Dear Editor,
The joint bombing of Iran by Israel and the U.S. occurred on the morning of Shabbat in Israel. A day that has been commanded by God to be observed as a day of rest. This was carried out by a nation that has started to place the Ten Commandments in schools and another that was created to uphold these Commandments. Israel was established to be a Kingdom of Priests that is to be a guiding light for the world. God instructed Moses to say to the children of Israel, “Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Reference: Sefaria.org.
The commandments given to Moses from God for the children of Israel at Mount Sinai also clearly state, “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any manner of work—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your maid-servant, your cattle, and your stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it.” Reference: Chabad.org.
For Israel to rush to break this commandment when it was not necessary in order to break another one which states, “You shall not murder”, leaves the world with a clear understanding that the current leaders of Israel do not put their trust in God, but instead have placed their trust in their weapons. This is not the first time that those leading Israel have affronted God and disobeyed his commandments. During the recent war with the Palestinians Israel was in a position where Shabbat could have been observed and victory maintained. Instead, Shabbat was not observed on many occasions in order to use the time to kill.
The thwarting of God’s will on this most recent occasion has left dozens of little girls dead in Iran. If the leaders of Israel continue to turn their backs on God, will he not become angry with them? Will he not withdraw his protection from them? Remember what happened when the scouts returned after scouting the land for 40 days and the children of Israel refused to obey. Moses said, “Why do you transgress the word of the Lord? It will not succeed”. Reference: Chabad.org. Yet they disobeyed and were crushed until Hormah. God is Israel’s strength. Obey his commandments and do not thwart his will any longer. May humility be regained and may the commandments of God be obeyed throughout the world.