Editing The Rebbe (section)

==== Relationship to the State and Land of Israel ====
Extended entries – '''State of Israel • Land Integrity • Requests for the Rebbe to come to Israel and the Responses'''

The Rebbe, like previous Chabad Rebbes (the Rebbe Rashab and the Rebbe Rayatz), opposed the Zionist idea, yet they viewed the State of Israel as a "miracle of salvation", though he recognized it "de facto" (in practice) and not "de jure" (in principle).

The Rebbe also showed active involvement in the life of the state, and met with state leaders, IDF officers, and heads of the Israeli security system. He firmly opposed giving territories to Arabs, and presented the opinion of military experts that giving away territories could lead to danger to life. The Rebbe based his opposition on the Shulchan Aruch and repeated the halacha that non-Jews who approached Jewish towns near the border, even if they only want to come for the purpose of gathering straw and hay, we desecrate Shabbat for them, lest they capture the city and from there the land would be easy to conquer.

Nevertheless, the Rebbe never went to Israel. When asked about this, he gave several answers, including that he wanted to be close to the resting place of his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz. In a public talk in 5719 (1959), the Rebbe explained this by saying: "There are those who ask why I myself do not travel to settle there. Well, this is a matter that does not depend on me, and meanwhile I cannot do this, but this has no relevance to everyone else, except for me. I don't know if they imagine what is holding me back, and if it matters whether they know or not, but in any case, that is not what we are discussing now."

To those who suggested that he fly and even said they were willing to pay for the ticket, he said he could not.
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