This has been a monumental 24 hours, and I want to share my thoughts on what has transpired over the last day based on what I have seen, heard and read. 

While I hope we all would have greatly preferred to see a diplomatic solution to the conflict, the world is potentially a significantly safer place today than it was yesterday and Israel is potentially significantly safer than it was yesterday and for that I am grateful. Grateful to Israel for having taken the initiative to take significant steps in hopes of ridding the world of the threat of Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons, grateful to the Trump administration for the bold decision to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities and grateful to our military for the way in which the mission was carried out.

If the operation was as successful as the administration claims, President Trump deserves credit for this decision which stands to benefit not only Israel of course but the United States and the entire world.

Having said that, there are several issues which deeply concern me.  

First, there is so much uncertainty in the days, months and years ahead. We do not know how Iran will respond and whether these attacks have struck a permanent blow to that country’s nuclear program and ambitions. Time will tell whether the sense of increased safety many feel today will continue in the days to come. There are so many obstacles that remain and so much to fear.

Secondly, I share the concern that I have heard from some rabbinic colleagues and from others. In his speech last evening, President Trump said something very unusual. He said: “We love you, God”. It sounded like it was an ad-lib or a confusion of the phrase which followed: “God bless America”. But it raised a great concern. 

Earlier this week, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee urged President Trump in a text to understand that while he is hearing many opinions “there is only one voice that matters: HIS voice” and that he believes “he (Trump) will hear from heaven”. 

I am deeply concerned with the language which seeks to portray presidential actions, especially those involving Israel, as divinely inspired or directed. This is a dangerous approach for so many reasons and one which should raise great concern. Our country’s approach to conflicts in the Middle East can not take on Messianic overtones.

Finally, even if in the end this attack should prove to have achieved all of its goals, this should not distract us from the fact that both leaders are leading their nations down very dangerous paths. 

Here at home, the Trump administration’s continued assault on the rights of individuals, tax laws which favor the rich, budget cuts which threaten so many needed programs, health policies which will take us back decades in disease prevention, attacks on immigrants and so many other issues demand our attention and our criticism. Attempts by the administration to use the support for the military action against Iran to solidify support for unjust and undemocratic policies must be met with strong opposition. 

And, while I dearly hope that if not now, then in the long run, Israelis will feel safer without the threat of nuclear attack from Iran, we can not ignore the other issues which demand attention. 

Israel’s military action in Gaza must come to an end. The innocent civilians in Gaza must receive the food and medical supplies they so desperately need. Negotiations to return the remaining hostages to Israel must take place. And Israel must reverse the current trend of increased oppression of the Palestinian population of the West Bank and take steps to ensure security and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians must take place. All of these will, I believe, bring more long-term security to Israel. 

I pray for peace for Israel for the civilians in Iran, Gaza and throughout the world.