Back to Routine Amid Terror and War
Sukkos, Shemini Atzeres, and Simchas Torah are now behind us, which brings us back to the period of “after the chagim,” the time of year when we return to our routines after the exalted weeks of the yomim tovim. It is never easy to bid farewell to the elevated period of the Tishrei holidays, but this year in particular has seen the entire country wrestle with fierce emotional turmoil. This Simchas Torah, after all, marked the first anniversary of the terrible tragedy that befell our country last year, and many people struggled with mixed emotions. Many believed that it was important to carry on in a normal fashion despite the emotionally charged nature of these days, but many others felt that it was impossible to do so. For the religious community, as believing Jews, we know that we must always do what is expected of us, even when it is difficult.
On Sunday morning, as I headed to my computer to begin working on this column, I found myself struggling to sort through a variety of topics that might be appropriate and to decide which subjects to address and which topics, for lack of space, to omit. I had attended so many stirring events over the Yom Tov, and there were so many developments in the war to write about (such as the elimination of Yahya Sinwar at the beginning of Sukkos and the attack on Iran at the end of the holiday) that I did not know where to begin. Unfortunately, there were also many tragic funerals of soldiers who were killed in Gaza or in Lebanon.
As I was trying to organize these topics in my head, I heard a shocking report on the radio: Dozens of people had been wounded in a ramming attack at the Glilot junction. It seemed very clear at first that the incident was a terror attack, but then some claims began circulating that the truck driver had suffered a heart attack or some other medical episode that had caused the crash. Nevertheless, the Shin Bet, army, and medical investigators continued to insist that it was an act of terror. Various pieces of evidence were compiled: the driver’s background, the fact that he was carrying a knife, and the fact that the truck crashed into a bus with full force, meaning that the driver had floored the gas pedal before the collision. It was a terrible calamity.
As of Sunday afternoon, it was reported that the attack left 35 people injured, six of them in serious condition and seven in moderate condition. The attack took place at the bus stop near the Glilot army base. According to Magen Dovid Adom, the wounded victims were evacuated to several hospitals: Ichilov, Beilinson, Meir, Laniado, Shamir-Assaf Harofeh, and Sheba Tel Hashomer. One of the wounded victims, Betzalel Karmi, later passed away. He was eulogized at his funeral by his father, Avrohom Karmi, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor, whose hesped for his son left all of us deeply moved.
The police reported that the truck driver was an Israeli citizen. An initial probe indicates that the crash occurred after a bus pulled up at the bus stop for passengers to disembark. At that time, the truck crashed into the bus and the people standing at the bus stop. The truck driver was shot and neutralized by civilians at the scene. The circumstances of the incident, according to the police report, are still under investigation.
A number of high-ranking officials hurried to the scene of the attack, including the chief of police, the public security minister, and high-ranking figures in the Shin Bet. The Glilot junction is a major intersection; I do not think that I will be revealing any closely guarded secrets if I tell you that the Mossad headquarters is located there. There is also a major army base at the intersection known as the Herzog base, which is named for Israel’s sixth president, Chaim Herzog. Even though the authorities haven’t yet determined with certainty, as of this writing, if the incident was a terror attack or a traffic accident, it has certainly cast a pall of sadness over the entire country. The emotional impact of the disaster is heightened by the fact that it coincided with the official memorial service at Har Herzl commemorating the tragedy of Simchas Torah last year, as well as the funerals of almost ten IDF soldiers who were killed in recent days. Some of those soldiers were fathers of children, and some were originally American; perhaps I will write about them at greater length in the future. Sadly, dozens of new young orphans have joined the circle of bereavement in Israel in the small amount of time that has elapsed since Sukkos and Simchas Torah.
Yungerman Murdered Before Yom Kippur
There have been so many more recent calamities that many of us have already nearly forgotten the tragic murder of Rav Refoel Mordechai Fishoff in a terror attack in Chadera. The yungerman fought for his life after being viciously stabbed by a terrorist, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on erev Yom Kippur. The family barely had any time to receive visitors during the shiva, since the arrival of Yom Kippur brought the shiva to a close. The niftar’s father, Rav Shraga Tzvi Fishoff, is one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Bais Mattisyohu; my son, who is a talmid in the yeshiva, described how the senior Rav Fishoff returned from the shiva for Kol Nidrei and his elevated behavior throughout the day. It was a Yom Kippur that the yeshiva will never forget, both because of this tragedy and since it was the first Yom Kippur after the passing of the previous rosh yeshiva, Rav Weisbecker.
Rav Refoel Mordechai Fishoff was a young, beloved yungerman with a promising future ahead of him. He was described by his family as an excellent husband and an especially dedicated father, who spent the majority of every day immersed in Torah learning in a state of joy and purity. Based on evidence collected from the scene, the authorities discovered that the terrorist lurked in the street for a while before the murder, specifically seeking a chareidi man to target. Footage from nearby security cameras shows that he completely ignored women who passed him in the street. Rav Fishoff was on his way to kollel when he was murdered, after spending the entire night learning without interruption. After he was stabbed by the terrorist, the yungerman managed to run a short distance but then collapsed. The paramedics resuscitated him and then transported him to Hillel Yaffeh Hospital in critical condition, where he underwent several operations in an effort to save his life. Nevertheless, the decree was apparently sealed in Shomayim, and he returned his soul to its Creator on the following day. He was survived by his parents, his wife, and six children.
Another Terror Victim: The Greek Professor’s Only Son
Another terror attack took place immediately before Rosh Hashanah, when two Arabs emerged from a mosque in the old city of Yaffo in Tel Aviv and set out on a rampage, murdering seven Israeli citizens. The name of the sixth victim, Jonas Karussis, was released mere minutes before Rosh Hashanah and left me reeling with shock. I realized immediately that the victim was the son of Professor Dimitrios Karussis of Hadassah Hospital, whom I know very well.
Professor Karussis is a very special man. About a decade ago, a video was produced about the disease known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). One of the medical professionals in the video related, “We are trying to develop a medication for degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and ALS. I can give you an example of a very well-known rov who was diagnosed with ALS in the Mayo Clinic. This rov was unable to deliver shiurim in his yeshiva, since he could not make himself understood. He came to Israel, and after receiving treatments here, he was able to stand up and resume delivering his lectures.”
The video shows the rov, Rav Refoel Shmulevitz of Yeshivas Mir, in the office of Professor Dimitrios Karussis, the director of the neurology department in Hadassah Hospital and head of the Neuroimmunology Unit and Multiple Sclerosis Center in the hospital. Professor Karussis was jubilant about the groundbreaking development, which seemed to have the potential to ease the suffering of thousands of patients.
When I met Rav Refoel after seeing the video, I asked him why he had agreed to that public exposure. The rosh yeshiva replied, “It was out of gratitude to Professor Karussis and for the purpose of giving hope to others who were suffering from the disease.” Rav Refoel Shmulevitz passed away in Shevat of the year 5776/2016.
When I wrote about Rav Shmulevitz after his passing, I included a brief exchange with Professor Karussis. This is what I wrote at the time: “Professor Dimitrios Karussis is the director of a department at Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital and a doctor of international renown. Born in Greece, Dr. Karussis is one of the foremost neurologists in the world and chose to dedicate his life to treating the sick in Eretz Yisroel. Rav Refoel Shmulevitz was one of his patients. The doctor and the rosh yeshiva enjoyed an unusual bond. ‘I found him to be a man who radiated humility,’ Professor Karussis now relates. “He exuded modesty and love. It was impossible not to be awed by the rov and the rebbetzin. In spite of his standing in the yeshiva world, he was utterly unassuming. He spoke to everyone as an equal, or even as if he was addressing a superior. Naturally, I meet many high-profile people, and they tend to radiate self-importance, perhaps even without the intent to do so. But the rov was different. He displayed humility, warmth, respect, and admiration for others. There was no doubt that he was a very special person, the type of person that you don’t meet very often. Indeed, we developed a close friendship.’”
Karussis, who is a humble and unassuming fellow in his own right, may well have viewed the rosh yeshiva as a kindred spirit. Sadly, he has now suffered an unfathomable tragedy.
I later discovered that Jonas Karussis was his parents’ only child, and I was haunted by the mental image of these parents struggling to cope with the horrific murder of their only son, which essentially spelled the destruction of their world. While they are not Jewish, they are fortunate to have emunah that can bring them comfort. The professor’s wife, Renya, is a pediatrician. It is no coincidence that this couple decided to dedicate their lives to professions in which they can help people suffering from illnesses; the drive to benefit others is ingrained in them, and it was an integral part of their deceased son’s nature as well.
When I visited the bereaved professor, he said, “I raised my son to be good and to do good for everyone. That was Yonah’s nature. He was also intelligent, successful, and humble.”
“Yonah?” I repeated in puzzlement. “His name appeared in the newspapers as Jonas.”
“We called him Yonah in reference to Yonah Hanovi,” Professor Karussis replied. The professor and his wife were awed by the story of Yonah Hanovi. “You see, Hashem sent him to a city inhabited by non-Jews, to warn them that they must improve their behavior,” he explained. “I already know that Hashem takes the best people from this world,” he added in a pained tone, “but there is one thing that I do not understand. Our purpose in this world is to help others and to make the world a better place. Why does Hashem take specifically the people who are helping to improve the world?”
I had no response to that question; I could only cry along with him, and that is precisely what I did. Parenthetically, the prime minister quoted Professor Karussis in his speech at the memorial ceremony commemorating the Simchas Torah massacre.
The Passing of Rav Aviezer Wolfson
On Chol Hamoed, we were informed of the passing of Rav Aviezer Wolfson. This news left many people heartbroken, but it was especially painful for me. From my standpoint, Rav Aviezer was the last surviving members of the generation of giants in the Yeshiva of Beer Yaakov, and the community of Beer Yaakov in general.
Rav Aviezer Wolfson was born in London to his parents, Rav Shmuel and Mrs. Fanny (Tzipporah Faiga), and gave up an academic career at the most prestigious university in London. With the encouragement of Rav Yitzchok Scheiner, whom he met at the Yeshiva of Montreux in Switzerland, he embarked on a lifelong career of Torah learning, applying his abilities and talents to that sacred endeavor. After immigrating to Eretz Yisroel, he spent several months in the Yeshiva of Ponovezh and then transferred to Beer Yaakov, where he developed close relationships with the rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, and the mashgiach, Rav Shlomo Wolbe. It did not take long for him to be recognized as much more than an ordinary yeshiva bochur. His status in the yeshiva was similar to that of a maggid shiur, and he also enlisted his uncle, Sir Isaac Wolfson, to finance the construction of the bais medrash, which became one of the most magnificent such facilities in Eretz Yisroel at the time. Isaac Wolfson went on to fund the construction of dozens of shuls in Eretz Yisroel, in large part due to the encouragement and urging of his nephew, and young Aviezer Wolfson managed to convince his highly affluent uncle to channel some of his significant resources into the time-honored bastions of Torah learning as well. After his marriage (to Rebbetzin Chana, nee Ringer), Rav Aviezer resided in Bnei Brak at first, then moved to Herzliya, then moved again to Savyon, and ultimately settled in Yerushalayim. Everywhere he went, he was involved in kiruv and teaching Torah. During his time in Herzliya, he took responsibility for the transit camp in the area that was home to many immigrants, and he invited yeshiva bochurim and Pe’ilim activists to spend Shabbos at his home so that they could influence the immigrants. His involvement in kiruv continued later in his life as well, first in Yeshivas Dvar Yerushalayim and then in Yeshivas Toras Chaim in Moscow.
Rav Aviezer was a prodigious baal tzedokah, whose charitable donations were accompanied by a radiant smile. He never failed to create positive feelings in the recipients of his largesse, nor did he ever call attention to his acts of munificence. I visited the family during the shiva on motzoei Shabbos, and I sat there as numerous visitors told stories about his acts of tzedokah. Rav Aviezer’s children confessed that they were hearing numerous stories about acts of kindness of which they had never been aware during his lifetime. On a personal note, I will reveal that I succeeded several times in soliciting donations from him for various causes, and he always contributed significant sums. Perhaps I can reveal the full stories now. The seminary for girls that my father founded in Beer Yaakov was named for his parents, Shmuel and Fanny Wolfson, and there are a number of shuls in Eretz Yisroel named Pnei Shmuel, which are likewise named for Rav Aviezer’s parents. The renowned yeshiva headed by his son, Rav Doniel Wolfson, was likewise originally named Pnei Shmuel. My father had a close relationship with Rav Aviezer and deeply admired him. Then again, no one could fail to admire Rav Aviezer, who radiated charm and nobility.
Rav Aviezer Wolfson also gained renown due to his musical compositions. Perhaps the most well-known piece was his tune for Mah Ashiv, which is often used in Hallel. On the day of his passing, Rav Aviezer visited the Kosel and heard thousands of people singing his composition. He also earned acclaim for his shiurim; he was an expert on the teachings of the Maharal, and it was always delightful to listen to his discourses. I will never forget one particular drosha, which he delivered in the Pnei Shmuel shul near Shaare Zedek Hospital in Yerushalayim, at which he spoke about the connections between the three regolim. Rav Aviezer explained that Pesach and the miracle of Krias Yam Suf teach us about Hashem’s absolute mastery of nature, while Sukkos, which commemorates the ananei hakavod, demonstrates His complete control over creation, and Shavuos conveys the message that the Torah was given from Shomayim to human beings on earth. “Let us all resolve to believe in all these things with complete faith,” he concluded. As he ended his lecture, he humbly thanked his audience for having the patience to listen to him. But I can attest that his audience, which consisted of hundreds of men, delighted in every moment of the drosha, and everyone would have been overjoyed if it had continued. I have no doubt that when he arrived in Shomayim, he was accompanied by a huge volume of zechuyos resulting from his accomplishments as a baal tzedokah, marbitz Torah, and practitioner of kiruv.
Dancing Mixed with Tears
I have written in the past about my fondness for attending shiurim on Chol Hamoed. This Sukkos, as usual, I perused the list of shiurim published in the Israeli Yated Neeman before Yom Tov and selected the shiurim that I wished to attend. I settled on some of the less famous speakers for this particular Chol Hamoed, along with the rabbonim whose shiurim I make sure to attend every Yom Tov. The latter category includes Rav Noam Alon, the rosh yeshiva of the Mir yeshiva in Modiin Illit. It is simply a sublime pleasure to attend one of his shiurim. I have heard him speak in Ramat Shlomo, in Neve Yaakov, and in Bnei Brak, and I once traveled to Brachfeld to attend a shiur as well. This year, however, he spoke on Friday night in Sanhedria, the neighborhood where he lives, and I did not have an opportunity to attend the shiur. I also derive exceptional pleasure from attending Rav Dovid Cohen’s shiurim, which require a tremendous degree of concentration to follow.
When I spotted Rav Elazar Meirowitz’s name on the list, I felt compelled to attend one of his shiurim as well. I chose the shiur in Yerushalayim, which was held in the Netzach Yisroel bais medrash in Rechaviah. The speakers included some of the most prominent figures in the Torah world: Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, Rav Tzvi Kushelevsky, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Menashe Reisman, and Rav Asher Weiss. Rav Elazar Meirowitz delivered his shiur on Tuesday. Now, why was I so eager to hear him? Because Rav Yisroel Meir Druk, one of the leading marbitzei Torah in Eretz Yisroel and a onetime close confidant of Rav Chaim Kanievsky (in fact, Rav Chaim used to visit his home in Yerushalayim every Chol Hamoed), founded a yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, where he serves as rosh yeshiva along with Rav Meirowitz. Until his appointment to that position, Rav Meirowitz served as a maggid shiur in Wolfson’s yeshiva. Rav Druk’s yeshiva in Beit Shemesh has been extremely successful; although it first opened its doors only two years ago, it has already become one of the most prominent yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel. Its success is owed partly to Rav Druk, who enjoys incredible siyata d’shmaya in all of his endeavors, and also to Rav Meirowitz, who is known as one of the Torah world’s most brilliant talmidei chochomim despite his young age. He is also the rov of a community of bnei Torah in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel, which is very close to the yeshiva’s location. Having heard so much about him, I was eager to attend the shiur so that I could gain some firsthand insight into the source of his fame. Sure enough, I was awed by the experience; his brilliance was evident not only in the content of his shiur but in the presentation as well.
Speaking of Rav Yisroel Meir Druk, I cannot fail to mention the hakafos shniyos held in his yeshiva in Yerushalayim, Yeshivas Tiferes Yisroel in the neighborhood of Givat Shaul. (Rav Druk has founded several yeshivos, with the blessing of Rav Chaim Kanievsky.) Every year, the hakafos shniyos in his yeshiva attract the entire city’s attention. The hakafos are attended by the talmidim of all of Rav Druk’s yeshivos, as well as bochurim and yungeleit from the entire neighborhood and the remainder of Yerushalayim as well. The event was as beautiful and uplifting as ever, but there was one point when the dancing came to a halt and the joyous singing gave way to tears. This took place when the crowd recited several kapitlach of Tehillim, followed by the tefillah of “acheinu kol bais Yisroel.” At the words “hanesunim batzarah u’bashivya—who are placed in distress and captivity,” I saw Rav Druk shedding tears of emotion. Rav Yossel Tabak, who sat beside him and was one of the guests of honor, wept visibly along with him.
Indeed, we all experienced this Simchas Torah with a mix of emotions, and it was not easy to bring ourselves to dance and celebrate after the Yom Tov ended.
Passion at Yeshivas Shaarei Shemuos
Another major hakafos shniyos event took place in Yeshivas Shaarei Shemuos in the community of Beit Chilkiya (which is adjacent to the settlements of Yesodot and Chofetz Chaim). Actually, to be honest, I am not certain if this was truly a hakafos shniyos event, or the hakafos of Simchas Torah merely continued after the end of Yom Tov (until 2:00 in the morning). In any event, I found it to be a deeply stirring experience.
Let me explain. Yeshivas Shaarei Shemuos, which shares its name with the seforim of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, is an offshoot of Yeshivas Beer Yaakov, which was the place where I spent some of my formative years. The yeshiva was founded by two prominent members of the Shapiro family. The first was Rav Naftoli Tzvi Yehuda Shapiro, the now-deceased beloved son of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, and the second was Rav Moshe Shmuel’s grandson, Rav Aryeh Shapiro, whose father, Rav Dovid Yitzchok, is the eldest son of Rav Moshe Shmuel and the current rosh yeshiva in Beer Yaakov. Needless to say, I have known Rav Aryeh since he was born, and I can attest that he was always particularly cherished by his illustrious grandfather. As he grew older, Rav Moshe Shmuel always enjoyed learning with him, and Rav Aryeh maintained a close bond with his grandfather. As a young man, he was practically capable of reading Rav Moshe Shmuel’s thoughts. He accompanied his grandfather whenever he left Beer Yaakov, and he was present at all of his meetings, including his discussions with gedolei Yisroel. I will never forget the day when Rav Shmuel Berenbaum (whose friendship with Rav Moshe Shmuel had its roots in their time in Baranovich) came to visit the yeshiva in Beer Yaakov together with Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz. Rav Aryeh was particularly active in that meeting. One can certainly say that for many years, Rav Aryeh was perpetually at his grandfather’s side. He is also well-versed in all of Rav Moshe Shmuel’s vertlach. His close connection to his grandfather was an extraordinary phenomenon. All in all, he is a man of exceptional charisma and brilliance.
Several years ago, Yeshivas Shaarei Shemuos was founded in Beit Chilkiya by Rav Tzvi and Rav Aryeh. I watched closely as the yeshiva developed, and like many others in Eretz Yisroel, I was astounded by its rapid and phenomenal growth. Well, to be more precise, I was awed by its development, but I was not surprised. Rav Tzvi Shapiro passed away suddenly several months ago, and when I arrived at the yeshiva for the levayah, I was astounded by the sight of the massive new bais medrash—a facility whose size was appropriate, of course, for a yeshiva with over a thousand talmidim. Today, Yeshivas Shaarei Shemuos is one of the most sought-after yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel. Rav Tzvi’s passing came as a heavy blow to the yeshiva and to his many friends, myself among them. When I arrived at the yeshiva after Yom Tov this weekend, I found that I was unable to tear myself away from the place, as I watched hundreds of bochurim dancing with great passion. Rav Aryeh entered the room briefly at two points during the evening. (He is currently in the year of aveilus for his mother, Rebbetzin Rochel Shapiro, the wife of Rav Dovid Yitzchok Shapiro and granddaughter of Rav Chaim Leib Auerbach, and he was therefore unable to participate in the festivities.) Whenever he entered the room, the bais medrash seemed to become filled with fiery passion. I could easily have written an entire article about the joy that filled the air at the event, and about the yeshiva in general.
The Yahrtzeit of the Pele Yoetz
The yahrtzeit of the Pele Yoetz on Chol Hamoed Sukkos was marked by a large number of events taking place at various locations. You may recall that I wrote about the Pele Yoetz in the Sukkos edition of this newspaper; I mentioned that my good friend Chaim Raavad, a survivor of the infamous terror attack on the 405 bus near Telz Stone many years ago, had taken it upon himself to renovate the tziyun in Bulgaria and to raise awareness of the tzaddik’s promise that anyone who davens at his kever with a broken heart, after immersing in a mikveh, will have his prayers answered. Given the proliferation of events on Chol Hamoed Sukkos, it seems that his efforts to raise awareness about the Pele Yoetz have been successful. In fact, Raavad organized a number of events in Eretz Yisroel, and many people decided to hold hillulas on the yahrtzeit this year. Interestingly, a number of people from Eretz Yisroel traveled to the kever to daven there on the yahrtzeit, including Avrohom Grinzeig, a grandson of the renowned Rav Shimon Moshe Diskin, who sent me a beautiful picture of the event.
Personally, I participated in a hillula held by Rav Yaakov Halperin in the massive sukkah at his home on Moshav Beit Meir, which is not far from Yerushalayim. The event was attended by dozens of distinguished figures, including Rav Nosson Chefetz of Lev L’Achim (who married off a daughter this week) and Rav Yisroel Kellerman, the deputy mayor of Yerushalayim. Chaim Raavad and Binyomin Gringras, whom I mentioned in my article on the Pele Yoetz’s kever, were present as well. A shiur on the sefer Pele Yoetz was delivered by Rav Shmuel Rabinovich, the rov of the Kosel, who is known as an outstanding orator.
Parenthetically, at the same time that Rav Rabinovich was delivering this shiur, Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicized his decision to revoke the rov’s authority to admit visitors in cars to the Kosel parking lot. Ben-Gvir was incensed by Rav Rabinovich’s decision to instruct the Western Wall Heritage Fund to remove a structure that had been erected to provide shade for Jews visiting Har Habayis in violation of halacha. Rav Rabinovich was informed about Ben-Gvir’s retaliation in the middle of the shiur, but he did not even bat an eyelash.
Let me make one more point about the Pele Yoetz: When I interviewed Rav Gringras, he revealed that the late Rav Sraya Deblitzky used to deliver a daily shiur on the sefer Pele Yoetz after Shacharis. On Chol Hamoed, I was informed that this was the practice of other illustrious talmidei chochomim as well. My son, who was a close talmid and chavrusa of Rav Aryeh Finkel, recalled that Rav Aryeh used to deliver a shiur to an elite group of talmidim on the sefer Pele Yoetz every morning.
The bottom line is that you should not be surprised if the study of the Pele Yoetz begins to gain popularity and traction.
The Attack on Iran: Prelude to a Bigger Offensive?
Of course, I must dedicate some space in this column to the elimination of Yahya Sinwar. It has been revealed that Sinwar was killed by chance (so to speak), and by junior soldiers in the chareidi battalion known as Netzach Yehuda. The death of Hamas’s leader was not engineered by the Shin Bet or carried out by elite intelligence officers or fighter pilots. In fact, the soldiers who killed him weren’t even aware of his identity, since his face was covered at the time. The country rejoiced at the elimination of the mastermind of the Simchas Torah massacre, which came nearly a full year after the tragedy. In a sense, Sinwar’s elimination marked the closing of a circle. There is also a great likelihood that Sinwar’s removal from the playing field will accelerate the process of bringing the hostages home, since he was the greatest villain in this story and was responsible for Hamas hardening its stances. At this point, the release of the hostages is an imminent possibility, thanks to negotiations conducted under the oversight of Egypt and Qatar. Another important point, which I will have to revisit at greater length in the future, is that the IDF unearthed some documents that indicate very clearly that Sinwar derived significant encouragement from the protests in Tel Aviv.
But let us put the death of this wicked terrorist aside for a moment, and focus on the attack on Iran that Israel carried out at the end of the holiday. It was expected that Israel would attack Iran in response to the 201 ballistic missiles launched at Israel last month. The attack was coordinated with the Americans but then delayed due to the leak of sensitive documents from the Pentagon. The Israeli attack on Iran took place over the course of three hours, in three waves of air strikes. The Israeli planes returned safely to their bases after the operation, and the army boasted that the team had included several female pilots; for some reason, they felt that the inclusion of women was their greatest reason to take pride in the mission. Of course, they also proudly asserted Israel’s military might and superiority. “Our message is clear,” they declared in a public statement. “Anyone who threatens the State of Israel and hopes to drag this region into a broader escalation will pay a heavy price…. We have proven today that we have the ability to act with determination and that we are prepared to protect the State of Israel and its civilians with both defensive and offensive strikes.” It seems that there is little to be done about their unbridled hubris.
The army’s public statement also made sure to stress that Israel’s attack was a response to the Iranian offensive. The Israelis are emphasizing this detail to make it possible for Iran to refrain from retaliating, since the Israeli strike was itself a response to their earlier attack.
Let me also remind you that a drone struck the prime minister’s home in Caesaria during Yom Tov. Netanyahu had left his house shortly before the drone hit, in the middle of the night. The Iranians hurried to announce that they were not responsible for the drone strike, indicating that they have no interest in an escalation of hostilities. This incident was widely viewed as crossing a red line, since it is considered unacceptable to target heads of state.
During the attack on Iran, the IDF struck Iranian installations where missiles were manufactured that posed a threat to Israel, anti-aircraft systems that were likely to limit Israel’s ability to operate in the air, and facilities for the production of surface-to-surface missiles. In light of the intense pressure from the United States to refrain from carrying out an attack that might cause a major escalation, Israel refrained from attacking Iran’s oil and nuclear facilities. The operation involved dozens of fighter jets, surveillance planes, and midair refueling planes and saw the Israeli air force strike numerous targets in several areas in Iran, at a distance of 1600 kilometers from Israel. “The scope of the damage and the outcome will become clear later, but we already have much broader freedom to operate,” the army reported after the attack, which was dubbed Operation Days of Repentance. They added, “We have a bank of targets in Iran, and we have attacked only some of them thus far. We have the ability to attack more targets in Iran as well.” It is estimated that Israel’s goal was to destroy Iran’s ability to produce surface-to-surface missiles. Teheran is expected to respond to the attack. An Israeli source familiar with the details said, “The information brought by the Military Intelligence Directorate to this mission was absolutely fantastic. The attack was extremely precise.”
There may be reason to conclude that the IDF planned this attack to lay the groundwork for its next offensive. After all, the skies in Iran are now clear of anti-aircraft missiles. Who knows what they may be planning next?
Twin Tower Style Bombing Averted
I will touch on a few of the other major news stories of this past week. First, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is continuing her efforts to obstruct the government’s work. Even regarding the war effort, she insists on reminding the prime minister that he is not authorized to make decisions on his own, and that he must consult with the cabinet. She also interfered with an appointment in the police force. The chief of police recently decided to transfer a high-ranking official to a different position, but the attorney general disapproved of the decision and intervened by freezing it. The police commissioner responded by accusing her of overstepping her authority and meddling in matters that are outside her jurisdiction. In another incident, she decided that the communications minister had made an illegal appointment, and the case was ultimately referred to the Supreme Court, where the judges ruled that the minister had acted correctly. This came as a ringing slap in the face to the attorney general.
In another interesting incident, the IDF chief of staff recently visited a group of soldiers and noticed that one of the soldiers was wearing a shoulder patch with the word “Moshiach.” Enraged, the chief of staff tore the patch off the soldier’s sleeve. This led to a derisive response from Channel 14, and the IDF spokesman then accused the media outlet of incitement against the army. This letter actually earned him a fresh round of mockery, since the Israeli media is flooded with incitement, yet he has never felt the need to object to it in the past.
One of the reserve soldiers killed in the war, Shuvael Ben-Natan, was a grandson of my neighbor in Givat Shaul. As a child, Shuvael became famous when the newspapers featured a picture of him being carried by police officers along with his father when they were evicted from their home in Gush Katif. About a year ago, he was arrested on trumped-up charges fabricated by the Jewish division of the Shin Bet, during their campaign against “settler violence.” The case against him quickly collapsed when it was brought to court. Shuvael was killed on Sukkos, and many people commented at his funeral that the time has come for the State of Israel to make a cheshbon hanefesh regarding its treatment of settlers.
In other momentous news, shortly before Yom Tov the police and Shin Bet foiled a terrorist plan to carry out a car bombing at the Azrieli mall in Tel Aviv. The bombing was planned by five Arab citizens of Israel from the city of Taibeh, who had established a terror network associated with ISIS. The group was led by two Arabs who supported the ISIS ideology and developed ties with ISIS terrorists abroad. Various weapons were found in the suspects’ possession, and they revealed under questioning that they had watched videos of bombing attacks in Syria and had discussed the quantity of explosives that would be necessary to topple the Azrieli towers. They were inspired by the destruction of the Twin Towers in Manhattan.
Finally, let me make one small comment about the elections on your side of the ocean. I read that Mrs. Harris, who seems to lose thousands of voters every time she opens her mouth, recently said that the question at hand is whether American women are ready to vote for a female candidate. I would respond that that is not actually the question at the moment; the real question is whether she is ready to serve as a president!
Winter Session Opens with Incitement Against Bnei Yeshivos
The Knesset building looked like the scene of a festival this Monday, with camera crews stationed in almost every corner. The entire country watched raptly as the Knesset began its winter session with an event attended by the president. This is generally a festive event with plenty of pomp and ceremony, but the country is in the middle of a war, and the event coincided more or less with the first anniversary of the Simchas Torah massacre, not to mention the funerals of soldiers taking place on Mount Herzl on a daily basis. Moreover, the Knesset decided to combine the usual opening day ceremonies with a special event marking the passage of a year since the massacre, and the mood was therefore decidedly somber.
As usual, plenty of predictions were ventured as to what can be expected during the course of the coming season in the Knesset. One major hurdle that lies ahead for the government is the need to pass a budget, and the crisis over the draft law is still unresolved. The chareidi parties initially made their support for the budget conditional on the passage of a draft law, but against the backdrop of the war, this has become exceedingly difficult. I will let you in on a secret that I believe will soon explode in the open: There is a major campaign of incitement beginning now against the chareidi community in general and bnei yeshivos in particular. I have no doubt that this is a ploy of the left, as part of its strategy to bring down the government. They have exploited various causes in the past to try to wrest power out of the hands of the right; first it was the judicial reform, then the hostages, and now it seems that the chareidi community has become their latest pretext. All of these issues are merely excuses for them to attempt to topple the government. In any event, it seems that we are on the brink of a very unpleasant period. I will be following this closely.
For the time being, let me wish you—and all of us—a chodesh tov and a good winter.
