US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, July 25, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

JNS.org – For months, President Joe Biden’s detractors predicted that he would deliver a last-minute betrayal of Israel, akin to President Barack Obama’s infamous abstention on a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in 2016. When the “surprise” came, it was not the one critics anticipated. Rather than silence them, however, their outrage was fueled by the unexpected admissions of his secretary of state.

First, we were told Biden would pull an Obama immediately after the election in November. Instead, he defied expectations with a reverse Obama, vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza over its failure to condemn Hamas and demand the immediate release of the hostages as a condition for ending the fighting. Moreover, Biden approved the sale of more than $680 million in weapons to Israel.

Not to worry, we could expect the surprise to come before the end of the year. Alas, December came and went without an “Obama.”

Unfazed, Biden bashers assured us that he would act against Israel in January before he leaves office. They were right about him having a surprise; it was just not what they had expected.

Instead of some hostile act, he approved an $8 billion weapons sale. That is in addition to the extraordinary $14.1 billion and $20 billion packages he approved earlier. Remember all the whining about Washington withholding 2,000-pound bombs? The new package includes guidance kits designed to be fitted to those bombs, which presumably means Israel will be getting them, albeit later than when it wanted them.

Still, the administration’s generosity has been dismissed because these weapons won’t be delivered immediately, ignoring their critical role in securing Israel’s future offensive and defensive capabilities.

What has made the arms transfers even more extraordinary is that Biden approved them over the objections within his U.S. State Department and the Democratic Party’s progressive wing that wanted to cut aid and turn Biden against Israel.

However, a surprise in January echoed what Biden’s opponents warned about—though not in the way they imagined.

In a New York Times interview, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a startling revelation: the administration’s policies undermined Israel’s war effort. This was no mea culpa, as the title of the interview indicated that Blinken believed he and Biden “made the right calls.”

In an acknowledgment of what analysts have said for more than a year, Blinken confessed that the impediment to a hostage deal was U.S. policy: “Whenever there has been public daylight between the United States and Israel, and the perception that pressure was growing on Israel, we’ve seen it: Hamas has pulled back from agreeing to a ceasefire and the release of hostages.”

Knowing this, the administration still did not change its policy of condemning Israeli policies, giving Hamas hope that Biden would force Israel to accept the terrorists’ demands. This is the problem virtually every president has failed to understand; that is, one-sided pressure on Israel only emboldens the enemies of peace.

The bigger surprise came in Blinken’s disclosure of the administration’s original sin that set the worst outcomes of the war in motion. He said he flew to Israel five days after Oct. 7 in advance of the president’s planned trip to Jerusalem to show American solidarity with Israel. “I told the prime minister,” Blinken said. “I’m going to call the president and tell him not to come if you don’t allow this [humanitarian] assistance to start flowing.”

This threat forced Israel to abandon its initial strategy. It was under no legal obligation to provide humanitarian supplies. The government wanted to impose a siege on Gaza—a legitimate military tactic aimed at isolating Hamas while minimizing casualties among Israeli soldiers. This decision had catastrophic consequences:

Hamas Survival: Aid meant for civilians was stolen by Hamas, providing a lifeline that has prolonged its operations.

Hostage Crisis: By easing the siege and creating “daylight” between Washington and Jerusalem, the administration gave Hamas confidence to hold hostages longer, resulting in the deaths of dozens, including Americans.

Humanitarian Crisis: Biden forced civilians to remain in a conflict zone instead of evacuating them outside Gaza, where they would have had easy access to assistance. This allowed Hamas to use them as human shields, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Global Condemnation: Israel bore the blame for the worsening conditions in Gaza, with the United States contributing to the outcry by repeatedly criticizing Israel for failing to mitigate the problem it created.

Internal Divisions: Prolonging the hostage crisis deepened divisions within Israel. The administration also made no secret of its desire to see Netanyahu toppled.

Micromanaging the War: By pressuring Israel not to launch a ground operation in Gaza immediately and to delay its move into Rafah, withholding or slow-rolling weapons systems, and dictating what Israel could target in Lebanon and Iran, the administration prolonged the war.

For many Jews, these policy choices—driven by the same Obama-era advisers who previously undermined the State of Israel—outweigh the unprecedented arms sales, unwavering vetoes at the United Nations and critical deployment of American forces to protect Israel from external threats.

As the January surprises reveal, the legacy of Biden’s Israel policy is a paradox: extraordinary support coupled with avoidable missteps that exacerbated the war’s toll.

The post The January Surprise first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

A man praying, wearing tefillin. Photo: wiki commons.

JNS.org – As a rule, when people choose to embrace their heritage and begin practicing their faith seriously, rabbis suggest a step-by-step approach. In our Jewish journeys, “instant Jews” and overnight sensations don’t usually last in the long run. But there are certainly times when a leap of faith may be in place and even recommended.

This week, we conclude the book of Genesis with the story of the end of Jacob’s life. Before Jacob dies, Joseph brings his two sons—Ephraim and Menashe—to be blessed by his father.

While bestowing his blessings on his grandsons, Jacob acts strangely. He puts his right hand over his left to bless the younger son, Ephraim, with his right hand and the older son, Menashe, with his left. Joseph tries to correct his father, but Jacob takes no notice and tells Joseph he knows exactly what he is doing. It wasn’t because his eyesight was failing, Jacob’s action was quite deliberate. Jacob manipulated his hands cleverly, saying that Ephraim’s descendants would rise higher than Menashe’s children.

I am grateful to Rabbi Yanki Tauber for bringing to my attention a teaching of one of my saintly ancestors, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Gur, also known by his work as the Chidushei HaRim.

There are two paths in the service of God, two ways in which to live our lives. Psalm 34 in Tehillim says, “Turn away from evil, and do good.” We mustn’t allow our evil inclinations to get the better of us. We must constantly work on improving our conduct and our character. We must fight the darkness. This is represented by Menashe. Joseph named him Menashe indicating that “God has made me forget all my toil and all of my father’s house.” The difficulties of the past have been dealt with and put aside.

Ephraim, however, means that “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Ephraim speaks of positivity and being fruitful, doing good and adding light.

Although the verse in Psalms first says, “Turn away from evil” and then says “and do good,” there is considerable disagreement about whether the sequence is arbitrary or mandatory.

Joseph argued that we must first rid ourselves of our negative conduct and character traits, and then we can focus on acquiring positive merits and doing good. Whereas Jacob believed that we should begin to do good immediately, even if we are not yet refined, and the good deeds themselves will help us improve and we will naturally come to refine our character traits.

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir explains that this is why Joseph, who believed that the correct sequence in life should be to turn away from the bad and then do good, preferred Menashe to be blessed with Jacob’s right hand. Jacob, however, believed that one could very well begin by doing good, and thereafter turn away from evil, as represented by Ephraim, the younger son.

It’s a fascinating question that still rages among different Jewish schools of thought. Some argue strongly that it is wrong, and even ridiculous, for Jews who have not yet become observant suddenly to begin studying Jewish philosophy. You must first start with the “bread and butter” of Judaism before you get to the “meat and potatoes.” Others disagree and will gladly teach Jewish philosophy to even the most uninitiated.

Chabad is clearly in the latter camp. The traditional sequence is not a must. On the contrary, a little light dispels a great deal of darkness. One mitzvah, one good deed and one page of Torah can ignite a fire in the soul of any Jew. If we wait until people “clean up their act,” so to speak, we may wait a long time. One positive step, even if it doesn’t seem a logical first step, may inspire a dramatic spiritual makeover.

Should someone who is not yet fully observant begin to wear a kippah? Is it wrong? Is he giving a false impression of himself to the public?

Many might call it absurd. But others might encourage it, as it may be one more step in the right direction and keep the person motivated to continue his upward momentum, even if he is not yet formally “ready” for it. In the journey of the soul, we need not wait until we overcome all of our negative inclinations before we embark on doing good.

So, the Chabadniks will stand on the street encouraging Jewish men to put on tefillin. Do they know where the guy they are talking to just came from or where he is going? No, but they will still happily help him perform a mitzvah. Even if it remains a “one-off,” the mitzvah itself is real and valid. As is the Jew. We may never know what kind of positive effect the act of putting on tefillin may have on him in the future.

I always say that when they ask, “Excuse me, are you Jewish?” it makes people think. Even if people say “No,” or “I’m busy,” or “Not today,” it’s pretty much guaranteed that as they walk away with that thought on their minds. Even if they did not put on the tefillin, the question itself disrupts their status quo. It makes them think. “Am I Jewish?” “What have I done lately to make me Jewish?” Who knows what effect just the question may have on the individual passerby?

We live in a world with darkness and redoubled darkness. While there are many signs of light to come, at the moment, the darkness is thick. To me, one visible demonstration of the power of light over darkness is on college campuses worldwide. Since the terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, there have been violent, venomous marches and protests for the Palestinians, Hamas and terrorism. Yet Jewish students regularly stand up for themselves with honor, identity and pride, putting their arms together, standing shoulder to shoulder and singing “Am Yisrael Chai,” “Shema Yisrael” or “Oseh Shalom.”

I have a video of my son, Rabbi Nissen Goldman of Chabad on Campus, standing against a violent mob at the noxious University of Cape Town. His students wear their tallit and tefillin proudly. They are fighting hate with love, war with peace, and destruction with determination. We hope and pray that their light will dispel such darkness. Should they wait until they convince their antagonists of the justice of our cause? It may be a long wait.

So, it would seem that if you are ever inspired to do a mitzvah or study Jewish philosophy, don’t tell yourself you’re not ready or worthy of it. Every good deed is a ray of light that can illuminate the world. I am certain that the psalmist would be happy even if you first “did good” and then “turned away from evil.”

The post Good or Bad, Now or Later? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

The logo of the Israeli defense electronics firm Elbit Systems is seen at its offices, in Haifa, Israel, Feb. 26, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Baz Ratner / File.

JNS.org – The Israeli Defense Ministry’s announcement on Jan. 7 of two major contracts with Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, valued jointly at approximately NIS 1 billion, constitutes one of the strongest signals yet that Israel is decreasing its reliance on defense imports wherever it can.

The agreements, signed by Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir and Elbit Systems President & CEO Bezhalel (“Butzi”) Machlis, are aimed at leveraging domestic Israeli industry to boost the IDF’s operational independence and force buildup capabilities.

This strategic initiative marks a critical shift as part of Israel’s Blue and White Independence Program, which seeks to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers while boosting local manufacturing capabilities, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

The first agreement, led by the Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD), involves the production of thousands of heavy air munitions for the IDF. The second agreement, overseen by the Planning Department and the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), entails the establishment of a national raw materials plant. This facility will feature advanced production lines for materials critical to  the manufacturing of weapons, which were previously sourced primarily from abroad.

According to Zamir, these agreements will ensure an Israeli sovereign ability to make bombs and munitions “of all types,” adding,  “This is a central lesson from the war that will enable the IDF to continue operating powerfully in all theaters.”

The Nagel Commission report

The necessity for domestic production was also highlighted by the Nagel Commission, which was set up to examine how the IDF could better build up its forces after the Oct. 7 mass terror attack. The commission, headed by the former head of Israel’s National Security Council Brig. Gen. Prof. Jacob Nagel, submitted a report to the government on Jan. 6 highlighting the vulnerabilities exposed during the current conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah, including heavy reliance on imports for critical defense materials.

The report stated: “The war significantly challenged many long-held assumptions regarding dependence on imports (mainly from the United States, but not only). [Munition] consumption rates outpaced local production, and imports (of both products and raw material) couldn’t keep up for a range of reasons, mainly: the global arms race (especially the Russia-Ukraine war) and a higher bar for exports to Israel, due to political decisions, public pressure, and the interests of [international] decision-makers.”

The report elsewhere noted that incidents “like an embargo, a shortage in various types of weapons (especially land and air munitions), and fierce global competition over every available resource” mean Israel must become more independent when it comes to arms.

The report recommended an aggressive push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing, emphasizing hybrid strategies to maintain rapid access to critical munitions and raw materials. It called for the creation of a robust Israeli Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that integrates both civilian and military manufacturing capabilities.

An old-new approach

Israel’s pivot toward domestic defense production is not a new concept. Historically, the country began focusing on self-sufficiency after France’s 1967 arms embargo. However, the scale and urgency of the current shift are unprecedented, driven by global uncertainties and heightened Israeli military demands on multiple fronts.

Defense officials have stated in recent months that achieving a higher level of defense production autonomy allows Israel to choose its partnerships and take part in valuable strategic alliances—especially with Washington—from a position of strength, rather than dependency.

The Blue and White Independence Program was initiated in the fallout of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, when Israel found itself needing to receive hundreds of American cargo aircraft carrying ammunition, as well as resupply ships.

Alongside a focus on manufacturing, the program also prioritizes research and development of dual-purpose technologies that benefit both civilian and military applications. Examples include advanced laser systems like Rafael’s Iron Beam and quantum technologies for secure communications and rapid intelligence processing.

Challenges and benefits

The agreements with Elbit Systems are expected to provide highly significant operational benefits to the IDF.  For example, the heavy air munitions deal will enhance Israel’s ability to sustain operations across multiple theaters, such as in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as to deal with threats from Iran.

Meanwhile, the new raw materials plant will reduce vulnerabilities in the supply chain, ensuring a steady flow of critical components.

However, challenges remain. Israel’s dependence on U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) casts a shadow on broader self-sufficiency, as FMF funds must be spent on American-made equipment. Additionally, scaling up domestic production requires significant government investments in infrastructure, automation and workforce training.

The agreements also have broader implications for Israel’s economy. By expanding local production lines and fostering innovation, the defense sector will create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Machlis, Elbit’s president, noted this during the Jan. 7 signing with the Defense Ministry, stating, “This partnership contributes not only to security, but also to economic development and employment, creating livelihoods for thousands of households in Israel.”

At least one lesson from the past year and a half of war appears to have resulted in consensus among the Israeli defense establishment: Israel can never again afford to have only a small stockpile of weapons at its disposal, at any time.

The post Domestic Defense Contracts a Major Step in Israeli Self-Sufficiency first appeared on Algemeiner.com.