Dominoes
Just trying to put my thoughts together is challenging right now. If what I am reading is unbelievable to me, then it must be even more unbelievable to those who have spent most, or even all, of their lives under a totalitarian regime.
Last week, I was discussing with a friend how it is possible that so many people blindly believe whatever they are being told. How so many people have been unable to use basic reasoning skills to think beyond what they have been taught and possibly see that they have been lied to by a select few who have everything but their best interests in mind when acting the way they do.
Eventually, the house of cards must come crumbling down. The final domino must fall after a series of events makes the intricate pattern of hate dissolve into a pile of chaos.
It has taken almost two years, or more than 40, depending on how you count, but eventually millions, possibly even billions, of people will have their eyes finally opened to the truth and the reality of being able to think on their own.
Obviously, this comes at a price, but the guilt belongs to those who have continued the ruse. Who have taught hatred over decades and centuries, instead of giving their citizens the best opportunities for a prosperous life. “No, that can only happen after the infidels are properly taken care of!” they say, with absolutely no progress to show for it except for their own enrichment at the price of innocent human lives, even ones that are theoretically part of their team.
Today’s successes show whose side is the correct side and whose side God is on. Slowly, the dominoes have fallen that have allowed us to reach this day. Science and technology developed by the free nations have allowed us to reach great distances, while those who have been sanctioned are fighting with technology from half a century ago and minimal parts with which to conduct repairs.
Yes, truth today is hard to come by and often times it can look like the world is uninterested in returning to a place where truth can be pursued. That’s why the nation of truth, Israel, the Jews, the Torah, have taken it upon themselves today to topple one of the greatest obstacles to truth in the world.
If you live in a totalitarian regime, I’m sure it is easy to believe that your truth is the correct one, and that other truths are false, or that they are outright lies. But the annoying thing about the truth is that only one truth can exist at any one time. Lies can float along for a while, but eventually they will be found out. When a nation relies on the truth and is willing to defend it, that is the nation that will be victorious.
Iran doubles down on not sending any drones (an example of not knowing when to stop lying)
France says Israel has a right to defend itself - after months of telling us to stop (an example of admitting the lies are over)
Hopefully, we are on the cusp of a new Middle East that is founded on trust and that defends that trust against the people who lie for their own gain. A Middle East that gives all of its constituents a fair chance at prosperity and where people of all kinds can travel freely and experience the grand hospitality that both nations prominent in the region are famous for (and which can still be seen in abundance on YouTube).
When the wat started almost two years ago, I was speaking with a friend saying that I don’t see how the war can end until Iran is no longer a threat. Others I have seen on Facebook have been incredulous, admitting that they thought Netanyahu would never do it, but now they know that we are going to go all the way.
There is still a lot of work to do, but just like all of the other operations in this long war, Israel winds up being safer than ever before once the missions are complete. With long odds, it is clear Who is running the show.
In this week’s parsha we read (ok, well those not in Israel since we can’t go to shul this week):
וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה ׀ יְהֹוָ֗ה וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃
When the Ark was to set out, Moses would say:
Advance, O יהוה !
May Your enemies be scattered,
And may Your foes flee before You!
In other words, when the Truth (the Torah was secured in the Aron/Ark) goes out, that is when the enemies will scatter.
So may it be His will. Shabbat Shalom.