Only One Language Moves the World: The Courage to Speak the Truth

The story of the Jewish people is arguably the greatest ever told—a testament to extraordinary resilience, unwavering faith, and the ability to endure challenges unmatched in human history.

At the heart of this enduring saga lies our unbreakable connection to the Land of Israel—a bond that has shaped us since our earliest beginnings.

A profound window into this bond appears in Abraham’s negotiations to purchase land in Hebron upon the passing of our matriarch Sarah. Seeking a burial site, he addresses the Hittites with an enigmatic phrase:

“I am a resident alien among you. Sell me a burial site so that I may bury my dead here.” (Genesis 23:4)

“Resident alien” seems contradictory. One cannot be both. What is Abraham really saying?

The Midrash explains: If the Hittites agree to sell him the land, he will pay for it as a stranger. But if they refuse, he will claim it as his rightful inheritance, for G-d had already pledged, “To your seed I give this land.” (Genesis 12:7)

Abraham’s words offer a timeless lesson about our relationship with the Land of Israel. We engage the world with diplomacy, respect, and fairness—but we must never lose sight of the deeper truth: the land is ours as a divine gift.

Today’s world—especially its youth—is craving moral clarity. And as nature abhors a vacuum, confusion fills the void when clarity is absent. For 25 years, the Rebbe urged Jewish leaders, in Israel and beyond, to draw strength from Abraham’s example.

After decades of debates, counterclaims, and political arguments over Israel’s sovereignty, perhaps the time has come to embrace the simplest and most profound argument of all:

To speak the truth that every Jew carries in their heart.

To echo Abraham’s message to the world:

“If not, I will take it as my legal right, for the Holy One, blessed be He, has said to me: ‘To your seed I give this land.’”

It is the only argument Israel has not yet fully articulated.

It is the one argument that cuts through the noise.

And it is the one argument that resonates—because deep down, the world knows it is true.