Re “Israel’s Positions Changing Fast as a Blur”
[Editor’s Note: As Hamas terrorists continue firing rockets into Israel, sending frightened residents underground, our correspondent resumes her daily update.]
Dateline Jerusalem – With the cease- fire still in effect, it may be giving Hamas time to re-arm and re-build. It is giving Israel the opportunity to do the same. During the war, Israel built up alliances with several nations, allowing it no longer to be so dependent upon the U.S. and England for weaponry. As we have seen, in wartime, the Israeli government cannot be playing childish games with governments who threaten and actually withhold necessary military ammunition, missiles, and parts. I do not condone burning any bridges with “allies,” but it is imperative that Israel become an independent sovereign nation as soon as possible. This war showed again, Israel can depend on no one but itself.
Also, that we must not forget that G-d is with Israel. The words of Torah and Talmud are relevant today. I am reminded of a saying from the Talmud, “Those who are kind to the cruel, in the end will be cruel to the kind.” That is what happened. Israel's failure to retaliate and take out rocket launchers because of their location — next to schools, hospitals, civilian shelters in Gaza — ended up having those rockets targeting Israeli schools, hospitals, shelters, homes, playgrounds. By being kind to Gazans who support Hamas, we were cruel to our own Israeli children and people who died or were maimed or injured by our misplaced pity. There can be no misplaced pity for those who want to annihilate Israel. Israel forgot the wise words of the Talmud. Israel forgot that G-d was supporting Israel.
I may disagree with how the war was handled. I want, though, to apologize to Bibi Netanyahu for unkind words I may have written or implied when commenting on my outrage for the cease fires. After deep reflection regarding various aspects of this war, I think I know why Bibi has made the decisions that he has. If my analysis is correct, Bibi made the right decisions under the dire circumstances that face Israel. A brilliant tactician, Bibi has the best interests of Israel in mind, to re-group and re-arm during this time of cease-fire quiet. This is the chess game of the century.
Month of Elul
What better time for me to apologize than today, the beginning of the month of Elul, the month before Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year celebration of the birth of mankind, 5,575 years ago. In Israel, every morning this month we will hear the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn). The shofar-blowing is a wakeup call to examine our actions, repent, and remember G-d. It is a time for us to ask forgiveness for our transgressions related to G-d, our Creator. We ask forgiveness from our friends and enemies for intentional, unintentional, unknown transgressions we may have committed against our fellow man.
Our requests for forgiveness must be sincere, showing true regret for our actions, words, deeds. Saying “I am sorry” – those words are empty without sincere meaning being attached. We hope our apologies will be accepted on our first attempt. If not, we must ask again, up to three times. If we are not forgiven at that point, we no longer are held accountable. The transgression will transfer from us to the person who refused to accept our apology and holds a grudge.
Therefore, if I have said or done anything that has caused any of you distress or pain, or injured you in any way, whether by action or deed, or inaction, or in any way at all, please forgive me. Although this request for forgiveness sent to family, friends, and readers of my column and articles is not expressed in a personal manner, it is sincere. Often I am unaware of my transgressions because many times they are unintentional. To reach all who may have been hurt by me, I send out this apology en masse.
L'hitraot Shachar
