25 Comments
User's avatar
Susan Hirshorn's avatar

Mr. Schecter: Please send your essay to Bibi and any other Israel leader you believe would support what it says. In some of my comments on other essays here I have posited something similar: that to win this war decisively we must follow the Torah's guidance. So far our leaders have largely ignored it. To even enter negotiations for the giveaway of Israeli territory - as they did so many times - to agree to the terms of the Oslo accord - was capitulating to "Amalak", who disguised himself as our allies. The retention of Judea/Samaria and Gaza as Israeli territory is paramount. Those in Israel who oppose this (notably, the left) must be silenced by the sheer volume of Israeli voices who support it. We must also be prepared to defend ourselves from sanctions (maybe even violence) from our allies who still push for the delusional "2 state solution". No longer must Israel listen passively to the voices of Amalak in the United Nations and elsewhere. We must say "this is what is going to happen whether you support us or not". And trust in G-d to help us.

Expand full comment
Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

Thank you. I do not think we should use anything other than "So-Called 'palestinians' ". I'm not opposed to using as you did 'Arab Muslims' when appropriate. 'Amalek' needs defined if possible in current terms or the specific current peoples who comprise Amalek? Samaria and Judea need no other name referenced as those are their proper and historical regional names - Samaria, Judea, The Land of Israel - Aretz Yisrael.. If the 'p' word is removed or altered as suggested or in a better way then I will fwd this essay.

Expand full comment
John's avatar

It is ridiculous that the governments of the USA and Israel Kowtow to Fakestinian terms at all.

And every newsreport should begin with reference to Koran Sura 5,ehich states plainly that Israel belongs to the Jews because God gave it to them.

Expand full comment
Kari Tuovinen's avatar

Like the land of Canaan.

Expand full comment
Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

Not really except in the only valid context which is the Torah. For example chances are wherever you wrote from and likely wherever you were born and bred has more ancient names some of which are valid only in an historic context and not in relation to the modern state. Specifically that is not the case with the Land of Israel nor the Srate of Israel nor the Jewish People because those three are aligned in a harmonious honest transparent way.

Expand full comment
Alison's avatar

Amen! I couldn't agree more.

Expand full comment
Dan's avatar
Sep 17Edited

Any Ideology which openly allies itself with Nazism, the ultimate ideology of 'Death and Evil' which killed 50 Million People in World War Two,( including 27 Million Russian people, to establish Lebensraum in The East for the Ethnic Germans), is bankrupt. But Hamas has done just this since 2013 right here in London. Islamism is the Terrorist branch of Islam, and is so indoctrinated with Antisemitism and Hate that it sees Nazism as its Ally. I can now tell you that they formally sought, and had backing from, very Highly placed Nazis here in Europe, and who met here in London to discuss getting both arms and succour in the International sphere. All this has been monitored for over ten years now by a group of us. This is how Hamas has now been defeated as an idea! It is in ACTIVE ALLIANCE with the worst Ideology of 'Death and Evil' of the lot: Nazism. And so, your exhortation to Jews to follow the path of Life is prescient: For indeed, people are fated to become like the Enemy they face. We become calloused and battle-hardened. But never like the Horror of The Nazis and the pitiless cruelty of Hitler, if we hold on to the Promise of Life.

Expand full comment
Ira Seidenstein, PhD (Edu)'s avatar

This a fantastic super short practical summary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbQCO2gM-UY

Expand full comment
Iuval Clejan's avatar

So how do you propose to extirpate the murderous Jihadist ideology? By treating Palestinians as second class citizens, or worse? I agree that current Jihadis have to be killed, unless they have a miraculous change of heart (and some might pretend to, we have to be careful, and the kibbutzniks who were helping them were duped--the early kibbutzniks had a policy of not hiring outside manual labor, so as not to exploit--should have stuck to that). But future Jihadists will arise if the Palestinians are not prosperous and happy (this is the sense in which you can't extirpate an ideology, especially a murderous one, simply by killing people). To extirpate Jihadsm, we have to understand what will make them prosperous and happy. Perhaps other versions of Islam, like Sufism (or Bahai)? Perhaps NOT modernity for some of them, but agricultural and craft-based village life (but they will need land for that)?

Expand full comment
John's avatar

This surely needs to be said.

But just as surely, it must be

understood that Armegeddon will likely ensue, especially having let things get so insane, bringing down the hammer at this point, with China Joe having executed China's plan to decimate our troops via Death Vax, the only way forward is basically alone.

With the entire Western World infiltrated with enemies of Jews and White Western Europeans, even if the West, tries to help it will almost certainly be weak and ineffectual.

And these same nations are filled with rabid Jew Haters who readily believe anything about Jews, as long as it is bad.

So, Israel against the world with no strong, loyal ally leaves "only" God.

Which is, of course, all we need, but what it means is Armegeddon.

Expand full comment
Robin Alexander's avatar

All true. “ … and with it modernity itself.” Powerful.

Expand full comment
Kari Tuovinen's avatar

Agnostic or Atheist, neither has been able to explain the essence of goodness and evil. Almighty יהוה is above both, and not against either. Those of us who choose to be servants of Good or Evil will be judged according to our actions, regardless of what religion I represent or what social system I support. There are Dictatorships where there are no choices, and the aftermath is not very progressive, not in recent history but more distantly. This Amalekian way has been instilled in Europeans for a long time, it is just waiting for the time when the barrel is full, and the anger is unleashed.

When these Amalekite-spirited Arabs, now so-called (Palestinians). Those who don't stay in the historical truth for a day are like a kindling thread in that barrel.

Expand full comment
jerry kleiner's avatar

As an agnostic, I certainly respect your right to call on the Torah as the ultimate say on how Israel should deal with the Palestinians. You have your point of view and others have a right to a different point of view and it will be up to the Israeli government to make those decisions.

Stephen, what I find extremely irritating is this talk of how the Torah says to go and smite your enemies. Exactly who do you want to smite our enemies? Does that include the Haradim or is that only for the non-orthodox to risk their lives and fight Amalek? Why does Israel give 5 billion dollars to the Orthodox and they dont even want to join the army.

It is morally reprehensible and its all about politics and sounds to me like its very much against the Torah. Seems the Torah has no problem with "smiting" so why do the Haredim?

I dont want to sound disrespectful but I can tell you if my son or daughter were in the IDF risking their lives while the Haredim are on their asses rocking back and forth reading Torah passages ... the last place i wold take advice from is someone quoting the Torah. all the best, ahimsa, papa j

Expand full comment
John's avatar

Come on guy! Don't be coy... I am quite certain that if you put on your thinking cap, you actually can puzzle out why Religious Scholars have been traditionally exempted.

Just use some of that Agnostic Respect and a bit of old fashioned logic.

You'll figure it out...

Expand full comment
jerry kleiner's avatar

Cmon John, know your history and you will know why they were exempted. It was after the Holocaust and we were afraid that we would lose our lose our talmudic teachers so Gurion gave an exemption for roughly 400 very learned Jews to be exempt. There is no fear presently and the number is not 400, it is 60,000 and the only reason for it is the political parties.

So buddy, the cap was put on before i made the comment. I suggest before you post something, you should do the same and at least know somewhat of what you are talking about.

Have a great day. papa j

Expand full comment
Albert Koeman's avatar

An excellent recipe for endless future struggle.

Expand full comment
John's avatar

The only solution possible...

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 17
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Susan Hirshorn's avatar

Some of the attackers were Palestinian spies the kibbutzniks had befriended. As far as I'm concerned, those who blatantly ignored the Jew-hating ideology of the Gazans, thinking they could change it with kindness, were just plain arrogant and stupid.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 17Edited
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Susan Hirshorn's avatar

First, it was stupid to give them work permits. No argument there. And I saw a video from someone involved with the kibbutz in question. Sorry but I didn't keep it. The woman identified herself; wasn't trying to hide behind some "meme".

Expand full comment
Diane Steiner's avatar

You are right about a video. I streamed a video about Israeli peace activists living near Erez Crossing, who met with Palestinians to talk about how they could make things better. I remember the woman leading this group had a daughter who was concerned about her safety. I now wonder if that entire Israeli group was murdered.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 17
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Kari Tuovinen's avatar

No one has denied that. Amalek or Jeroboam, I personally don't like either.

Expand full comment
Susan Hirshorn's avatar

I have no argument with that quote.

Expand full comment
Kari Tuovinen's avatar

It was not a question of failure, as you claim, they knew the time when Israel would be most vulnerable. or Do you claim that the beginning of the Yom Kippur war was the same as this rascally act. Israel has two major holidays that are wanted and wanted to be celebrated at home and with family. it's not a failure, soldiers also want to spend time with their family during the festive season. The mole had already infiltrated into Israel before 7 days.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 17
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Kari Tuovinen's avatar

The reason was the Simchat Torah you just mentioned. Yom kippur. for the same reason as 1973. Then Israel is most vulnerable despite the IDF.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 17
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Kari Tuovinen's avatar

You yourself prove by denying that it is not possible. Laying the blame solely on the shoulders of the IDF, just because some were out of their departments, if the supervision had been full-scale, it would have been known earlier what kind of attack it was. It's good that there are people who want peace, and people who oppose violence, they have chosen their part in non-violence, but that's why you can't be blue-eyed towards the tribesmen of Amalek's spirit. I am a pacifist at heart, but I know that Israel will not have peace without military action. Especially when it is inconsistent in its decisions. The Torah is a great book and consistent, and when a nation is consistent, then it is strong even at its weakest, you could say invincible. Isn't that what יהוה has promised.

Expand full comment