Dear Friends,
As I write, Israel has launched an unprecedented preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This decision was made after intelligence revealed advanced enrichment efforts and the existence of a previously undisclosed site, and comes in response to years of escalating threats. Iran has made its intentions toward Israel tragically clear, while simultaneously providing weapons, funding, and direction to terror organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
It’s evident that the Israeli military reached a difficult conclusion: Iran’s nuclear program had crossed a threshold and posed an existential threat that could no longer be ignored.
And so, they acted.
Like many of you, I spent last night gripped by anxiety, fearing the inevitable retaliation. And while I remain concerned—this is far from over—I also feel a measure of reassurance. Reports suggest that a broad coalition of nations, including the U.S., Britain, Jordan, Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar, helped intercept the massive wave of Iranian drones launched this morning. That kind of cooperation is not just strategic—it’s a hopeful sign that the world understands what’s at stake.
As Shabbat approaches, I hold fast to prayer—for Israel’s safety, for peace in the region, and for a day when the Iranian regime uses its power to serve the needs of its people, rather than to sow hatred, instability, and terror around the world. And I pray even more deeply that one day soon, peace—not deterrence, not fear—will take root and flourish.
As we read in the Book of Psalms, this Shabbat especially we…
”Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” And, as we do, we add our prayers for peace for the entire region.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Daniel Cohen