As the Jewish New Year is here and we Jews contemplate our lives, and particularly, our deeds over the past year, I’ve been thinking, as have most Jews, about Oct. 7.
Last year around this time, I wrote about the foolish political and social divide among Jews in Israel and America. That was one month after the commemoration of the fast of Tisha B’Av. The Second Temple was destroyed on that day, according to the Talmud—not because of the Roman attacks but because of internal divisions that weakened and distracted the Jews. While Rome attacked, the Jews spread hatred and blame among each other. I warned that our modern enemies, always looking for such weakness, would choose this time to attack. And then the Nova music festival massacre happened.
Unfortunately, there are still divisions among us. There are still protests in the streets against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There are more articles in Ha’aretz that condemn Netanyahu than condemn Hamas or Hezbollah, or that celebrate the rescue of hostages.
I got a High Holiday message last week from a rabbi saying, “Let’s stay united and not bicker about politics.” Great. He followed it up by stating that a member of the Knesset was adamant that Netanyahu was approving the sexual abuse of Hamas prisoners. First, how is that keeping politics out of our thoughts? And second … seriously?
Yet through all this mishugas, Israel triumphs. At a time when I’m starting to lose faith in American ingenuity, perseverance and work ethics—take, for example, the $320 million Gaza pier that lasted about a week)—Israel accomplishes amazing things. And I take pride in that.
For instance, Israel planted a bomb in Tehran that sat dormant for two months until Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visited the city for the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Only then did they detonate the bomb, killing Haniyeh instantly. As we say on another Jewish holiday, Dayenu, “that would have been enough.”
Then Israel set off bombs lying dormant in the pagers of thousands of Hezbollah terrorists, wounding most and killing some. Dayenu.
Israel followed that up by setting off hundreds of bombs lying dormant in the walkie-talkies of Hezbollah terrorists, wounding hundreds more. Dayenu.
A short time later, Israel targeted the headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut with a missile, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah. Dayenu.
Since last Oct. 7, at least six other terrorist leaders have been assassinated by Israel. Dayenu.
Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is allegedly in hiding, fearful for his life. Dayenu.
I wrote recently that Israel has lost every war for the past 50 years. But I can now say that Israel is determined to win this latest war against Iran and its terror proxies. There are two reasons why Israel will continue to triumph. First, the Israelis fight for morality, freedom, their homes, their families and their lives. The terrorists fight only to destroy these things. When you fight for what’s most important to you, you don’t give up. And Jews have been fighting for their survival for millennia.
Second, despite what their government newspapers claim, and what American media echoes, most Iranian and Lebanese people hate their oppressive rulers and respect their Israeli friends. So much so, that they’re willing to help the Israelis destroy these monsters while risking their own lives.
And maybe a third reason: God is on our side.
So in this new year, I will pray that Israel keeps doing what it’s doing until it fully wins this war, eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah and crippling the leaders of Iran. I will pray that the Israeli people unite behind its leaders in this time of crisis and save the vitriol for easier times. And I will pray that American Jews support Israel fully and unconditionally at least until all hostages are home, all displaced Israelis are home, and there is at least a temporary peace in Jerusalem.
L’Shanah Tovah! G’mar Chatimah tovah!
