To Be a Realist, You Must Believe in Miracles

A baby being pulled out of the rubble in Ramat Gan, June 19, 2025

“In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.”
– David Ben-Gurion, Former Prime Minister of Israel

For decades, it was widely assumed that Israel's enemies were simply too powerful to defeat. The world watched helplessly as Iran trained and armed terrorist groups across the Middle East, accelerating its race toward nuclear capability—all while threatening, G-d forbid, to erase Israel from the map and then turn its sights on the rest of Western civilization.

And yet, the impossible began to unfold.

Over the past year and a half, we have witnessed the crumbling and disintegration of powerful evil forces: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the brutal Syrian regime, and the Houthi militants in Yemen. And now, Israel has gone straight to the head of the snake: Iran.

There is no purely logical way to explain this. It defies the odds. It defies expectation. It is, in a word, miraculous.

An Israeli fighter pilot recently reflected on the operation:

“We're the tip of the spear. I was in the lead wave, but what made it possible was the entire support structure behind us. This was a national-scale operation. Not many countries can pull off something like this—with such precision and coordination. I believe it'll be studied in military academies.”

“We imagined a war with much more significant pushback. But every step we took worked. That severely limited their ability to respond. On the first night of airstrikes over Iran, an F-15 pilot spotted a lone Iranian fighter jet taking off—only to witness it reverse course and land within minutes. The lack of resistance stunned the Israeli pilots. It's not just about us as pilots,” he concluded. “It's a national team effort—one made possible by an entire nation working together.”

As The Wall Street Journal reported: “What Israel Did in 48 Hours, Russia Couldn't Do in 3.5 Years.”

As IDF pilot and former Knesset member Matan Kahana said: “In all my years as a fighter pilot, I never imagined the kind of success our pilots are now experiencing in Iran. It is nothing short of miraculous.”

Over 520 ballistic missiles and nearly 400 drones have been launched toward Israel. And while every life lost is an immeasurable tragedy, the impact has been far less devastating than anticipated. We must recognize the extraordinary miracles unfolding before our eyes—missiles landing harmlessly between apartment buildings, schools and synagogues struck just minutes after evacuation, children pulled alive from beneath the rubble. These are not coincidences. These are miracles.

Consider the events of the early hours of June 19, 2025: an Iranian ballistic missile struck the third-floor surgical ward of Soroka Medical Center. The damage should have been catastrophic. Walls crumbled, equipment was destroyed—yet only one person sustained minor injuries. Why?

In the words of an IDF soldier speaking to the media at the site of the attack: “It was G-d's will that this place had been evacuated of civilians the night before.”

Of course we are grateful by our brave IDF pilots and soldiers, and we are awed by the Mossad's brilliance—having established a covert drone base inside Iran that crippled their defenses. We are grateful for David's Sling and Iron Dome, which intercepted the vast majority of incoming missiles.

But no system is perfect. And we are reminded—painfully—that no intelligence network, no matter how advanced, is infallible. Amid the courage, strategy, and skill, we must acknowledge something deeper: The hand of G-d.

Balancing Faith and Action

At times like this, people often fall into one of two camps: those who believe only in divine intervention, and those who place their faith solely in human strength. But Judaism teaches a third path—one that is especially relevant in this week's Torah portion, Shlach.

After receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Israelites stood at the edge of the Promised Land. At their request, Moses sent twelve tribal leaders to scout the land. G-d permitted it, saying: “Send for yourself”—if you so choose.

The scouts were meant to inspire the people, to encourage them by witnessing the land's richness. But ten returned gripped by fear. Yes, the land was fertile—but its inhabitants were giants. The mission became a failure of nerve. The people refused to move forward. The result: a forty-year exile in the desert.

At first glance, the punishment seems harsh. Weren't they just doing reconnaissance?

But the problem wasn't the data—it was the conclusion.

They weren't asked if they could enter the land. They were supposed to report how. Their doubt became despair. Their faith faltered.

Kabbalistic sources teach that the spies were not simply afraid—they were spiritually driven. In the desert, life was miraculous. Manna fell from heaven. Clouds of glory surrounded them. In the land, they would need to farm, govern, and build. Could they maintain their connection to G-d and belief in suprarational miracles amid living in a mundane reality?

But this was a tragic misunderstanding. The goal of Judaism is not to escape the world, but to transform it. The miracle isn't only in heaven. It's in the land. It's in our hands.

The Real Strength of Israel

This message rings loudly today.

Yes, Israel must use every ounce of strategy, intelligence, and innovation to confront our enemies. But we must never forget: real strength is found not only in missiles and aircraft, but in meaning, Mitzvot, unity, and divine purpose.

When we pray, study Torah, give charity, affix a mezuzah to our doors, don tefillin, and celebrate Shabbat—when we lend a hand to a neighbor or forgive someone who has wronged us—we are joining the same sacred mission.

True victory lies in recognizing that our physical success is rooted in our spiritual connection.

Yehoshua and Calev, the two faithful scouts, proclaimed:
“We shall surely ascend and possess the land, for we can certainly do it!”

They weren't being naïve. They were being faithful. And that kind of faith is what drives our success to this very day.

Our Mission Today

More than 3,000 years ago at Sinai, we were given a mission: to build a world that reflects G-d's presence. That mission continues today—in Israel's courage, in our prayers, in our actions.

We are not called to retreat from reality, but to elevate it.

Not to live in the desert—but to transform the land.
Not to rely on miracles—but to recognize them.
Not to fear the world—but to lead it.

Let us move forward with courage and clarity—with faith in our cause, pride in our people, and trust in G-d. And may we soon see the ultimate redemption—the world at peace, united in purpose, with the coming of Moshiach!