Israel’s best-known greeting is “Shalom!” In almost every conversation, we wish one another shalom. Indeed, it expresses the yearning of people worldwide. This is in accordance with Israel’s God of peace.
But is this desire truly being fostered? Have not earthly possessions, vain honor, murder and manslaughter become governing principles of human existence? Therefore, the great Creator of the universe, through faithful servants such as Abraham, Moses, the prophets and others, chose a small, law-abiding people for Himself: Israel.
Israel has been attacked, persecuted, and murdered unceasingly by the enemy of our soul. On October 7, 2023, it again experienced a war of annihilation, which escalated into a multi-year conflict. As a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor, I see the parallels with today clearly. Initially, Western nations supported Israel defending itself against Hamas. Israel has the finest, well-equipped soldiers in the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces. Currently, I have two grandchildren serving in the IDF.
Every attack by Muslim terrorists was repelled forcefully. Entire echelons of their tyrannical leaders were eliminated in a moment. Were they too blinded to realize that they were fighting not only against Jews, but against Israel’s Almighty God?
Still, thousands of families in Israel have endured immense suffering inflicted upon us by the attackers on seven fronts. I have written about the most criminal of these acts, about the loss of lives, about permanent injuries, destroyed homes and lost livelihoods.
Personally too, we experienced rocket explosions in our neighborhood, and hundreds of alarm sirens for months, day and night, when my wife Leah and I rushed to the bomb shelter.
Then, on the first day of Passover, I fell to the ground and was taken for treatment to the hospital by ambulance, bleeding. This much I still remember.
Eyewitnesses told me that during my six-day stay in the hospital’s temporary bomb-proof wards in the basement, I opened my eyes and spoke in English, German, Polish and Swedish to everyone present: “You are not fighting against Israel. Whoever fights against Israel goes to war against the God of Israel!” I still had much to say but limited myself.
Today I am back at my desk working again. I thank God for protection from worse. Truly, we are a nation of survivors. Shalom!