Greer Fay Cashman reports in the Jerusalem Post:
Back in Israel after a long absence is Australian mining tycoon Rabbi Joseph Gutnick, who is best known to Israelis for having bankrolled the highly successful “Bibi is good for the Jews” election campaign in 1996, in which Benjamin Netanyahu defeated front-runner Shimon Peres in a surprise win that changed the history of Israel.
During this current visit, Gutnick, who would like to see Netanyahu return to office, has already met with him, and will meet with him again. He also had meetings lined up with other political leaders, including Ayelet Shaked, Benny Gantz and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
He isn’t bankrolling any politician this time around, explaining that it’s so difficult, given Israel’s new monetary regulations. But he is interested in what is happening in Israel politically and is keen to meet influential figures whose politics lean to the Right.
A Chabadnik and a mega philanthropist who credits his good fortune to blessings that he received from the Rebbe, Gutnick also had a period in which he fell on hard times and received little help from others.
This caused him to think that perhaps he had invested in too many buildings in terms of charitable funding, and not enough in helping individual people.
Lady Luck smiled on him again, and in thinking of his own experiences and what he wanted to do for others in the future, he commissioned a book, Gratitude, by way of thanking those who had helped him by giving public recognition to their kind-heartedness.
Attaining gratitude in an age of entitlement can be a real challenge, he said, as he wondered whether it is truly possible to see everything that we have as a gift.
In a foreword which he himself authored, Gutnick wrote: “I believe gratitude, appreciation and acknowledgment are the most fundamental principles in our relationship between G-d and man.”
In paying tribute to the Rebbe, Gutnick wrote: “The Rebbe’s goal is to spread goodness and kindness to humanity.”
Among Gutnick’s many charitable endeavors are the construction of mikvaot (ritual baths) in many parts of Israel, the United States, New Zealand and Tasmania, the southern island state off Australia, separated from the coast of Victoria by the Bass Strait.
It is a fact! If you are grateful, it is because someone ~or advise helped you , therefore you are thankful and appreciative , as a result you are happy,you received something you did not have and needed. Happiness is clearly associated being aware of endowment of receiving. Everything we have is from Hashem.Thank anyone n everyone for anything they help us with.Be generous with a smile a gesture, it helps other to be happy.
A role model of chesed and generosity
The Rebbe personally appointed him as his Shliach for Shleimus Haraetz
B”H
H” is giving us here in Eretz Yisroel a 5th chance in 3 years to bring Moshiach NOW. Bli Neder , will again wear a Gartel when i vote for Itamar Ben Gvir…lets hope h” will bring our desire and need for Revelation of Moshiach BEFORE the soon elections…WE don’t want to wait!!!
The book is called ‘Gratitude in an Age of Entitlement.’
It in an encyclopedic work full of mekoros on gratitude especially from Chassidus and the Rebbe, plus more.
It was generously sponsored by Rabbi Gutnick and copies given out in NY and Australia, including at the recent Kinus Hamechanchos, with hope for further feedback and additional printings internationally.