The Best Defense is a Good Offense
Left: Israel's Chief Rabbi Gorin prays alongside IDF soldiers at the Western Wall following the victory of the Six-Day War.
Right: NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch places a mezuzah at her office, declaring: "The mezuzah affirms that Jewish faith and tradition endure with strength and pride."
The year was 1967, and Israel stood alone. Egypt, Syria, and Jordan had massed their massive armies on every border, their leaders promising Israel's annihilation. Rather than wait to absorb the blow, Israel struck first on the morning of June 5th, sending nearly its entire air force in low, radar-evading waves that caught the Egyptian Air Force sitting on its runways — and destroyed it in three hours. With the sky owned completely, Israeli tanks rolled through the Sinai, paratroopers fought through the old city of Jerusalem, and infantry stormed the Golan Heights. Six days later it was over. Three armies broken, Israel's territory tripled, and Jerusalem reunified for the first time in two thousand years. It was a victory born not of luck but of Divine miracles and the willingness to act decisively when hesitation would have meant extinction.
Six years later, the Yom Kippur War of October 1973 illustrated the catastrophic cost of abandoning that doctrine. Israeli government leadership refused to strike first so as not to appear as the aggressor or be accused of starting the war. Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, catching Israeli forces badly undermanned on two fronts simultaneously. Israeli tank formations suffered horrific losses charging into Soviet-supplied anti-tank missile systems without adequate support — the very offensive spirit that had been Israel's greatest strength was now being employed without proper preparation against a well-laid trap. Israel ultimately recovered and turned the tide, but only after enormous casualties and near-catastrophic reversals. The difference between 1967 and 1973 was not courage or capability — it was complacency, internal weakness, and the loss of initiative.
The lesson of both wars is the same: Israel's security has never come from the goodwill of its neighbors or international guarantees. When Israel projects strength and acts with resolve, it deters conflict. When it wavers, it invites tragedy.
This truth was reinforced painfully in more recent history. When Israel pursued a "land for peace" approach — eventually dismantling thriving Jewish agricultural communities and withdrawing from Gaza in 2005 — it was met not with reciprocal goodwill, but with the transformation of Gaza into a terror state. That retreat ultimately paved the road to the devastating October 7th massacre. Each time Israel has taken the initiative, struck preemptively, and secured its borders, the result has been miraculous victories and minimized casualties on both sides. Each time Israel or the international community has shown hesitation or weakness, it has invited further bloodshed.
But where does peace fit into all of this?
When Israel's enemies hurl accusations of warmongering and genocide, some may begin to doubt their own convictions. And during these challenging times for Israel and Jews worldwide — in the workplace, on college campuses, and in everyday conversations — the pressure to retreat, soften, or stay silent can be immense.
But true peace and mutual respect are not born from silence or compromise. They come from confidence and clarity. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks taught — drawing inspiration from the Rebbe — "Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism. And non-Jews are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism." The Rebbe empowered us to live the verse: "And all the nations of the world shall see that G-d's name is called upon you, and they shall be in awe of you (Deuteronomy 28:10)." We must never be ashamed to stand tall as Jews.
Understanding the Roots of Anti-Semitism
To confront anti-Semitism effectively, we must understand its deeper origins. It did not begin with the Jewish people's return to Israel, the tension with Arab neighbors, or any specific political policy. Long before 1948, Jewish communities were subjected to violence and hatred simply for existing. The Talmud teaches that when the Torah was given at Mount Sinai — introducing an absolute Divine morality into the world — anti-Semitism arose as a resistance to that moral voice. Those who oppose goodness have always seen the Jewish people and the Torah as their greatest threat.
This is why anti-Semitism, while targeting Jews, ultimately threatens all of humanity. It is not merely an attack on one people — it is an attack on conscience and Divine morality itself.
The Torah's Answer: Strength in Service of Peace
The Torah offers a clear and timeless response. In this week's portion, Naso, we read the priestly blessing:
"May the Lord bless you and guard you. May the Lord shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift His face toward you and grant you peace." (Numbers 6:24–26)
The Hebrew word for peace — shalom — comes from the root shalem, meaning wholeness. True peace does not come from fragmentation or the denial of who we are. It comes from embracing our full identity with strength and honesty. Lasting peace — within ourselves, our communities, and the world — can only be rooted in truth.
Peace is central to Jewish life — but authentic peace must come from a place of strength, not weakness. The Talmud teaches plainly: "If someone rises to kill you, rise and kill him first." (Sanhedrin 72a) Peace must be accompanied by security. Judaism places the highest value on the sanctity of human life — and it is precisely because life is sacred that proactive defense is not only permitted but required. By neutralizing threats before they are carried out, the loss of innocent life is minimized on both sides, laying the foundation for genuine and lasting peace.
The Land of Israel is not merely a national homeland in the conventional sense. It is a spiritual anchor — G-d's eternal gift to the Jewish people — a place that empowers us to fulfill our divine mission and be a light unto the nations. Every Jew, wherever they live, is forever connected to this land.
Standing Tall With Dignity and Clarity
When we understand shalom as wholeness, we can engage the world not from fear or defensiveness, but with dignity and purpose. Whether on the global stage or in everyday life, we create peace when we stand fully for who we are and live by the values that define us.
As we recently celebrated Shavuot — the anniversary of receiving the Torah — we are reminded that our strength lies in our values, our traditions, and our unity. May we each be blessed to represent our people with pride and to bring light into the world through our actions.
Affix a Mezuzah on your home and office, put on Tefillin, light Shabbat candles, study Torah, connect with the Jewish community, and display your Judaism proudly!
By collectively embracing our mission — bringing more light into the world through Torah study, the observance of mitzvot, and sharing a moral, ethical, and compassionate worldview rooted in the Divine — we can help eradicate anti-Semitism and pave the way for lasting peace and prosperity for all humanity, with the coming of Moshiach.
May we soon witness the fulfillment of the prophecy:
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
