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Susan Sullivan's avatar

So true! Israel is brave and the Israelis are the bravest of the brave! You are shadowing your brave Biblical Hero’s. The governments of the West are Pygmy’s! They are appeasers. What you are doing in Iran is miraculous, thank you!

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Shelah Horvitz's avatar

Because this time feels Biblical, I think of the lessons of the Nevi'im, which is that you can't rely on a foreign power to save the Jews. We are a nation that dwells alone, we are the international pariah, and even half of Trump's American advisors want us wiped off the face of the earth. As always, whether there will be victory in this conflict will be between the Jews and God. I know the Jews are waiting for Trump to come in and save the day but I don't think he's going to do that; rather, I think he's going to let Israel do all the work and take all the risks and all the damage, and then at the end he'll do some kind of negotiation so he can get that Nobel Prize he wants so badly. If the Americans do not bomb Fordow, then Israel will have to do a very risky commando raid, and I'm beginning to think that raid is inevitable. I have been reading lately about the Mossad operatives in Iran being caught, and you know they must be sadistically tortured before they die. I have been thinking what incredible courage and conviction they have and how they deserve a hero's welcome home, not to die brutally in Iran. But I think these are the anonymous people on whose shoulders the question of nuclear disarmament eventually will rest.

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Laura's avatar

We've become a nation of cowards, despite being the world's predominant military superpower. There's little risk to us in using the bunker buster, so why the hesitation? The skies over Iran are cleared thanks to the Israelis. Not a single Israeli plane has been shot down that I'm aware of, so what are we worried about? Why do we have that weapon if we're unwilling to use it at a time like this? This doesn't seem like we are making America great again. Half the MAGA movement consists of cowering pussies.

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Shelah Horvitz's avatar

Half of Trump's followers support Israel and a very loud half of them want Israel wiped off the map and cover up their malice by saying America should not fight foreign wars, even though Iran definitely had the US in its sights.

That conflict within his own party has an effect.

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Dan's avatar
3dEdited

The fear and the horror in The West of an Islamist Bomb being used against Europe, or by Nazis against Russia and The US to precipitate war between the great powers in payback for Hitler’s defeat, (we have monitored Nazi discussion of both) has concentrated minds in the USA. There will be no Iran Nuclear Bomb. So rest your nerves.

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MR's avatar

I am in awe of Israelis and their resilience. If only more American Jews had an Israeli mindset.

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Robbin Close's avatar

MR I agree with you. I admire the strength and resilience of the Israelis. I wish more of us could exhibit the same. Am Yisrael Chai ❤️🇮🇱🇺🇸hopefully President Trump will decide to destroy more of the Iranian nuclear facilities.

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Steve S's avatar

Weren't there two spies, Joshua and Caleb, who reported differently to Moses? As I recall the story, they were not intimidated by the natives and were confident the Hebrews would prevail.

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@isknot's avatar

yes

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Ronda Wells MD's avatar

And God blessed them for it!

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Jewish Grandmother's avatar

What a beautiful tribute to our precious Israel and its incredible people. We in the Diaspora owe them so much!

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Stephen Schecter's avatar

Glad you wrote this piece about the parasha this week. Over a decade ago I wrote a book called Grasshoppers in Zion where I argued, as I have argued ever since, Israel's need to deal with the Palestinians, put an end to their murder and deception, not to mention the wider Arab Muslim world. The Bible is full of good and wise foreign policy advice. It seems the Israeli government is finally waking up to that too. This world is not for people who think of themselves as grasshoppers in their own eyes to boot!

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MICHAEL SAVAGE's avatar

BRILLIANT POST! ITS ALL IN 'HIS' HANDS! THE LORD IS MOVING IN THE EARTH, REMAIN IN THE LIGHT!

AM YSRAEL CHAI!

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Sir Frederic's avatar

Beautifully written!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

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FreedomFighter's avatar

Strength comes from pain. When you are feeling pain, like the Israeli's have for almost 80 years, you are building strength. It is G-d's design. working to perfection. Israeli warriors are Biblical, as the Jewish warriors throughout the centuries. The Lions know no fear.

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Miriamnae's avatar

Yes, it’s Biblical. Amen. The two spies who were heroes, affirming we could take the land regardless of giants, are from two different tribes…I’m seeing Trump and Bibi.

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Gilbert Achsen's avatar

You outdo yourselves in each subsequent article. Happy to have found your Website, truly inspiring!

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Stephen Korn's avatar

A beautiful essay, Mijal Bitton!

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@isknot's avatar
4dEdited

Thank heavens for another rare succinct piece of writing and thinking for us little plebes who are total fans of Future 'of Jewish!!! That said, I'm likely one of the lengthist of Comment-ers. I like obscure tangents and communicate accordingly.

Whereas as some people in some nations have a percieved 'dangerous' set of political leaders elected some say 'democratically' - there are ways to fool the machine of how elections are controlled or contained.

We, in Australia, actually have a very real problem. However, Biblically i.e. Torah-dichy speaking. Thus the problem of our 'leaders' here is to take advantage of the opportunity to leaarn a 'biblical' lesson. But, the advantage is only now.

As you say to take the courage to confront the reality that is percierved and that is manifest. Here is what I replied an hour ago as a Comment on one of our fab Australian and Jewish sites.

"That person is only one part of what I have during their terms of endearment refer to as "The Triumvirate of Evil". Term that person or the trio how you wish. There is a problem. But, "The BIG Lesson" which only began on Simchat Torah (Oct. 7, 2023) begins with every Jewish individual/group/organization taking the first step towards "The BIG Lesson" which is, dare I offer a suggestion, to realize we have all the tools of Torah, our Sources, yet we choose instead to kvetch and point out the obvious faults of our 'leaders' each of whom of that trio have no honorable capacity to lead. Let alone lead in a time of global crisis.

There is no logic to expect an ounce more from them. Except at a moment when their own Super is threatened. The solution to their polution is to go in the opposite direction first. Take 3 steps backwards as Amidah teaches and then go into our Sources. In a timely fashion. The Jewish Time of Parshot. That IS the solution.

That will empower our Lawyers and our own Leaders in our Community(ies) to continue to take the right actions, effectively. But we also need our Teachers/Rabbis and here is one presenting hard evidence in the most Jewish ways. Combining 3 aspects of the intellect as blessed in step 4 of the Amidah.

Kvetching is fun but it is not effective. Our gene for kvetching was expressed in a recent Parsha. It is impossible to understand Torah or Shakespeare without the continual guidance of scholars. Additionally, Shakespeare like this lesson on video absolutely requires scholarship that cross references sources or in Torah study Sources. Here is the first of this great Rabbi's words to the wise in 4 parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynp4txyMIPYaking "it is all Hashem".

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Stephen Korn's avatar

Thank you!

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Ronda Wells MD's avatar

These are absolutely Biblical times. I don’t know how much study of the prophets is done in some synagogues, but we are seeing parts of Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel and others being fulfilled. Astonishingly fast, too! Hashem is with Israel—and King David would be proud!

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Laura's avatar

Israelis put the west to shame. Ten million people and geographically the size of New Jersey, yet entirely on its own taking on the Iranian threat while the western powers quiver in fear.

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Steven ward's avatar

I identify with your feelings..perhaps my ancestors had similar angst when they landed in America in the 1600s..the SAR fellow…

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