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.
