Israel’s Opening Strike: A Biblical Moment?

“Arise, Lord, let your enemies be scattered”. We say these words when we open the ark to read the Torah. I can’t say I’ve ever really taken this as a literal prayer. Until Friday morning, when Israel launched a dramatic, devastating and historic strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

These words come from Parashat Beha’alotecha, which was due to have been read on Shabbat. However due to Israel’s wartime restrictions on public gatherings, many Israelis did not get to hear these words in shul. Instead, they saw them come to life before their eyes.

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It’s 3am and our phones are sounding a siren. Emergency situation declared, Israel is attacking Iran.

It’s Revi’i in Beha’alotecha and Hashem is telling Moshe to make two silver trumpets as a public warning system: To gather the people, to announce war is coming – and to be delivered from your enemies.

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It’s 4am and still no sirens. The expected immediate Iranian retaliation did not happen. Israel’s operation stopped the missiles at source.

It’s Shishi in Beha’alotecha and Moshe is speaking: Arise, Lord, let your enemies be scattered, and your foes flee before you.

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It’s 5.30am and I wake up again, check my phone, realise we’re still safe, and go back to sleep.

The Midrash Sifrei Zuta wonders who, in the above verse, is giving the command to fight: Moshe or Hashem? It gives a parable of a king telling his servant, ‘I am going to sleep until you wake me’. Moshe is the servant who gives the formal go-ahead for war, but Hashem is then ‘woken up’ to move the pillar of cloud.

And I think to myself, who was asleep tonight and who was awake? Who was initiating and who were they co-ordinating with?

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It’s 2pm, and the IDF spokesperson says that the top leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard had convened in an underground HQ to prepare for an attack against the State of Israel – and IAF fighter jets killed them all.

The Midrash continues to expound the verse: “Arise, Lord, let your enemies be scattered”, teaches that this is at the time when [your enemies] are gathering together for war.

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And now I am wondering: was this an open divine miracle?

I return again to the Midrash: “Your foes shall flee before your face”: When your [God’s] face is with us, they flee.

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We’re almost at Shabbat, usually a time for rest.

The Torah continues: “And when it [the ark] rests, say: Shuva Hashem! Bring back O Lord, the myriad thousands of Israel.”

Yes, we are awed, elated, worried and proud. But there’s still one more thing we need: Shuva Hashem! Bring back O Lord, the 53 hostages of Israel.