Earlier in the week I was questioning, “How could it be that Israel seems to be very alone in its fight for survival against an enemy that would destroy Israel if it could?” And yes, I am among those who waited anxiously for the United States to do what needed to be done if our children and grandchildren are to know a safer world than the one in which we’ve been living.

A dear friend in Israel writes, “Say what you will, this is America at its finest, not waiting until we were destroyed, but recognizing a need to destroy the greatest threat to world peace. Together with the United States we have taken out the Iranian cyber facility, their nuclear sites, and, please God, their ability to set their fierce proxy dogs on us. Time will tell, but here in Israel we feel that at last someone is on our side… It is all about removing the greatest threat to modern society we have ever known.”

I’ve said it many times over the years: that I believe that we Jews here and throughout the world walk taller because of all that Israel has become, and will yet become, “a light unto the nations,” as our ancient Hebrew prophets foresaw.

Yes, this is surely one of those times for us to come together. And so I hope that you will join us this evening for our Shabbat service as we affirm our faith that light shall prevail against the darkness that still exists in our world.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi David Greenberg