Seriously, can we fix it?

The Sanhedrin Initiative: A Step Toward the Geulah

The Environment

All my life, I have merited to grow up among Torah scholars. But more than the lofty speeches, it is in the quiet moments—in the silence and the whisper—that I feel Hashem’s presence. That is where I find clarity, meaning, and strength. Yet I have carried a deep question within me: why did I have to grow up in such chaos? What was the purpose of the pain?

I am the oldest of six siblings. From about the age of twelve and a half, I became a witness to a painful reality—prolonged conflict between my parents. It was like watching two mighty beasts wrestle in a lush field, only we—the children—were the grass being trampled beneath their feet.

Each parent tried to pull the children to their side, and in doing so, we were tossed emotionally and psychologically from one side to the other. The damage was real, the scars lasting.

The Failure of Institutions

Local rabbis tried to intervene. They meant well and invested effort, but were ultimately unsuccessful in persuading my parents to reconcile or even find a respectful middle ground.

Secular courts—divorced from the Torah's wisdom—offered no true justice. These systems in New York seemed more focused on technicalities, profits, and process than on restoring peace, truth, or family unity. As I write these words—now married with five children—my parents’ legal case is still ongoing. More than a decade has passed, and still: no solution, no closure. Just pain and paperwork. Zero out of ten in restoring justice.

Law enforcement often got caught up in the appearance of things and became tools in the hands of manipulation. Without knowing the full story, they inadvertently supported a parent who was harming the family unit, even while presenting as the victim.

Medical systems, too—some influenced by financial incentive structures—enabled questionable decisions. Two of my siblings were hospitalized based on dubious claims. Others, including myself, were nearly included in this effort, not due to medical necessity but seemingly to increase “support benefits.”

This wasn’t justice. It wasn’t healing. It was bureaucracy mixed with greed, soaked in confusion.

Waking Up to the Bigger Picture

I began to see a broader pattern: mainstream narratives—whether in the media, politics, or health—were often sold to the public like consumer products. I noticed the censorship surrounding elections, the contradiction between claims of progress and the reality of suffering, and the agendas of elite influencers who seemed more concerned with control than compassion. When COVID hit, these questions intensified, as familiar patterns of fear and censorship returned, only louder.

But amid the noise, I found a place of refuge: the Torah.

Torah—The Living Wellspring

When I turned deeply to Torah—not only its outer layers but its soul—I found a wellspring of wisdom and healing. I learned not only what to do, but why to do it.

• The Rambam, a physician and halachic authority, taught pathways to physical and emotional health rooted in Torah values (1).

• The Shulchan Aruch outlined not only ritual practices but also character refinement and community ethics (2).

• The Tanya, the foundational work of Chabad, offered me a personal guide to the soul, mapping out the struggles within and showing how to rise above them (3).

But even in the world of Torah observance, I saw a spiritual challenge that many of our sages warned about: habit without heart. Routine without renewal. A Judaism of automatic behaviors but not of inner transformation. I saw people “doing” the mitzvot—but like running on a treadmill: great effort, going nowhere.

Plastic Leadership, Plastic Culture

In Israel, a land bursting with prophecy and promise, I encountered another type of disconnect.

On one hand, the religious right: Jews with tzitzit out and Tehillim in hand, proclaiming that they are “bringing Moshiach.” Yet their mode of service often remains deeply rooted in galut (exile) thinking. Despite over 70 years since Israel’s founding, and despite clear prophetic signs fulfilled in our return, we still have no Sanhedrin, no King, no Beit HaMikdash, and no national fulfillment of mitzvot dependent on the Land. In some communities, it feels like the holiness has become hollow—cholent on Thursday nights in plastic bowls, while the true mission of Eretz Yisrael remains unfulfilled.

On the far left, there is another distortion. They speak of Torah values—particularly “love your fellow as yourself”—but weaponize this principle to attack those who are visibly religious. Their “tolerance” is often one-directional. Their message: “Unless you accept everyone exactly as they are—including rejection of Halacha—your Judaism is false.” Yet this very ideology is riddled with its own hypocrisy and internal hostility.

Both sides end up with plastic: plastic culture, plastic ideology, and plastic leadership. Even political figures—though sometimes acting boldly in Israel’s defense—often shift like chameleons based on pressure and polls. They are mirrors, not visionaries.

But All Is Not Lost—Far From It

Despite these challenges, we are witnessing a breathtaking resurgence of light in our generation.

There are now Torah-based political forces in Israel that may represent the most spiritually rooted governmental structure seen in modern global history. Though battles rage—particularly regarding Israel’s overreaching secular courts—the winds of change are real. Corrupt legal systems are being exposed. Terrorist regimes are crumbling. Even entrenched enemies are retreating in shame.

The police force, under renewed leadership, is being reshaped with direction, values, and strength. Criminal strongholds that were tolerated for decades are now being addressed.

In the Batei Midrash, too, we see change: a spirit of unity sweeping through the gates. Once upon a time, every Torah faction saw itself as the exclusive bearer of truth. But today, differences are giving way to shared values. As long as one follows Halacha and respects Hashem, there is increasing room for cooperation, admiration, and yes—true love of fellow Jew (4).

Why Are We Still Struggling Financially?

Israel is a land of brilliance. Its people are hardworking, creative, full of heart, and willing to suffer short-term for long-term vision. Yet the majority still suffers from financial instability.

Why?

Because justice is out of fashion.

Complex bureaucracies, exploitative laws, and endless red tape have buried justice behind walls few can access. It often feels intentionally designed to keep the average person from ever attaining real resolution or fairness.

The economy—though strong on paper—is deeply impacted by internal corruption. And it is the poor who feel this pain first and most deeply.

This is why many of Israel’s secular youth flee the country at their first opportunity. They do not see a future—not because they lack love for the land, but because they feel no hope to fight the system that suffocates them.

Those who remain are not in Israel “because it’s easy”—but despite its challenges. And for that, you need to be crazy—crazy with emunah, with faith in Hashem, that He hears the cry of His people, as He always has (5).

The Role of the Sanhedrin

There is a peaceful, legal, and Torah-aligned way to integrate the Sanhedrin into the fabric of Israeli society. It need not disrupt—it can uplift. It is a model of true justice, born from Divine wisdom, accessible to all, and centered on humility, responsibility, and compassion.

The Sanhedrin is not meant to dominate. It is meant to guide. To serve. To bring justice with clarity, and to elevate society toward its destiny.

To learn more about the Sanhedrin Initiative, and how it can be implemented in our generation, please visit:

🌐 www.mnglobal.org/blog

May we all continue growing in truth, love, and clarity as we seek the path to the Promised Land.

With blessings for light, strength, and the full Redemption,

Honorable Rabbi Yosef Edery

Golan Heights, Israel

📧 wwmoshiachnow@gmail.com

📞 +972 52 497 1349

🌐 www.mnglobal.org

Sources

1. Rambam (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah, Hilchot De’ot Ch. 4 – “Maintaining physical health is part of serving Hashem.”

2. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 1:1 – Begins with guidelines for personal discipline and yirat shamayim.

3. Tanya, Chapter 1 and onward – Describes the struggle of the beinoni and tools for spiritual clarity.

4. Vayikra 19:18 – “Love your fellow as yourself,” with commentary by Ramban on boundaries and truth.

5. Shemot (Exodus) 2:24-25 – “And G-d heard their cry, and G-d remembered His covenant…”