Donald J. Trump deserves a special place in Jewish history.

Several months ago, I wrote an article praising the wisdom and foresight of Eric Hoffer, an American philosopher, who concluded that Jews and Israel are in perpetual state of loneliness in the world and nobody, including United States of America, is extending a hand of friendship and cooperation to the Jews and Jewish state. Eric Hoffer, an American longshoreman, philosopher and a gentile, had written in 1968 “The Jews are alone in the world. If Israel survives, it will be solely because of Jewish efforts. And Jewish resources”. After continuing the research on the subject, I must admit that Hoffer’s lamentation of Jewish solitude is not entirely correct-it is challenged by the action of Persian King, Cyrus the Great, who reigned 2,550 years ago and who has a special place in Jewish history.

The Israelites of Kingdom of Judea were exiled to Babylon between 597 and 582 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar who destroyed Jerusalem and the First Jewish Temple built by King Solomon. The Babylonian captivity of Judeans lasted for 70 years. The Book of Ezra records the decree issued by Cyrus the Great, releasing the Judeans from Babylonian captivity and allowing them to return to Jerusalem. Guided by God, Cyrus the Great authorized the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. As it says in the Ezra 1:1-4, Cyrus stated “The Lord, the God of heaven… has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem”. Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) or Second Isaiah are the writings attributed by the biblical scholars to the unknown authors in the Old Testament. The chapter of Isaiah 45.1-13 contains the prophet’s hope of Israelites salvation from Babylonian captivity with the help of king of Persia, who is following the God’s will.  Cyrus the Great was chosen by God and was assisted by Him:” I will go before you, and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron”. God sees the King of........

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