For the second time in two weeks, I find myself compelled to write a new message hours before we publish our newsletter. Circumstances give me no other choice. It reminds me of November 1989, when my Modern European History course in my 2nd year at the University of Toronto had to be reworked from week to week by my professor as Europe transformed itself and the Iron Curtain fell.
The events now occurring in Iran and Israel are no less transformative. Yet I know for myself, and for most, if not all of you, these are not abstractions to be discussed in a lecture, they are like experiencing life saving surgery without anaesthetic.
Last night, as word of the strikes in Iran began to multiply, I was sitting in the Rockland County Legislature as Legislators Dana Stilley, Toney Earl and Aney Paul honored the spiritual leaders of the Spring Valley community ahead of the Juneteenth holiday. Several messages from the honorees resonated with me. Service. Sacrifice. Kindness. And one especially. Keep your head up. Be proud.
I am proud. And my head is up.
As I continued to wade through the emerging details of the strikes that continue even at this time, I came across a profound statement from author Saul Sadka. He wrote “Last night was the realization of the Zionist dream—the most critical moment in Israel’s history. After 2,000 years, the Jewish people stood up, alone, against those planning their annihilation. No one else will bomb the tracks to Auschwitz.
I only take issue with one detail in Sadka’s profound statement. Israel and the Jewish people may have fewer friends and allies, and more adversaries have revealed their true nature, but we are not alone. We have friends, we have allies, and we must be grateful for the support and partnership of the US military and the US government; and for the defensive support - against Iranian drones and missiles - of countries across the region, including several Arab countries. Locally we are truly appreciative of our Town Supervisors, County Executive, and our Law Enforcement partners who have been so responsive in the past years, weeks, months and days as the threats and security challenges for our community have evolved. They have been with us every step of the way.
And we have more friends than we know. From the man who approached me in Washington DC last week, seeing my Kippa, to share a blessing for peace and safety for our community, to the colleague from a local non-profit who checks in on me regularly, even when it feels like solitude, we have friends.
After 30 years of watching, warning and acting, time ran out. When your enemies declare their intent to destroy you, surrounding you with murderous proxies who bomb your homes, burn your children, and wage incessant murderous terror, all while racing to develop a means to annihilate you, believe them.
Since the early 90’s, Israel has engaged in diplomacy. It has used computer viruses, bribery, blackmail, espionage, subterfuge, and even the capture of Iran’s entire nuclear archive. All of these efforts have slowed down Iran’s race to a bomb, but never stopped it. A misconceived and misbegotten deal under a previous administration, even if followed 100% by Iran, would have sunset this fall, allowing unfettered enrichment and development. In any case as Israel has been saying and the IAEA confirmed this week, Iran has continued to secretly break that deal and pursue a nuclear weapon. At this point, intelligence showed that Iran was racing ahead, with enough weapons grade material for at least 9 weapons. Time ran out, and no other country or international body was prepared to act. So Israel did what it must.
In November of 2023, I listened as Israeli journalist Haviv Rettig Gur articulated a new understanding of the Israeli psyche, He said on several podcasts, both his own and as a guest, that no Israeli leader of any political stripe could leave an unfought, fully armed declared existential threat on its borders. The electorate would not allow it. But in the wake of Iran’s missile and drone attacks last spring and fall, it became clear to me that this articulation didn't go far enough. Iran didn’t have to be on Israel’s border, and the existential nature of its threat became increasingly clear. All conclusions from the past 30 years, the past two years, and the past several months made Israel’s choices crystal clear. Time ran out.
Israel’s people are of one mind on this issue. Regardless of how people feel about the Prime Minister, the nature of his government, his conduct of the war in Gaza, how his government has managed the hostage issue, or the divisive issue of Judicial Reform, it is no exaggeration to say that the country and the people fully support these needed actions and the elimination of the nuclear threat from Iran.
Today, Israel needs you. The Jewish people need you. Your brothers and sisters need you. Be Proud. Keep Your Head Up. Here’s what you can do:
- Email or call Senators Schumer and Gillibrand as well as Congressman Lawler Today. Tell them their full support is needed more than ever. Email addresses are in the newsletter.
- Pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters. Pray for the hostages. Pray for the soldiers, sailors and pilots in harm's way. Pray for the success of the IDF and of the US Armed Forces in protecting our people and our countries.
- Make a renewed contribution to our Israel Emergency Appeal today, and meet the ongoing needs of our family in Israel almost two years into this existential conflict.
- Be prepared to act, to come together, to speak as one. There is a weekly local rally on Route 59, with details in the newsletter. We’re planning advocacy missions to Albany and Washington. And we’ll advise when we bring the community together to make our voices heard.