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The enemies of Israel are out in full force, pressuring Western countries into bullying the Jewish state to forget about the atrocities committed on October 7. It’s simple to recognize the ones who march on the streets and scream for Jewish blood, spray-paint genocidal slogans, don themselves in terrorist clothes, and shoot explosives at police officers.  Everyone can see that those are the bad guys.  What’s more insidious are those who sit on stages in suits, being interviewed by intellectuals, and say the exact same thing in a more politically correct way.

We are standing now just a few weeks after the horrid events of the sad Shabbat, that was the day of the Torah’s rejoicing. The wicked who stormed the border wanted to destroy not just the State of Israel, but to erase the name of Israel from the world and the elimination of all Jews. How can we react after these unspeakable acts committed by beasts, not men?

Last week’s parshah tells of the Akeidas Yitzchak. Its lesson for today is that the Jewish people are defined not by victimhood, but by resilience.

 Is anti-Zionism a form of anti-Semitism? This question has raged amongst the intellectual elite for decades. Anyone without an advanced degree and possesses eyes and a brain would be able to answer the question quite easily: Yes. People use hatred for Israel as a stand-in for their hatred of Jews. What they call criticism of the Israeli government is really a call for the country to cease existing. That has never been more evident than in the last few weeks, as attacks and threats on Jews have increased by the very same people who previously claimed it was all about Netanyahu’s policies.

Democratic Party Majority Leader Chuck Schumer railed against the House GOP in the Senate, claiming that the $14 billion for Israel military aid as they defend themselves against Hamas terrorism is a “joke” and “it’s dead almost before it’s born.” This would be bad enough if Schumer was a run-of-the-mill Majority Leader, even a Jewish one. What makes it despicable is that Chuck Schumer has spent nearly 50 years campaigning to the Jewish community that his name means he will be a “Shomer Yisrael,” a Guardian of Israel.

There are over two hundred Jews being held as hostages in Gaza. Each of those precious Jewish souls is of infinite value. Bringing them home is a halachic imperative and a stated objective of Israel’s operation in Gaza. But a decision may have to be made as to what happens when the goal of saving Jewish lives today can result in the sacrifice of other Jewish lives and endangering the Jewish people as a whole? A look back at our history and halachic sources will not give us answers but can provide insight.