The Hand of God

Written on the seventh day of the astonishing war between Israel—“a people that rises like a lion”—and Iran

Roughly eight years after the onset of the conflict between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian government, the hand of God was upon Putin, driving him to madness—to the point of launching an attack he thought would bring a swift victory. He had no idea how long, hard, and terrible the war would become, grinding down his army for more than three and a half years. Rather than receiving Russian assistance, Iran and North Korea were forced to send drones and fighters to support Putin.

Putin had to withdraw his forces from Syria. Two years later, during Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon—an arm of the Iranian octopus—after Hezbollah was severely damaged by the exploding beeper operation and had to shift its forces from Syria to Lebanon, the Assad regime (which had coordinated with Iran) collapsed. Syria was transformed into open airspace for the Israeli Air Force enroute to Iran!

After some 70 years of military threats from Russia—both Soviet and post-Soviet—Russia’s military presence in our region has been erased, and the Russians are now entirely unable to assist Iran!

After years of Democratic leadership in America, during which the previous president (Biden) tied Israel’s hands during its eighth War of Independence—sparked by the horrific massacre on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret—the hand of God was again evident: the American people returned Donald Trump to the presidency. Though Trump has long been a divisive figure in American society and embroiled in legal troubles, for the first time in around seventy years, an American president has supported an Israeli military operation from the very outset—virtually without limitations!

Moreover, in addition to military and diplomatic support (without the constraints of his predecessors), Trump provided Israel with a clear moral and even halakhic backing, whether knowingly or not. His stance reflects the words of Maimonides (that Trump surely never read):

No war may be waged against any person in the world before first offering them peace—whether it be an optional war or a commanded one… (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings 6:1)

Trump offered Iran a peaceful agreement to dismantle its nuclear program. But unlike his predecessors, he did not engage in endless and futile negotiations—once Iran refused, he immediately gave Israel a green light. This has never happened since the founding of the State of Israel!

Now the hand of God has been revealed in the Israeli Air Force—unparalleled in the world for many reasons.

In just a few days, our region has undergone a historic transformation—somewhat reminiscent of the Six Day War, which opened with a three-hour campaign that wiped out seven air forces and paved the way for a historic victory!

Even more: the deep internal rifts and divisions among us—so sharply felt during the Gaza War, to the point of threatening our very existence—have been pushed to the margins. The extraordinary assault on Iran has brought peace and broad unity among us!

Let us not forget the spirit of heroism shown by our soldiers when the formal defense system collapsed on Shemini Atzeret—a spirit that is surely “the spirit of the Lord = the spirit of courage,” in the words of Maimonides (Guide of the Perplexed II:45, on the first level of prophecy).

And let us not forget the hesitation of our northern enemy to attack us in coordination with our southern enemy—an indecision that led to a clear Israeli victory in the north and, God willing, soon in the south as well.

Even if we were to recite the full Hallel with a blessing every day, it would not suffice to truly thank God. May we be worthy of the hand of God revealed in our salvation, and of the wisdom and courage shown by our pilots and soldiers!