More than 2,500 years ago, one of history’s greatest rulers made a decision that changed the course of two peoples forever.

When King Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE, he did something almost unheard of in the ancient world. Rather than rule through fear and subjugation, he allowed the Jewish people who had been exiled from their homeland, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. He respected their faith, restored their freedom and gave them hope.

It was an extraordinary act of leadership. Cyrus understood a truth that many rulers throughout history have failed to grasp: empires built on oppression eventually crumble, but societies built on liberty leave a lasting legacy. It is certainly an act of leadership some in the West could learn.

For that reason, King Cyrus occupies a unique place in Jewish history. He is the only non-Jewish ruler described as God’s “anointed” in the Hebrew Bible. His name has been remembered by generations of Jews not because he conquered nations, but because he chose freedom over tyranny.

Yet Cyrus’s greatest legacy extends beyond the pages of history.

His decision began one of the world’s oldest and most remarkable friendships,the enduring bond between the Persian and Jewish peoples.

I call this relationship the Cyrus Friendship.

The Cyrus Friendship is not merely a historical curiosity. It represents more than twenty-five centuries of mutual respect, shared history and cultural connection between two ancient civilizations. While governments have risen and fallen, borders have shifted and ideologies have changed, the friendship first forged by Cyrus has never disappeared.

History belongs to peoples, not governments.

That friendship remained visible even in modern times.

Before the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Israel and Iran enjoyed close diplomatic, economic and cultural relations. Direct flights connected Tel Aviv and Tehran. Israeli tourists visited Iran, and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)