah and yiras shamayim."

This approach to the state continued with the Rebbe. While he held that the issur of the Shalosh Shevuos still applied, and the nations' agreement to establish the state in 5708 was insufficient since in the current situation if asked they would respond negatively, however since the question of the state's existence was not relevant after the fact, it was not a reason to deny its reality, and he recognized it fully. He instructed to participate in elections, pay taxes, and serve in the army.

Moreover, the Rebbe saw the victory in the War of Independence and the establishment of the state after the fact as a salvation and miracle from Hashem, and an opportunity for geula that was not properly utilized. The Rebbe explained this in various sichos and letters, viewing the state's potential in two possible ways - as a "state of Jews" or as a "Jewish state." If it would be merely a "state of Jews" like other nations, it would not fulfill its full potential, whereas if it would be a "Jewish state" conducted according to Torah, specifically then it would be unique and more elevated than other nations.