Arie King Reveals How Rabbi Elyahu Ruled on Land Redemption
Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Arie King shared rare accounts at the memorial for Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, zt"l, of consultations he held with the rabbi over the years, and revealed rulings that affected the establishment of the religious Zionist nucleus in Jaffa and the purchase of strategic properties in Judea and Samaria. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arie King appeared in the Channel 7 studio during the memorial for Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, zt"l, and shared a series of personal memories and significant decisions he made over the years under the rabbi’s guidance. According to him, many of the decisions that accompanied his public and settlement-related work were based on the rabbi’s advice and worldview regarding the Land of Israel and the strengthening of Jewish settlement.
During the interview, King returned to the years before he entered public life, when he and his friend Israel Zeira were debating where to focus their efforts and the limited resources available to them. The two sought the advice of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu on whether to operate in Jerusalem or in Jaffa, where the Jewish community was facing significant challenges. According to King, during the meeting the two presented the dilemma to the rabbi, who replied, "There are Jews there and there are Arabs there, the Jews are in distress, there too we need to help." King said that בעקבות that blessing and guidance, efforts began to establish the religious Zionist nucleus in Jaffa, a move that later developed into the establishment of Torah institutions and strengthened the Jewish presence in the city.
Later, King revealed another story that had been kept from the public eye for years, involving the purchase of the Beit HaBracha compound in Gush Etzion. According to him, the property was held in complete secrecy for a long period, in order to ensure the completion of the move without revealing the identity of the buyers or their goals. Ahead of the shmita year, he said, a complex halakhic question arose regarding how to manage the land. The concern was that certain steps would expose the deal and harm the future Jewish hold on the site. King turned to Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and asked for his ruling. The rabbi replied, "Then we are in a holy war, and in war this question does not arise. Do everything so that it will be possible to observe shmita in the vineyards and fields there. If this poses a danger to the future of the settlement and the deal, there is no doubt at all. Redeeming the land is part of the struggle for the Land of Israel, and there are no questions. Shmita comes later."
King noted that in the end, solutions were found that made it possible to preserve both the land and the laws of shmita, and the move was completed successfully. In his view, the rabbi’s approach combined deep halakhic commitment with a broad understanding of the needs of settlement and the national challenges. He also referred to the Torah legacy left by the rabbi and noted the work of the "Darkhei Hora'ah" institution, founded by Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu in Jerusalem. According to him, the institution, which continues to operate today, has trained thousands of rabbis over the years who serve communities in Israel and around the world and continue to spread his path and teachings. At the end, King said he had been privileged to receive guidance from the rabbi on many matters over the years, and that his view of the Land of Israel, settlement, and strengthening Jewish identity continues to serve as his public compass. According to him, the responsibility placed on the next generation is to continue acting in the spirit of that legacy, with a sense of mission and commitment to the future of the land.
