Yes, Sharon, We Are Facing a Spiritual Catastrophe

Rabbi Sharon Brous (JTA)

As we are about to enter the Yom Tov of Sukkos, I would normally just post my best wishes for a joyous Yom Tov. I do in fact want to convey those wishes to all of my readers and commentators.  I could not, however, help but notice the comments of Sharon Brous the rabbi of a heterodox synagogue in Los Angeles. Comments that stirred some serious emotions in me. Although sadly they did not surprise me at all. The following, in part, is what she said:

“What we are facing today is a spiritual catastrophe, and what is at stake is not just the future of the State of Israel, but the very soul of the Jewish people,” Rabbi Sharon Brous, leader of the independent IKAR congregation in Los Angeles, said in a Rosh Hashanah sermon.

I don’t often find myself agreeing with heterodox rabbis. But in this case, I could not agree more with Rabbi Brous. But not for the reasons she states. In fact, it is precisely the very things she stands for that are at the root of that catastrophe.

The idea that there even exists a concept of denominations in Judaism is foreign to its essence. Judaism is not a movement that responds to social evolution; Judaism is the exact opposite of that. It is the unbreakable word of God - immune to the winds of change. Yet that is precisely the hallmark of heterodox movements: they see the times changing and decide that the Torah must adapt to those changes.

That was, in fact, one of the accusations once made against Dr. Eliezer Berkovits. When I asked him about it, his understandably angry response was that he never said such a thing -  and indeed that would be Apikursus (heresy). What he did say, he explained, is that the Torah must be applied to the times, not adapted to them.

The irony that a heretical rabbi is declaring that we are facing a “spiritual catastrophe” does not escape me. The catastrophe is precisely the heterodoxy that she promotes as truth — which is, in fact, a lie. That is the real spiritual catastrophe the Jewish people face. Not the fact that Israel must defend itself against a mortal enemy — even at the cost of innocent lives — which is, tragically, the nature of war. (More about that later.)

Not to be outdone, another Apikores doubled down on her view that Judaism faces a spiritual catastrophe. Eighty-nine-year-old Ismar Schorsch, former chancellor of JTS — the flagship institution of Conservative Judaism — and a admitted believer in Bible criticism which suggests that the Torah was written by human beings, said the following:

“I think that in some ways, Judaism is at [a] critical moment. Are we going to be able to defend Judaism, which has the burden of the Chillul Hashem [desecration of God’s name] taking place on the West Bank and in Gaza? Will we be able to live with that Judaism, and if we don’t speak out now, it may be too late. This may be our final moment. In raising the ethical constraints that need to be imposed on the Israeli government, we are defending Judaism, and Judaism is going to have to survive this catastrophe. And how will we be able to live with ourselves if we were silent?”

It pains me to say this, but there are certain far left liberal rabbis and assorted personalities who identify as Orthodox that feel the same way. The fact that they somehow see the world through the same distorted lens as rabbis who openly embrace heresy like bible criticism is a sad testament to their blind faith in the media’s portrayal of Israel’s war against Hamas. And to their baseless belief that Israel’s prime minister’s sole purpose in pursuing the war over the past two years has been to retain power.

This, despite statements by opposition leaders and potential rivals for prime minister in the next election who have made it clear that the goals and tactics of the war are Israel’s — not just those of the prime minister.

I am not going to rehash for the umpteenth time why these leaders of liberal denominations  are so badly mistaken about Israel’s motives and what truly constitutes a spiritual catastrophe. What I will say is that every mainstream Orthodox rabbi — regardless of their Hashkafa — would never describe what Israel is doing now as a spiritual catastrophe. Except, perhaps, to point to these rabbis and their mistaken reasoning for saying so. Which creates the false image of catastrophe.

Of course, these heterodox rabbis are not alone. Most Jews in this country who are ignorant of their own Judaism probably feel the same way about Israel right now. But unlike them, these rabbis present themselves as spiritual leaders. Thus providing those Jews a religious imprimatur for their feelings. Not to mention giving aid and comfort to the actual enemy, the very people who are truly guilty of genocide. Which they began almost exactly two years ago to the day and had planned to continue. 

Making matters even worse is the timing of their message. Just when we are on the precipice of ending the misery of the remaining hostages, ridding the region of Hamas, and hopefully ending the war permanently. Something they surely did not believe the prime minister would ever agree to — but he has. If Hamas agrees, it will be a done deal. Add to this the refusal to recognize that Israel’s tactics against – not only Hamas, but Hezbollah, Iran, and all of their other proxies surely contributed to the deal Trump presented now under consideration (agreed to by all) - and that really shows just how clueless and biased they are.

It is so sad what has happened to the vast majority of American Jews, and I include these heterodox rabbis among them. It is not their fault. They were raised in ignorance. and in the case of these heterodox rabbis they were educated in a Judaism that does not exist! Although I am quite angry at them right now for promoting a false reason for the spiritual catastrophe they mention, I nevertheless agree that such a catastrophe exists. Only it is these very leaders who are perpetuating it — by distorting the Torah’s truth. I can only feel sorrow for them and the distorted Jewish education they received. 

As for the aforementioned Chilul HaShem - the only Chiul HaShem here is the very existence of their movements!

Chag Sameach

Peace in Our Time? You Never Know

I am in favor of it and I hope it happens, though I doubt it will. The 20-point peace plan proposed by the president would be a major win for Israel if—unlikely as it may be—it succeeds. Although some elements contradict my sense of what a workable peace plan requires, I believe that, with the right implementation, the overall deal could overcome my fears about the dangers of going forward. Even though there are risks that must be avoided, the fact that they can be addressed makes me think it might possibly work.

The major plus of this deal is that it solves many problems long thought unsolvable — not least the near-universal (though undeserved) condemnation of Israel’s conduct in the war with Hamas. The word ‘genocide’ has increasingly been used to describe Israel’s tactics. Despite the ignorance behind that usage, the label has badly damaged Israel’s reputation, which was quickly descending into an abyss. Many former supporters were abandoning Israel like rats leaving a sinking ship, driven by lies successfully foisted on an ill-informed media that ought to have known better.

It hardly matters that Israel’s cause and tactics are objectively just if the world refuses to recognize them. That is exactly what was happening. What this plan accomplishes — if implemented — is to restore Israel’s standing among the nations. Perhaps more importantly, it restores the likelihood of expanding the Abraham Accords. Broad Arab support for a peace deal signals acceptance of Israel’s right to exist and recognition that peace would benefit their own countries. That is unprecedented and, if it holds, has major positive implications for the future.

If you had asked me a few years ago whether major Arab states would want peace with Israel, I would have said it was impossible. Yet it has already happened with some, and the prospect of more seems real. Considering how Israel has been accused — even by non-Arab European countries — this turnaround is shocking in a most positive way.

It is equally remarkable that the plan was accepted by a prime minister many believed would accept nothing short of total victory over Hamas, his oft-stated goal. It’s true that Trump may have applied pressure, but Netanyahu would not sell out his country to a future filled with repeated October 7^th massacres if he thought that was a likely outcome. I think he believes, at some level and under the right conditions, the plan can work. Alternatively, if Hamas rejects the deal, Netanyahu can finish the job with the full blessing of his major ally, the United States.

Let’s look at the details as I understand them to see why this possibility exists. First and perhaps foremost, the deal begins with the release of all the hostages — no exceptions. That will involve a total ceasefire and the release of 250 prisoners currently held in Israeli custody, most captured after October 7^th. Hamas will be dismantled. Gaza will be demilitarized, and a transitional government will be established that will not immediately include the PA; the PA may return to a role once it demonstrates genuine reform. There will be a stabilization force under international supervision whose members will be subject to Israel’s approval. The plan has wide international support — France, Germany, Russia, Spain, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the UK among them. A poll of Israelis found strong support for the plan. This kind of agreement is unprecedented and sends a message to BDS supporters that the civilized world does not share their aims — including many Arab states.

As I indicated at the outset, there are many flies in the ointment. The biggest is the root cause: the cradle-to-grave indoctrination of virulent Jew-hatred in the Arab world, especially among Palestinians. Unless and until that changes — perhaps through major educational reform included in the peace plan — the deal won’t stand a chance. I don’t know whether that change is part of the plan, but without a determined, sustained effort to alter the anti-Jewish educational paradigm, the agreement is unlikely to succeed. For what it’s worth - my support is conditional on that change.

A poll of Israelis found that about 70% favor the plan, though only about 12% believe it has a real chance of success. That’s pretty much how I feel.

For starters, Hamas has already indicated it will not accept the deal. Frankly, I don’t see why they would. They gain nothing except exile from their people. They don’t seem to care about the hostages or about additional Palestinian casualties that would result if they reject the plan. I don’t think it’s an if — they will reject the plan. That means Israel will finish the job with the full blessing of the U.S., however many additional civilian casualties occur.

For me it’s a win/win either way. Either there will finally be a sustainable peace, backed by the Israeli people and nearly all major international players, or Hamas will be defeated at the cost of many more Palestinian deaths and widespread suffering among survivors — after which the two-state solution will likely be discarded. Personally, I am hoping for the former.

Off to Israel.

The Kotel (Wikipedia)

As I have been doing for many years now, I will be visiting my son and his beautiful family for Sukkos — which now includes five great-grandchildren for my wife and me.

I will be arriving in Israel late tomorrow (Tuesday). Wednesday is Erev Yom Kippur, and Thursday is Yom Kippur. Therefore, there will be no new posts until Sunday at the earliest (if possible – since I will have very limited internet access while I’m there).

This year there are very few weekdays of Chol Hamoed for me because I observe Yom Tov Sheni in Israel. So I am not sure how much opportunity I will have to post. Still, it’s possible that I may squeeze a few out if I can. Stay tuned.

At this point, I would like to wish a G’mar Chasima Tova to all my commentators, readers, and to all of Klal Yisroel. May we all merit a year of good health, prosperity, and more than ever peace!

 And in case I am not able to post before Sukkos, I would also like to wish everyone a Chag Sukkos Sameach. 

Why a Palestinian State Cannot Happen

Abbas '2 state solution' video address to the UN last week (BBC)

Listening to an interview of Emmanuel Macron last week about his rationale for recognizing a Palestinian state and his plan for going forward, one could hardly disagree with what he proposed.

If I understand correctly, Macron believes that all the hostages must first be released; that Hamas must give up any control in Gaza and any further aspirations of doing so; that a consortium of Arab states will govern Gaza; and that a multinational security force — comprised of personnel subject to Israeli approval — will act as a buffer between Gaza and Israel – providing security for both sides. Only then, he argues, can a Palestinian state become a reality.

He believes that the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination and that once they are given full sovereignty over a country of their own, we will finally have the long-sought after peace in the region that has been so elusive over the 77 years since Israel declared statehood.

As if on cue, PA President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN with a similar, if not identical, plan. Even President Trump came out with a plan that, although not immediately recognizing a Palestinian state, did not rule one out eventually; he did, however, rule out Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria.

There are a few more details I didn’t mention, some discrepancies between the various plans, and some details I may not have stated exactly. What is relevant is the commonality between them: they all seem to require the release of the hostages and the complete elimination of Hamas or any other jihadist group as prerequisites for lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.

Who in their right mind wouldn’t agree to such a plan? Who would not want to see ‘peace in our time’ in the Middle East. A region finally free of terrorism and bloodshed, a region where each people can focus on building up its own nation in peace and security?

Predictably, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected one of the key components of these plans: the creation of a Palestinian state. As did the vast majority (about 90%) of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.

How, one may ask, could anybody not be willing to allow a peace-loving Palestinian people to have their own state if it would mean the ultimate peace and security that the Jewish people have longed for?

Sadly, the answer is all too easy to understand for anyone with the slightest bit of knowledge about the history of the 2 peoples in the region. And nobody spelled it out better than Jonathan Tobin did last week when describing the president’s plan. It is sad that even people of good will do not understand this: Tobin’s detailed comments – which follow - explain why the creation of a Palestinian state, under current conditions, would be folly:

The problem is that the basic premise of this plan is all wrong.

It is rooted in the idea that foreign funding, along with the creation of a Palestinian Arab governing body and security force committed to peace, will tap into a broad constituency for coexistence and pivot away from terrorism in Gaza, as well as in Judea and Samaria. The assumption is that Hamas and other extreme Islamist groups remain obstacles to the implementation of the will for rationality on the part of the people they purport to represent.

There is no evidence that this is true. On the contrary, everything that has happened in the conflict since the 1993 Oslo Accords that created the Palestinian Authority teaches that the political and even social culture of the Palestinians is fundamentally opposed to the idea of coexistence, two states or any sort of peace other than one built on the destruction of Israel and the genocide of the Jews.

P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas may have mildly censured the Oct. 7 atrocities as “actions that don’t represent the Palestinian people” in his U.N. rant delivered remotely from Ramallah (the Trump administration rightly denied him entry to the United States). Still, in the past two years, he has never actually condemned it to his own people in Arabic. How could he when the P.A. still pays pensions and salaries to terrorists—like those who took part in the orgy of murder, rape, torture, kidnapping and wanton destruction on Oct. 7?

Then there is the fact that a great many of those who participated in those massacres were Palestinian civilians, not Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives. The Palestinian people—both backers of Hamas and those who stand with Abbas’s corrupt Fatah—support the same goal of destroying Israel and shedding Jewish blood.

That seems like madness to well-intentioned Western peacemakers. It is something they simply refuse to acknowledge or factor into their peace proposals for statehood, and even Trump’s scheme for something less than statehood.

Much as most Americans, Europeans and even many Israelis would prefer to deny it, the war is not only one against Hamas but against the Palestinian people. And until they give up their faith in Israel’s elimination, no amount of foreign investment or diplomatic acrobatics will make any difference. (Read more here) 

I would argue that Tobin’s argument against a Palestinian state is irrefutable.  The obvious question then becomes, what’s next? How can we hope to ever achieve peace between two peoples when one them has for generations been indoctrinated from cradle to grave to believe that Jews have stolen their land? A people determined to never give up their goal of getting it all back? A people that believes that all attempts at doing including acts of terror that in some cases end up involve horrific massacres of innocent Jews - are valid in pursuit of that goal?

As is often the case, I don’t know the answers. The only thing I am certain of is that Netanyahu and the vast majority of the Israeli people are right: A Palestinian state is not one of them.

The Kirk Conundrum

Billboard of the president and Charlie Kirk in Tel Aviv (Forward)

Louis Keene’s article in the Forward presents a fascinating glimpse into the appeal the late Charlie Kirk had for Orthodox Jews. While at the same time being seen a classic old-line antisemite by secular and heterodox Jews. I think Keene has hit the proverbial nail on the head. Not only does Kirk appeal to Orthodox Jews, but he has been elevated to near icon status. Here is how Keene puts it:

In the hours and days following Kirk’s assassination, it seemed like every Orthodox leader and institution in America was treating a devout Christian like a deceased rebbe.

The chief executive of Aish, an Orthodox outreach organization, mourned the loss of “a courageous advocate for our people.” The president of Yeshiva University called Kirk “a personal friend, a friend to our community.” The head spokesperson for Chabad highlighted the Turning Point USA founder’s “steadfast friendship to the Jewish people.” A Chabad rabbi even called Kirk “the Abraham of our time.”

The last time I discussed why I believed Kirk’s views resonated so strongly with Orthodox Jews, I got pushback from some of my liberal Jewish friends. They were quick to list (or link to) antisemitic tropes Kirk used and challenged me on why I thought someone who said things like that could ever be seen as a friend - much less an icon to Orthodox Jews.

The answer is quite simple. As Keene notes, both Kirk and Orthodox Jews place a high value on the Bible, whose values guide our lives. His support for Israel, for example, is based on God’s promise to the Jewish people that the Holy Land is given to them. That is the primary reason Orthodox Jews support Israel as the Jewish homeland. Instead of, say, Uganda.

In a culture that glorifies behavior the Bible considers abominable, Kirk’s rejection of that culture resonates with us too. This is also why Evangelical Christians, who focus so much on biblical values, are our natural allies.

But what about those antisemitic tropes? Shouldn’t that at least neutralize, if not outright cancel, our consideration of Kirk as an icon? And what about the following?

Not all of Kirk’s politics — anti-LGBTQ+, anti-woke, anti-abortion, anti-DEI — map neatly onto halacha, or Jewish law. (And there are other biblical values that he would seem to have violated personally; demeaning speech, for example, is prohibited.)

First, I would have to disagree that being anti-LGBTQ+ is in any way a violation of Halacha. In fact, the opposite is true. Halacha is very much opposed to LGBTQ+ values and practices. And while demeaning speech is a serious violation of Jewish law, its application is not as simple as one might think (the details of which are beyond the scope of this post). But even if it is, the fact that he is guilty of one violation (which, I dare say, we are all guilty of) does not negate his views on other biblically guided issues with which we agree, especially those issues that directly impact the moral fabric of this country.

The irony is that those who oppose Kirk, and consider him an unrepentant antisemite, cannot understand why so many Orthodox Jews can identify with a man like that. It is as if they consider us clueless about those tropes. But that is not the case. What is the case is that we judge the overall person. We see what they value and what they don’t. And more importantly, we examine more closely why he made some of those disparaging comments about ‘the Jews’. This is not to say that we should condone those comments. We should not. It is only to understand why they are not necessarily antisemitic.

A closer look shows that what bothered him about ‘the Jews’ is the very same thing that bothers Orthodox Jews about the majority of the Jewish world – who are not observant and mostly very liberal politically. Namely, that their values are not biblically based, but instead shaped by prevailing liberal cultural attitudes.

When Jews are at the forefront of promoting the anti-biblical values of an LGBTQ+ agenda, they should be called out. Which I have done. Many times!

These are the Jews Kirk was talking about. And blaming them for the moral decline in the country is not that far off if you consider that the centerpiece of that decline is Hollywood. The sad reality is that Jews have an inordinate influence in what Hollywood produces and promotes. Their numbers in Hollywood are vastly greater, proportionally, than their numbers in the general population. So of course they share responsibility.

That being said, Kirk should not have singled out ‘Jews’ as responsible for the moral decline of American culture. He should have instead simply focused on liberals or progressives, without mentioning Jews. Because when he did, he left himself open to being considered an antisemite. Which he clearly was not. He was simply opposed to the values promoted by the majority of non-Orthodox Jews, most of whom have substituted liberal or progressive values for biblical ones:

Kirk carried the torch for ideas that the liberal consensus holds are outdated: that marriage is between a man and a woman; that a woman should submit to her husband; that gender is defined at birth; and that belief in God is the source of morality.

In other words, Orthodox Jews and the ‘Charlie Kirks of the world’ are really on the same biblical page. The obvious major theological differences between us don’t amount to a hill of beans when it comes to promoting the values of the Bible. Values upon which we see eye to eye. That is why he is considered a near icon.

What about accusations that Evangelical Christians (of which Kirk was one) only support us in order to convert us?

Nonsense. I agree with Eli Steinberg, a Haredi Orthodox commentator who wasn’t suspicious of Kirk’s motives and said the following:

“We’re not at the point in time right now where the Christian allies of Jewish people are seeking to convert Jews to Christianity,” Steinberg said. “What we do have is an overwhelming force of secularists who have, in place of religion, woke politics.”

As further noted by Keene:

Kirk’s Christianity was central to his appeal, in part because he made Jewish practice a part of it. He wrote a forthcoming book about the value of “the Jewish Sabbath” — from a conservative publishing house, not ArtScroll — in which he said he observed Shabbat by turning off his phone and logging out of social media. And he once implored Jewish students to observe Shabbat themselves.

If Kirk was an antisemite, we sure could use a lot more antisemites like him. It would make the U.S. a far better place to raise our children. And America might just see Israel in an entirely different and entirely better light.

The Fall Guy

The State of Israel has never been so publicly humiliated as it is now. To say that the animosity toward the Jewish state is unprecedented would be an understatement.

The saddest part about this fact is that it is the net result of the worst atrocity committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. A crime carried out by an Iran-backed and financed Hamas, whose crimes against humanity rival those of Nazi Germany.

That atrocity should have brought Israel a major increase in sympathy and support. And it did - for about ‘five minutes’. It didn’t take long for the world to condemn Israel’s military response against Hamas in Gaza. Early on, an explosion near a Gaza hospital was immediately blamed on an Israeli airstrike. Protests erupted almost overnight on college campuses across the country.

Even though it was soon shown that the explosion near that hospital was the result of a failed rocket fired at Israel by Islamic Jihad - falling short of its target, the anti-Israel narrative stuck. Since then, animosity toward Israel’s conduct in the war has only increased. By what seems like orders of magnitude.

The American people have been divided over Israel’s war in Gaza. But the momentum has been steadily shifting in the direction of disapproval. I am not going to rehash all the details about why this has happened, other than to say that the horrific images—paired with a narrative blaming Israel exclusively - is why animosity has only grown. Today, it seems that only the U.S. government is still defending Israel.

While I am absolutely convinced of the rectitude of Israel’s defensive posture, there is no convincing its detractors. Images speak louder than the most lucid justifications. That is also why so many prominent progressive politicians and entertainment figures - many of them Jewish - feel the same way.

A common denominator in all this is Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He is being blamed for it all. Again, I won’t go into too much detail, but suffice it to say that there seems to be a universal feeling among Israel’s detractors that Netanyahu’s determination to retain power at all costs is what is driving the war.

Their perception is that his military tactics are being driven by extremist right-wing politicians like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom openly call for an Israel from the ‘river to the sea’ - by annexing all of Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. That would restore Israel to its biblical borders. In pursuit of that goal, Palestinians unwilling to accept annexation would be ethnically cleansed. This was essentially the ‘solution’ proposed decades ago by Rabbi Meir Kahane.

Netanyahu is no follower of Rabbi Kahane. His ‘solution’ is as unlikely to happen now as is a Palestinian state. Neither is a sane policy.

But it doesn’t really matter what I believe, or even that the truth is on Israel’s side. The world has been duped into believing what it sees instead of believing the truth. Hamas has worked their ‘magic’. Their deadly tactics, which include sacrificing their own women and children and then blaming Israel, have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

That Hamas’s leadership has been destroyed is, at best, a temporary victory for Israel. If they are left to fight another day, they will reconstitute their ranks faster than you can say ‘Jack rabbit’. More than ever, Palestinian youth are ‘chomping at the bit’ to become Hamas fighters for a Palestine ‘from the river to the sea.”

A permanent ceasefire now without ridding Gaza of Hamas, (which seems to be what everybody wants) would mean they will soon return to full strength. This is why I believe Netanyahu is right in trying to destroy them. I’m just not sure he will succeed - unless he kills every Palestinian youth in Gaza. And that WOULD be genocide.

The stakes are high. The repercussions of failure are unacceptable. Yet the growing global animosity toward Israel - framing its war as genocide - could turn Israel into a pariah state boycotted by the entire world, including the U.S. - if the next presidential election is won by a progressive Democrat. Not all that far-fetched considering the likelihood of anti Israel progressive, Zorhan Mamdani becoming the next mayor of New York.

As I keep saying, I have no answers. Only questions. Whatever side one takes, the downside is unacceptable.

A lot of people think Netanyahu has damaged Israel’s reputation forever. Even though I still think he is one of the most effective and consequential leader in Israel’s history. He has nevertheless become a lightning rod for criticism. As long as he stays in office that will continue. And probably increase. Once he is out, it is very possible that the next leader will be able to restore Israel’s good image. Despite all the negative news being reported about Israel today, all the positive contributions Israel has made to the world are still in place. With the potential for many more to come. Once the war is concluded, which will hopefully be soon, this can resume. Under a new leader that will not be associated with the tactics of the war for which Israel is so strongly now disparaged.

Netanyahu will then become the fall guy for all that Israel has been blamed for. Something he does not deserve—especially if he somehow manages to succeed in ridding Gaza of Hamas. But with what seems like the entire world increasingly branding him a war criminal, his departure from the scene will surely help restore Israel’s image.

For me this is a very unfair outcome for someone who – regardless of his many faults - has dedicated his life to the Jewish people. The irony is striking: a leader whose tactics succeeded in achieving what was once thought impossible—like the destruction of Hezbollah (which directly led to the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria) or the dismantling of Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities - could end up as the fall guy for all of Israel’s critics in the world. Sadly, it could very well happen. It may even need to happen.

How will history judge him? We cannot know yet. That will depend, in part, on who writes the history. But it will not stop speculation. Depending on whom you ask, you will hear opposite answers. Will he be remembered as the Winston Churchill of Israel? Or as the greatest war criminal in its history? Only time will tell.

Reflection and Gratitude

As we are about to enter the year 5786, it is appropriate to reflect upon the year just past. That is, in fact, one of the central themes of this season, which we call the Yomim Noraim – the Days of Awe. We are all mortal flesh and blood, and we must come to terms with how we have led our lives over the past year. It is on Rosh Hashana that we are judged by the “Heavenly Court,” and our fate for the coming year is determined. Who will live, who will die, and how – these are among decrees made in Heaven on Rosh Hashana.

Even though we focus more on God’s Kingship over the universe – and its birth – than on our sins of the past year, the need for repentance is never far from our thoughts as we pray for a blessed upcoming year.

It is with that in mind that I want to express my profound gratitude to HaShem for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I am blessed with good health, as is my wife. I am blessed with wonderful children, whose accomplishments in life so far I could only have dreamed about when they were small children. I could not be prouder of all of them – each unique and accomplished in their own way. I could not be prouder of my grandchildren, most of whom are beginning their lives as responsible adults. And of course, there are my great-grandchildren. I am truly blessed beyond what I feel I deserve.

I have expressed these feelings publicly before, but to the best of my recollection never here. My gratitude to God for all these undeserved blessings knows no words. I am humbled.

I only wish that these kinds of blessings be bestowed upon my readers and upon all of Klal Yisroel. There is no amount of money that can buy blessings like these.

On a communal level, however, we have had yet another difficult year. The war against our enemies in Gaza is ongoing. People are dying, and the job is not finished. Much of the world has been influenced to vilify Israel because of it, disregarding Israel’s existential necessity to defeat her enemies. Whether Israel is going about it the right way is a matter of debate, but clearly Israel does NOT intentionally kill innocent people – even though much of the world describes it that way, falsely calling it a “genocide.” Meanwhile, there seems to be no end in sight to the war, and Israel’s support continues to erode.

Politicians once considered Israel’s friends have abandoned her. Antisemitic attacks have increased to frightening proportions all over the world. I do not recall ever feeling so depressed about our situation.

So as I pray for my continued blessings and wish them upon all, I also pray for an end to this war – an end that will finally bring the security to our people that has been so elusive since Israel’s very creation. This is something we must all pray for during these Days of Awe. Because without God’s salvation, we are lost.

May God grant us the peace and tranquility for which we so long – with a successful end to the war. And may He restore Israel’s reputation as a shining light of ethics and morality to the world. 

K’siva V’Chasima Tova to all.