We awoke this morning to the news of a coordinated American and Israeli strike on Iran. First, of course, we pray for the security of Israel, which has begun to suffer Iranian reprisals, and for the safety of US and allied troops and all innocent civilians in the region.
There will be the inclination by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s critics, and President Trump’s too — and I have at times been among them — to characterize this strike as another example of the two leaders’ often aggressive posture on the world stage. I believe that to be misguided. Iran is not the West Bank, and Tehran is not Minneapolis. Even an Iran weakened by last summer’s war remains a dire threat to the wider Middle East and, as we witnessed recently in the slaughter of thousands of Iranian protestors, to its own people.
We learn this week from the story of Purim, set in ancient Iran, that there are moments when war, as ugly as it is, becomes necessary. The book of Esther recalls how the Jews of Shushan, knowing of Haman’s edict to exterminate them, plan and execute a counteroffensive to save themselves. Whether this war meets that standard, and how close the Iranian regime was to restoring its nuclear and ballistic capabilities, remains uncertain. But the regime has long made its aspirations to destroy Israel abundantly clear, attacking Israel directly and for decades through its proxies.
According to Maimonides, the great medieval codifier of rabbinic law, the kings of Israel engaged in two distinct types of war — “discretionary” and “commanded.” “Discretionary” wars were fought “against other nations to expand Israel’s borders and to enhance [the king’s] greatness and reputation.” “Commanded” wars included those prosecuted for defensive purposes as a response to armed aggression, “to assist the Jews against enemies who have attacked them.” The sages also accepted preemptive strikes against foes preparing an assault as legitimate self-defense.
The President and the Prime Minister would be well served by explaining to Americans and Israelis alike the legitimacy of the timing, plan, and goals of last night’s strike, and how they would ensure greater stability in Iran should its brutal regime fall. In Israel, the Knesset’s opposition parties appear united behind the effort, but in the United States, only Congress holds the power to declare war.
Still, at this moment of uncertainty, my thoughts are focused on a swift, successful end to the conflict, the safety of American forces, and peace upon Israel.
