Another difference... People found G-d back in the early days of the 7.10 War and all through this war. Unlike the 6 Day War, where it was the miraculous victory that spurred the run on tefillin, this time there has been a tzitzis shortage well before any major battles were over.
I think there is a fundamentally different psychology going on today. Not seeing G-d in His victory, but seeking Him when we are still in the depths.
i would also add as an extension of the un-finished war with hamas, the very complicated future of jewish life alongside Palestinian life in the holyland is far from getting to a place of harmony
Look at it this way R Hunter ZL was released after being held hostage by terrorists There was a band scheduled and dancing anticipated upon his return to JFK. RMF ZL was at the airport with that crowd and stated that since there were still six Syrian Jews in captivity there should be no celebration with a band
I agree with those reasons for not feeling jubilant, and I'll add more: about twenty living and numerous dead hostages still in Gaza (this was presumably included in reason 2, but I think it should be made explicit) and the fact that we know this is not the end of the conflict, even if the war in Gaza ends soon. In 1967, Israelis and Jews worldwide thought the Arab world, having suffered such a crushing defeat, would accept Israel's existence, perhaps sweetened with a land-for-peace deal. We now know that the hatred of much of the Islamic world for Jews and the Jewish State knows no bounds and is tied up in their theology, to the extent that only they can choose to move away from it (cf. The Abraham Accords). Neither we nor the international community can force them or bribe them to do so.
Despite all this, I have some optimism, albeit alternating with pessimism (I am usually an ultra-pessimist). I think the last (nearly) two years have seen a growth of Jewish identification and intensity of Jewish identification. It may be that the numbers affected are small, perhaps smaller in chutz la'aretz than the numbers turning away to assimilation. But there is a movement towards teshuvah among a "remnant." Probably not turning to a full frum lifestyle, but previously uncommitted Jews are turning to the Jewish community, to Torah and mitzvot -- again, often not in a full halakhic way, but identifying with our people and our way of life in a way they had not before. Similarly, I have seen a number of non-Jews who are now in the process of conversion or converted -- again, not usually a full Orthodox conversion accepting Torah and mitzvot, but still identifying symbolically with the Jewish people at a time when the easy thing would be to just walk away. I also see other non-Jews defending Israel and the Jewish people online when, again, they could avoid a lot of abuse by just being quiet.
I may be looking at an unrepresentative sample here on Substack, but it seems like *something* is happening, although we can't know what exactly yet. This is something redemptive. As you say, not every redemption is messianic, but it needs to be acknowledged.
There is also the not insignificant matter that Israel has humiliated Iran, decimated its proxies and wiped out their leadership. Israel's strategic position has recovered from 7 October and in many ways is more secure than it was before then.
A phrase occurring in Tanakh regarding both the Egyptian exodus and the final redemption is the idea that HaShem will lead us "upright" out of captivity, which to me implies, not being released because the oppressor has pity on us, but leaving proudly as free, dignified and self-sufficient people able to defend themselves. Paradoxically, Israel's international isolation has led Israelis to restore the country's self-sufficiency. Sadly, the price in blood has been high for us. But even so, imagine going back to 1945 and telling a Jew that in eighty years there would be a Jewish state that would fight back against its enemies and have air supremacy over an enemy country over 1,000 miles away. They would not believe you. As in 1967, we are walking upright still, we've just forgotten how unprecedented that is in the context of Jewish history as a whole because we now take it for granted.
So, yes, there is cause for jubilation. We are not at peace, but long before 7 October, I realised we would not be at peace permanently until Mashiach comes, which may not be for a long time (like I said, I'm a pessimist). But I *do* feel joy that *something* positive is shifting in the Jewish world, even if it is not clear what that is yet.
The five reasons really resonate with me. I’m interested to see what nuclear deal (if any) gets finalized with Iran. It’s my understanding that before these active hostilities with Israel, Khamenei was considering/proclaiming not allowing the IAEA representatives in to monitor how enriched the uranium is. If Israel only set the program back months but there’s less of a warning for a rebuilding process that’s not great
Coming from an orthodox source your expression of feelings is correct so far as it goes, but the end has been left open and this is wrong. Never mind about Purim, during the Seder service on Pesach we recall: "It stood for our fathers and for us, that in every generation there arise those who wish to destroy us, but the Holy One (blessed be his name), saves us from their hands"
Another difference... People found G-d back in the early days of the 7.10 War and all through this war. Unlike the 6 Day War, where it was the miraculous victory that spurred the run on tefillin, this time there has been a tzitzis shortage well before any major battles were over.
I think there is a fundamentally different psychology going on today. Not seeing G-d in His victory, but seeking Him when we are still in the depths.
this is really helpful -
i would also add as an extension of the un-finished war with hamas, the very complicated future of jewish life alongside Palestinian life in the holyland is far from getting to a place of harmony
Look at it this way R Hunter ZL was released after being held hostage by terrorists There was a band scheduled and dancing anticipated upon his return to JFK. RMF ZL was at the airport with that crowd and stated that since there were still six Syrian Jews in captivity there should be no celebration with a band
I agree with those reasons for not feeling jubilant, and I'll add more: about twenty living and numerous dead hostages still in Gaza (this was presumably included in reason 2, but I think it should be made explicit) and the fact that we know this is not the end of the conflict, even if the war in Gaza ends soon. In 1967, Israelis and Jews worldwide thought the Arab world, having suffered such a crushing defeat, would accept Israel's existence, perhaps sweetened with a land-for-peace deal. We now know that the hatred of much of the Islamic world for Jews and the Jewish State knows no bounds and is tied up in their theology, to the extent that only they can choose to move away from it (cf. The Abraham Accords). Neither we nor the international community can force them or bribe them to do so.
Despite all this, I have some optimism, albeit alternating with pessimism (I am usually an ultra-pessimist). I think the last (nearly) two years have seen a growth of Jewish identification and intensity of Jewish identification. It may be that the numbers affected are small, perhaps smaller in chutz la'aretz than the numbers turning away to assimilation. But there is a movement towards teshuvah among a "remnant." Probably not turning to a full frum lifestyle, but previously uncommitted Jews are turning to the Jewish community, to Torah and mitzvot -- again, often not in a full halakhic way, but identifying with our people and our way of life in a way they had not before. Similarly, I have seen a number of non-Jews who are now in the process of conversion or converted -- again, not usually a full Orthodox conversion accepting Torah and mitzvot, but still identifying symbolically with the Jewish people at a time when the easy thing would be to just walk away. I also see other non-Jews defending Israel and the Jewish people online when, again, they could avoid a lot of abuse by just being quiet.
I may be looking at an unrepresentative sample here on Substack, but it seems like *something* is happening, although we can't know what exactly yet. This is something redemptive. As you say, not every redemption is messianic, but it needs to be acknowledged.
There is also the not insignificant matter that Israel has humiliated Iran, decimated its proxies and wiped out their leadership. Israel's strategic position has recovered from 7 October and in many ways is more secure than it was before then.
A phrase occurring in Tanakh regarding both the Egyptian exodus and the final redemption is the idea that HaShem will lead us "upright" out of captivity, which to me implies, not being released because the oppressor has pity on us, but leaving proudly as free, dignified and self-sufficient people able to defend themselves. Paradoxically, Israel's international isolation has led Israelis to restore the country's self-sufficiency. Sadly, the price in blood has been high for us. But even so, imagine going back to 1945 and telling a Jew that in eighty years there would be a Jewish state that would fight back against its enemies and have air supremacy over an enemy country over 1,000 miles away. They would not believe you. As in 1967, we are walking upright still, we've just forgotten how unprecedented that is in the context of Jewish history as a whole because we now take it for granted.
So, yes, there is cause for jubilation. We are not at peace, but long before 7 October, I realised we would not be at peace permanently until Mashiach comes, which may not be for a long time (like I said, I'm a pessimist). But I *do* feel joy that *something* positive is shifting in the Jewish world, even if it is not clear what that is yet.
Thank you for pointing out that I should have made the reference to our hostages more obvious. I have edited it accordingly.
The five reasons really resonate with me. I’m interested to see what nuclear deal (if any) gets finalized with Iran. It’s my understanding that before these active hostilities with Israel, Khamenei was considering/proclaiming not allowing the IAEA representatives in to monitor how enriched the uranium is. If Israel only set the program back months but there’s less of a warning for a rebuilding process that’s not great
The Three Weeks are coming, and I fear something terrible - as if enough terrible things haven't happened already.
I hope not... but I understand your fear.
We've got to do teshuva, and we can't fight each other.
I expanded my short comment into a post at https://michaberger.substack.com/p/6-days-and-12-days
Coming from an orthodox source your expression of feelings is correct so far as it goes, but the end has been left open and this is wrong. Never mind about Purim, during the Seder service on Pesach we recall: "It stood for our fathers and for us, that in every generation there arise those who wish to destroy us, but the Holy One (blessed be his name), saves us from their hands"
We are all tired.
https://open.substack.com/pub/marlowe1/p/some-love-for-my-medium-articles?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=sllf3