Living Torah Archives

In June of 1982, war broke out between Israel and terrorist factions in Lebanon. Dubbed Operation Peace for Galilee, it was hoped that it would end years of strife in the region. In an address just one week after the war began, the Rebbe urged Israel’s leaders not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Gedalya Schreiber has served as director-general of Israel’s Religious Affairs Ministry and as director-general of its Chief Rabbinate. In 1980, he joined the entourage of the Sadigura Rebbe for an audience with the Rebbe.

The Talmud teaches, “If someone rises to kill you, rise up to kill him first.” The Rebbe explains that this dictum of our sages is the only way for Israel to deal with its enemies who seek its destruction.

In order to maintain Israel’s strength and integrity, there must be the resolve to do so by its own government.

Addressing members of Israel’s Defense Mission in the audience, the Rebbe explains the importance of Israel maintaining a large defense arsenal.

The Israeli government must set its priorities in Operation “Peace for Galilee.” From the outset, the military experts made it clear that casualties could be minimized on both sides of the conflict by a swift operation, which could be over in days. Even the President of the US did not pressure Israel to do otherwise. But some politicians became afraid of their own inner insecurities.

The only approach which has succeeded so far is when Israel makes clear to the United States through its actions that it will not compromise on security issues, and that the US needs a strong partner in the Middle East.

Rashi comments on the very first verse in the Torah: “It could happen that gentiles will claim that the Jews stole the Land of Israel from them. Therefore, G-d related His mighty works in the Book of Genesis to show that it was He Who created the Land of Israel and it was he who gave it to the Jewish People.”

Code of Jewish Law, Laws of Shabbos, Chapter 329: If non-Jews besiege a Jewish border town—whether in the Holy Land or in the Diaspora—stating that they come only to pilfer straw, Jews are obligated to arm themselves for war, even on Shabbos, because such an intrusion opens up the entire Jewish land to attack.

Rashi states on Torah’s very first verse: “It could happen that gentiles will claim the Jews stole the Land of Israel from them. Therefore, G-d related His mighty works in the Book of Genesis to show that it was He Who created the Land of Israel and gave it to the Jewish People.”

Israel’s welfare is in the best interest of the United States, because Israel is the front line against the Arabs. The Arabs are against the United States no less than they are against Israel — and perhaps even more so! And it is imperative that there be a strong Israel in order to inhibit the influence of Syria, Iran, and the other hostile countries in the Middle East.