Each of Us Can Defend Israel

As an American Jew, it’s impossible to look upon our Israeli brothers and sisters and not sense that they are, in many ways, a breed apart. The difference is not one of genetics or theology, but of experience—a spirit forged by the daily reality of living in a land perpetually under threat, yet fiercely, unapologetically alive.

Those of us in the Diaspora have grown up largely in comfort. Our lives have been shaped by stability, liberty, and prosperity. Yet even as we thrive in open societies, a quiet vulnerability lingers—the inherited caution of being guests in another nation, our safety resting on the goodwill of others. Israelis, by contrast, are tempered in fire. In Israel, the price of sovereignty is personal. Nearly every family carries the weight of a name lost to war or terror. From the age of eighteen, young men and women are thrust into a crucible that transforms them from students into defenders—the literal shields of their people.

A Legacy of Resilience

Israel’s survival has never been theoretical. Its citizens have endured Scuds from Saddam, rockets from Gaza, drones from Yemen, ICBMs from Iran, and waves of terror that would have shattered lesser nations. Yet Israelis do not merely endure—they build, innovate, and live with astonishing vigor. The famed “Start-Up Nation” spirit is born not only of creativity but of necessity: the defiant recognition that because tomorrow is never guaranteed, today must be lived with purpose.

I felt this truth vividly while watching Lioness of the Jordan Valley on Izzy. The film follows young recruits as they navigate exhaustion, fear, and the immense responsibility of defending their homeland. Their transformation stirred something deep in me. As the grandson of Holocaust survivors, I often dreamed of standing where my ancestors could not—to restore the strength stolen from them. Life took me down another path, yet my admiration for Israeli soldiers has never waned. Their selflessness, courage, and moral clarity continue to inspire awe.

From Victims to Authors

Since the horrors of October 7, that admiration has deepened into pride. While Jews abroad faced harassment and isolation, Israel did what was long unthinkable in Jewish history—it fought back. The IDF waged war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s proxies, all while striving to uphold a moral code few other nations could match. Watching Israel assert both strength and restraint reminded me that the Jewish people are no longer passive subjects of history. We are its authors.

This courage is not new; it runs through our lineage. Joshua led the tribes across the Jordan. Gideon overcame impossible odds with a devoted few. David fused strategy with faith. The Maccabees reclaimed our identity in defiance of empire. Bar Kochba, though defeated, embodied the will to resist. Israel’s modern warriors are heirs to this unbroken chain—not fighters of conquest, but guardians of life, land, and covenant.

The Sacred Balance: Torah and Tactics

Yet Israel’s strength does not come from arms alone. The nation continues to wrestle with a profound question: how should the burden of defense be shared? Among the Haredi, lifelong Torah study is seen as sacred service—shielding Am Yisrael through prayer and learning. Others believe that in a world of physical danger, every able-bodied Jew must also defend the nation in arms. Both impulses spring from devotion: one spiritual, the other practical.

Parashat Yitro offers timeless guidance. When Yitro sees Moses overwhelmed by the people’s needs, he counsels him to delegate—“They shall judge the people at all times” (Ex. 18:22)—ensuring that no single group bears the nation’s burden alone. Today, programs like Hesder and Netzah Yehuda embody that wisdom. In these units, Torah study and combat readiness coexist; faith and defense merge into one mission. Expanding such models may well be Israel’s greatest bridge between the spiritual and physical guardians of the Jewish people.

One People, Many Fronts

The Diaspora, too, has its battlefield. We fight for Israel through advocacy, philanthropy, education, and political engagement—each a vital act of faith and solidarity. Some even serve as lone soldiers, crossing oceans to defend a homeland they have only known from afar. Yet we must acknowledge a hard truth: abroad, we do not command our own fate. Only in Israel do Jews wield the power to protect their people, their land, and their faith through their own hands and institutions. In a region as hostile as the Middle East, that power is nothing short of miraculous.

Not all of us carry rifles, but every one of us bears responsibility. Whether standing against antisemitism, supporting Israel’s defenders, or living proudly and visibly as Jews, we participate in the same struggle for survival and dignity. We are separated only by circumstance, never by destiny. Our purpose remains united—to serve God, to safeguard one another, and to be a light unto the nations. Israel’s courage strengthens our pride, and our steadfast support reinforces her resolve.

We are all called, in our own way, to be warriors of the Jewish people—champions in the fight for freedom, sovereignty, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Whether on the battlefield, in the realm of ideas, or through daily acts of faith and unity, we carry forward the same unbroken spirit that has defined our people for millennia. Across oceans and generations, we stand together—as one nation, tested, unbroken, and everlasting.