Joy at the Fall of the Wicked Ones

by Emanuel Shilo, editor of Besheva, translated by Hillel Fendel.

In the rush of the unprecedented events overtaking us at breakneck speed, it is incredible to realize that a seminal and cardinal miracle that took place only a week and a half ago is already being somewhat overshadowed and even forgotten. This article by Besheva editor Emanuel Shilo helps restore it to its proper proportions – and reminds us what it obligates us to continue to do. 

So where were you when you heard the colossal news that our forces had liquidated Hizbullah leader Nasrallah, may his memory be erased? 

I personally was spending the Sabbath in the Shomron community of Har Brachah, together with the educational staff and students of the girls' high school in which my wife works – Ulpanat Tziyah of Revavah. Many of those I know had to hear the news with half an ear, from foreign workers and the like, given that it was publicized on the Sabbath – but I was able to hear it in a more direct manner: A high defense alert was suddenly declared throughout the area upon the news of Nasrallah's death, and the security personnel amongst us were told to have their phones with them at all times. 

When Nasrallah's death was officially announced, while we were eating the festive Sabbath meal, the principal stood up to announce the great salvation to which G-d had treated us. Cheers and verses of thanks and joy erupted from every corner, and it immediately became clear that this was precisely the time for us, the few men who were present, to make our way outside so that the girls could dance in celebration. We ten men found ourselves outside, and while until now our primary commonality was our wives' workplace, we instinctively felt the urge to join together in a circle of dancing and thanksgiving. 

I don't usually get carried away, but this time I was flooded with emotions that brought tears to my eyes. After all the difficult experiences we endured this year, here was the Master of the Universe shining His face upon us, on this final Sabbath of the year 5784, giving into our hands the most prominent and blatant of our enemies, the mass murderer who continually vilified and threatened the Nation of Israel, the State of Israel, and the IDF. It is reminiscent of Sisera falling to the hands of Yael [as recounted in the Book of Judges] and the felling of Goliath by David and his slingshot. We danced and sang Hatov (Your Mercies are Endless), Yodu LaHshem Chasdo (Acknowledging G-d's Kindnesses), and of course Samson's song of vengeance Zokhreini Na (Remember Me).

2. Incidentally, I'm not so sure anymore about the relevance of that last song. Not because of its theme of vengeance; vengeance that pushes us to destroy the evil ones who wish to exterminate us and who hate the G-d of Israel is a very positive sentiment, when used at the right times and against the right people. My problem with this song in the context of Hizbullah and Hamas is the opposite: I feel it is too weak. When Samson said those words, with which he "brought down the house" upon hundreds of enemy Philistines in his final act in life, it was out of despair and defeat. But in our generation, against our enemies, this is not at all the case, thank G-d. We want national revenge against Hamas, Hizbullah, the Houthis, and the Iranian regime that will bring them destruction not together with ours, as Samson prayed for, but such that will bring us total victory! We don't want it "only this one time," as Samson prayed, but for as many times as it will take until the evil is overcome! We ask that G-d "bless our soldiers, bring our enemies down under their feet, and crown them with salvation and victory." We pray, as David did, to "pursue my enemies and destroy them, and I should not return before their decimation" (Samuel II 22). 

This is why I proposed yet another song during this dance, with words taken from the weekly Torah portion of Haazinu (Deut. 32,43): Harninu Goyim Amo, "Let the tribes of His nation sing praise, for He will avenge the blood of his servants." Incidentally, it is said that it was Rav Kook himself who gave these words its popular melody [taken from another song], and it happened on the Simchat Torah that followed the Hebron pogrom of 1929 in which local Arabs massacred 67 of their Jewish neighbors. 

3. Our great military successes against the Lebanese-Shiite enemy, including the wondrous beeper attacks against thousands of terrorists in one fell swoop, are not only a reason for happiness and thanksgiving. They also demand of us a total commitment to overcome all obstacles and opposition, and to continue our military campaign until total victory, and not to cease until our northern residents can return to their homes in total safety. We must not give in to foreign pressures, even from those who claim to be our best friends, who say that we have every right to defend ourselves but seek to prevent us from actually winning.

And in the south as well: We must continue to tighten our choke-hold over the Hamas terrorists and ensure that they do not commandeer the distribution of humanitarian aid. This will free the population from its dependence on Hamas, bring nearer the end of the Hamas regime, increase the Gazan civilians' willingness to cooperate in various ways with Israel, and will help end the war and the suffering of the Gazans. We must not run in place, but rather initiate and not give the enemy a moment to rest and reorganize.  

4. The politics of it: It appears that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has returned to his traditional approach, showing great enthusiasm for the current offensives. It's not our concern right now whether this happened simply to ward off the impending appointment of always-hawkish Gideon Saar as his replacement… 

Meanwhile, Saar and his party showed great national responsibility in agreeing to join the government even without receiving the Defense portfolio. Now is not the time to seek to topple the government and have a tense and divisive election campaign. Whatever Netanyahu's share in the responsibility for the catastrophe of October 7th, it is certainly indirect and secondary to that of the professional security and defense establishment. The latter failed outright in many areas, and also did not take the trouble to involve the Prime Minister in the decisions of that fateful night. We can look left and right, and we will find no one currently seeking to replace Netanyahu capable of managing this so-terribly complex and multi-front military and diplomatic and domestic campaign better than he can. 

The time to replace the Prime Minister will come when the war ends and the emergency situation is over. What is needed now is to strengthen our national unity and governmental stability. And this is what Saar and his colleagues are doing, by adding their views and approaches to the decision making process. Even if their interests include political ones in light of their dismal poll showings, they are to be commended for putting aside their deep differences and even personal resentments in order to work together on behalf of our vital national interests. 

Finally, the Answer to "What Will be on the Day After?" in Gaza

based on an article by Ron Ben-Yishai of Yediot Acharonot and a news clip by Amit Segal of Channel 12 news, edited and translated by Hillel Fendel.

Explaining the IDF's Powerful New Offensive in Gaza

Political commentators in Israel have been trying to explain what lies behind Israel's recent days of renewed, even-stronger offensives in northern Gaza. As of this writing, the Israel Air Force has struck more than 70 terrorist targets in Gaza over the past 24 hours, while over the past week large ground forces have entered Jebalya and other terrorist strongholds in the area and eliminated large numbers of terrorists.

Ron Ben-Yishai of Yediot Acharonot writes that the IDF is striving to cleanse the area of terrorists, remove the need to repeatedly enter Gaza, and ensure that Hamas is not able to take control of the humanitarian aid that the civilian population deserves. In short, "the idea is to make clear to Sinwar [leader of Hamas] that 'the game is over.'"

One of the IDF's declared objectives, Ben-Yishai explains, is the goal of "taking control of northern Gaza areas such as Jebalya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya in which Hamas is trying to rebuild its civilian power and military strongholds. Jebalya is now totally encircled for this purpose, as well as to neutralize as many terrorists as possible."

The main issue in northern Gaza is that while there are barely any tunnels left, there are some 300,000 "non-involved" civilians whose needs must be tended to. The humanitarian aid that they receive, which is frequently commandeered by Hamas, "prevents the IDF from properly cleaning out the area of terrorists," according to Ben-Yishai. "This is why the experienced Division 162, commanded by Brig.-Gen. Itzik Cohen, has been brought in to deal with the problem." 

The IDF is purposely advancing slowly, with firepower when needed, in order to encourage the civilians to leave. Corridors have been opened for travel southward, in which only civilians who have been cleared as non-terrorists may pass. IDF announcements in Arabic continually warn and call for voluntary evacuation. Humanitarian aid is offered generously in the areas to which they are relocating, untainted by Hamas.

Another objective of the present offensive is to obviate the need for the army to continually enter northern Gaza and cleanse it of terrorists. At the same time, this will enable the humanitarian aid to be distributed fairly, by international aid organizations, to those who need it. 

By thus entering and cleansing northern Gaza, Ben-Yishai opines – apparently based on IDF sources – the army might well be "building the infrastructure needed for the start of the civil administration or government that will replace Hamas."

Another goal that the IDF is seeking to achieve with this offensive is intensification of the pressure on Hamas leader Sinwar. "This will make it clear to him that the game is over, that he has no chance to rebuild Hamas, and that he would be best advised to reach an agreement for the release of the Israeli hostages that will bring an end to the warfare and suffering in Gaza."

Sinwar knows that when 300,000 Gazans become permanent refugees within Gaza, "this increases the population's fury and frustration and opposition to Hamas – all of which is already beginning to take on momentum."

Sinwar sees what is happening in Lebanon, Ben-Yishai concludes, "and might be thinking that the pressure upon him has relaxed. The current offensive proves to him that this would be a mistake on his part. Hopefully he will realize that Israel knows how to fight on two fronts at once, and that the pressure on him is only getting stronger."

Amit Segal of Channel 12 explained succinctly that we are finally seeing an answer to the long-asked question of how Israel envisions the "day after" the war in Gaza: "It will be many years, or forever, before Gaza has a lack of masculine fighting power between the ages of 18 to 35, or of weapons that can threaten us such as rifles or pistols. It therefore seems that Israel will have to enter Gaza [periodically]."

"But the difference this time is that we see that the IDF is making clear that after it leaves, neither the PA nor Hamas will replace it. What is happening is that we are emptying out areas. Jebalya is a large area, but it is not all of northern Gaza. It is therefore a perfect place for a pilot case: All the residents are removed, and are then returned in a filtered manner – residents yes, terrorists no. We then encircle the area, while inside it remain [in charge] only the humanitarian aid organizations."

First Time in America: No More "West Bank"

by 0404 news, translated by Hillel Fendel.

A city in Florida has passed a municipal council decision that the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria, in modern-day Israel, will no longer be referred to by the phrase "West Bank." Mayor Larisa Svechin of Sunny Isles (pop. 22,000) led the way for the decision, under which the areas will be known only as "Judea and Samaria." 

The difference is that the name "West Bank" implies that the area is known only for having been captured by Israel from the Kingdom of Jordan, and ignores its Jewish history as the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria. 

The city's decision followed an official visit to Florida by Yossi Dagan, the head of the Shomron Regional Council. In addition to meetings with Congressmen and others, he met with Mayor Svetchin. She apparently did not need much convincing; her bio on the city's website states that she is "a fierce advocate for democracy and is unapologetically Zionist. She unequivocally stands with Israel forever."

Explaining the decision, which is a first in the United States, Mayor Svetchin said, "The time has come that we adapt ourselves to the truth. The historic name of this area is Judea and Samaria, not the West Bank. Using the right term is not just a matter of [geographic] accuracy, but rather respect for the historic and Biblical connection of the Jewish Nation to the land. This decision reflects the solidarity between the residents of Sunny Isles and Israel, and shows our deep understanding and recognition of Israel's historic roots, which echo strongly within our community."

Council head Dagan congratulated the city and its mayor on its historic decision, and asked that Svetchin promote a similar initiative in the United States Congress. "The words West Bank should be deleted in all official U.S. texts, to be replaced by Judea and Samaria immediately," he said. "This historic and important decision in Sunny Isles should set the direction for all those for whom human history is important and who are not willing to accept the trampling of the truth."

Mayor Svetchin said that "standing up for truth is not just a powerful deed, but also has a wave effect. When one locale chooses courageously to speak the truth, this arouses others to do the same, and creates a wave of integrity and courage."

Dagan explained that the using the words "West Bank" – i.e., the western bank of the Jordan River border between Israel and Jordan – is actually a deception. "It seeks to imply that these areas are occupied by Israel, when in fact they are the cradle of the Bible and the heart of hearts of the Jewish Nation. Many of the most important events in the history of the Jewish People happened there: those of the Shilo tabernacle, of the Judges, and the Kings of Israel. In addition, the Patriarch Abraham entered the Promised Land here, his descendants lived here, Joshua built the Altar here, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried here, and more and more."

Dagan thanked Mayor Svetchin, "who has courageously pioneered and became the first to take this decision, and I am sure it will soon become the norm in the Western world that sees itself as a fighter for truth and justice."

A Great Chance for Major Change in Iran and the Middle East

Based on an article by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Tzvika Chaimovich, translated by Hillel Fendel.

"This is the beginning of the end of the accursed Iranian regime." – Israeli Cabinet Minister Zohar

This past April 14th was a defining event in Israel's decades-long struggle with its enemies. After years of threats and scares from Iran, the Islamic Republic finally let the shoe drop in response to Israel's assassination of a high-ranking terrorist in the regime's Revolutionary Guards. Iran fired off, in three waves, a total of more than 300 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones towards Israel. The damage and injuries caused were minor. 

But once this barrier was broken, the path to a second Iranian strike was much easier and quicker. It happened tonight [Thursday], a half-year after the first one – but with greater fury. Given the condition in which Hizbullah finds itself after Israel all but wiped out its leadership, it was clear to Iran that it would have to react much more strongly this time. Though the number of rockets was lower, approximately 180, there was barely a locale in Israel that was not targeted. 1,864 air-raid sirens were sounded throughout the country in the space of an hour and a half.

The results, again, were not proportionate to the effort: One Arab from Gaza was killed in Jericho, and three Israelis were lightly wounded.

With this attack, our direct war against Iran entered a new phase, which will accompany us for a long time to come. Israel's response will be put to the test – to be checked throughout the Middle East and even the world – and it must be more powerful than the last time. 

Israel's air force has been quite occupied over the past year on several fronts. But there is no doubt that Thursday night's rocket attacks from Iran have been the most challenging offensive we have faced. Our defenses will never be hermetic, but we know that if we are hit even just a bit, it could lead to a decline in morale and confidence in our army. 

Our fight against Iran – an international superpower in its ballistic rocket capabilities – is a complex one, and demands a regional response, combining both Israel's abilities and those of the coalition.

After the two Iranian missile attacks, in April and now, it can be said that Iran has chosen to respond to Israel in an extreme and aggressive manner. There is no doubt that the Israeli-led events of the past few weeks pushed Iran into a corner that "compelled" it to act with full force. Is Iran reading correctly the expected responses of both Israel and the United States? 

On the one hand, Iran announced late last night that its vengeance for whatever it was avenging was completed, and that if Israel wants to invite more vengeance by attacking now, it is welcome to do so. Israel, on the other hand, so far shows no signs of backing down – and it is likely that that we are facing an opportunity to change the entire Middle East reality in a most significant manner. This is true specifically in Iran, which is responsible for the Axis of Evil that includes Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas, the Houthis, and more. 

Special Add-on: 

Excerpted comments after the Iranian attack 

"Iran made a very great mistake tonight, and it will pay for it. Whoever attacks us, we will attack back." – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu

"When Iran is finally free – and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think…" – Netanyahu, in a post-attack video address to the People of Iran

"We don't yet know the ramifications for Iran [of this attack]… I will talk about with Netanyahu." – paraphrased remarks of US President Joe Biden. The White House issued a statement stating there would be very grave consequences for Iran.

Perhaps most significant of all was the statement by Cabinet Minister Miki Zohar, who said: "This was Iran's worst mistake ever, and it will a pay a very high price. This is the beginning of the end of the accursed Iranian regime."

Ynet commentator Amichai Atali wrote: "We may not suffice with anything less than the removal of the Iranian threat… The Iranian attack tonight provided us with a perfect opportunity and justification for carrying out that which is so very indicated: to once and for all take out Iran's ability to harm us… If Iran is allowed to develop nuclear weapons, Israel will become a country unworthy of inhabitation. If our government does not take the right steps now, but rather suffices with token moves, it will enable Iran to keep on marching towards destroying Israel, its stated goal."

The Difference Between a Rabbi and a Politician

by Rabbi Avraham Wasserman, Yeshivat Ramat Gan and Givatayim, Besheva, translated by Hillel Fendel.

Elections for the next Chief Rabbis of Israel, who serve for a ten-year term, are to be held next week. No Chief Rabbi over the past 30 years has had a religious-Zionist outlook, and the religious-Zionist movement set a goal for itself to ensure that one of its leading rabbis be elected for the post of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. However, a possibly broken promise and a glut of candidates had complicated the matter. Rabbi Wasserman of Givatayim places the issue in Halakhic perspective.

A. The question of who will be the religious-Zionist candidate(s) for Chief Rabbis occupies the thoughts and concerns of many in and out of the religious-Zionist sector. On this matter it would be edifying to cite the distinction formulated by Israel's first Chief Rabbi, Rav Yitzchak Herzog, in defining the desired interface between a rabbi and a politician.

In the early days of the State, an important bill under consideration in the Knesset and the public was the Sabbath Law. The bill was slated to forbid all public transportation in the country, except, for various reasons, in the city of Haifa. One reason for exempting Haifa was because of the many workers in the Shemen factory - which was open on the Sabbath - who needed transportation to and from work.

The rabbis of Haifa were up in arms and demanded that their city be included in the law. However, the Mapai party people refused, and it appeared that the law would be toppled altogether, thus paving the way for public Sabbath transportation throughout the country. Rav Herzog expressed himself on the matter as follows [paraphrased]: "A rabbi has no dispensation whatsoever to concede even the slightest bit on the matter of Sabbath observance, and therefore is not permitted to agree to this law allowing transportation on the Sabbath. However, the religious Knesset Members can be relied upon to legislate the best law possible to preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath and its observance under the present conditions." This of course meant that Haifa would be excluded from the ban, while Sabbath in the rest of the country would benefit.

This of course raises a fundamental question: Along the lines of a "Shabbos goy," are the religious MKs to be considered "legislative goyim?" Are there different Halakhic standards for a rabbi and for G-d-fearing politicians?

The answer is that a distinction must be made between a rabbinic statement that sets out the Halakhic principle, and the manner in which this principle is put into practice. A rabbi can never agree to Sabbath desecration, even if he feels that it will save most of the country. This is because his stance represents the Torah position.

However, the function of a Knesset Member is to promote the sanctity of the Sabbath in practice in accordance with the tools, capabilities and conditions he is given and faces. Politics is the art of implementing that which can be implemented, and this is often done via compromise – while leaving the spiritual principle unharmed. (I expand upon this in my book "Your Neighbor as Yourself," pages 229-230.)

B. On the subject of the Chief Rabbinate: There is no way rabbis can make a final ruling on matter currently under consideration, for another reason. It is because each candidate is backed by important rabbis. As such, each candidate is worthy. The politicians, however, must consider the practical considerations of which candidate is most likely to be chosen, and thus they will choose him as the religious-Zionist candidate. The question now before us is how to attain the situation that the new Chief Rabbi will be a great Torah scholar, a man of experience in the Rabbinate and in public leadership, who manifests in his personality and his actions the spiritual and practical conception of HaRav Kook, the founder of Israel's Chief Rabbinate. This conception is "Klal Yisrael"-oriented, as opposed to focusing on one part or another of the populace, and seeks to work with the Divine process of the nation's revival in its Land after two millennia of exile. The results of this conception are clearly manifest in the world of Jewish Law and spiritual influence.

However, the rabbis, having stated the Halakhic principles involved, are less qualified than the politicians in terms of how to achieve this goal. For the politics of the issue are understood primarily by those who engage in it.

This is our opportunity to remind ourselves that yes, our religious-Zionist public and its representatives must be very proactive in promoting its own candidates. We need not be so genteel as to say that we don't want to push and promote our own Torah outlook. If we do so, our own students and yeshivot will not be appropriately represented, and the mosaic of the Rabbinic world will be missing an important shade and tone.

C. During these turbulent times, we must be especially circumspect regarding the Honor of Torah – which is something more fundamental and important than even the study of Torah itself! (See Talmud, Tractate Megillah.) All of the candidates are Torah scholars whom we are obligated to honor and respect.

It is not appropriate for a politician to criticize one of the candidates in the name of the world of Jewish Law and Ethics. The business of politicians is politics, and they are not authorities on Jewish Law and Ethics. This is also true of everyone who is not on the highest level of Torah knowledge.

We must hope and pray for G-d's will to be expressed via the representatives of the electoral body, and may the merit of Rav Kook stand at their side.