I just read an article eloquently depicting the fear and angst of living through another war in Israel, the discomfort of being a tiny country thrust into the limelight and the centre of speculation for all the nations around the world. Yes, I hear you. I am not immune either. I completely agree with the fear, the discomfort, the ruined schedules and instability of living through war. Again.

However, I feel like I have a different perspective from some people due to my family background. My grandparents grew up in Warsaw. My grandfather survived the war with one cousin and one brother. The entire family Szwarc, generations of people, cousins and history and all, were murdered. My grandmother also survived the war, and also her entire Glazman family, hundreds of them, was completely eliminated save for 3 lone survivors. We are the shaaris haplaita. No exaggeration!

And what was the strategy of the Jews of Europe under the threat of annihilation by the Nazi regime? Compliance. Bribery. Diplomacy. Obedience. Denial! Pull the wool over your eyes. Stick your head in the sand. Pretend everything is fine and believe we’ll all be ok. And how did that work out? Disastrously. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” as written by a famous philosopher and rooted in the torah adage of זכור ימות עולם, בינו שנות דור ודור.

Hitler (may his name be erased)  was definitely from the seed of Amalek. And the Ayatollah Khameini of course is as well. Even his name has the name Haman hidden inside it! It says that in every generation, the goyim that aspire to annihilate the Jews are the Amalek of that generation. Our mitzvah is to remember to hate Amalek and to make every effort to destroy them. This might sound a bit ruthless but it is merely self preservation!

So when army planes fly overhead and the news is full of the latest israeli attack on our enemies, I am filled with pride and gratitude. Pride in our little nation that has finally learnt to stand up for themselves. That have the clarity that diplomacy is an excellent tool, but not when faced with an existential threat by a nation that is determined to annihilate you. Proud that we are not going like sheep to the slaughter but are fighting our enemies with intelligence, achdus, and the success that can only come because God himself is on our side. We can feel it. We can see it. Hashem is with us in this war as He has been in so many others. The miracles are endless. The Clouds of Glory almost seem to be hovering over us as thousands of missiles and missile fragments miss their mark. Again. And again. And again.

Grateful that the most dangerous man in the world has been killed. The man who was simply itching to get his hands on an atom bomb and drop it over our heads here in Israel. Grateful that I don’t need to worry anymore about being killed by an atom bomb, which has the potential for far greater devastation than anything we have seen before. Grateful for the Israeli soldiers, Jewish or otherwise, that are risking their very lives by flying into enemy skies to attack our enemies. Grateful for the entire IDF for being a part of this mission to defend ourselves, whether it’s security patrols, cyber hacking, or peeling potatoes in an army kitchen. Grateful that America is on our side, fighting with us and supporting us in this war. Grateful to receive messages of support from thousands of persecuted people in Iran screaming “Thank you Bibi!”.

And grateful for being on the right side of history. For being the persecuted nation that rises above our challenging circumstances to take the initiative to protect itself first and protect the downtrodden people of Iran. Grateful to be living through this tumultous stage in history in the Holy Land itself, at the epicentre of all the action, surrounded by my Jewish sisters and brothers, united by a red-hot Jewish pride that even the very buses and walls are screaming out on electronic signs and graffitied pictures, byachad nenatzaich! Am yisrael chai!

There is so much to be grateful for, but yes, this war IS taking it’s toll. And it’s ok to kvetch. We all do. But let’s remember the bigger picture. Because the gratitude and pride is so much bigger than the fear or the stress. This is exactly where we want to be. No apologies neccessary!

My two great uncles in Warsaw, Chaim and Meir Szwarc o”h, joined the Resistance movement and took part in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the largest example of resistance against the Nazis in WWII. But it was too little and too late. We all know the tragic ending of that sad part of our history. Their deaths must not be in vain. We now stand in their place, the Jewish global community of 2026, and we will do whatever we can to support the Uprising of 2026 against our avowed enemies. And that can come in many shapes and forms- Physically contributing to the war effort by army service, donating to charities supporting people on the front lines and their families, praying for the success of the war and the safety of the soldiers and the people of Israel, and even simply infusing our children and communities with good faith that we are fulfilling the commandment to eradicate the rememberance of Amalek and we are so lucky to be able to fulfill this mitzvah on such a grand scale! And pride that we are the shearit hapleita that is standing up for itself and when we are united, nothing can stop us. Am Yisroel Chai! Keeping a good spirit and good faith will help give the siyata dishmaya for the war to succeed.

And may we merit to rebuild the Third Beit Hamikdash speedily in our days!

May this article bring an aliyas neshomo to Chaim ben Tzemach Dovid and Meir ben Tzemach Dovid Hashem yinkom domom

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)