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If Not Now, Then When?
The blowing of the shofar, traditionally done on Rosh Hashanah. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
JNS.org – It’s been a very sad and difficult week for Israel and Jews around the world. Six hostages who survived and endured nearly a full year in captivity—some of whom were on the list to be released with the next deal—were suddenly and brutally murdered in cold blood. It’s no shock to us that their captors are savages who have zero humanity, and yet we are all devastated and heartbroken. They were “so near and yet so far.” They survived nearly 11 months of torture and abuse; now they are gone forever. Our hearts go out to their families, their loved ones and their communities, and we pray for the remaining living hostages to come home safely and speedily.
And now, with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, less than a month away, our prayers are that it should bring with it new blessings, new life and new hope for Israel, its people and all Jews around the world. We pray that this madness should somehow come to a quick and successful conclusion, that families will be reunited with their loved ones and that the future security of our tiny country will be assured.
And, of course, we all pray for ourselves and our own families. Even if we aren’t such regular synagogue-goers, we do tend to show up during the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. And we do need to arrange to have our designated seats in our chosen synagogue. But as I always say, our backside gets the seat, but our brain needs to be there as well. Yes, we must be there physically, but we also need to be there intellectually and spiritually. After all, which is more important, our brains or our backsides?
We have just begun the month of Elul, the last month before Rosh Hashanah. It is traditional to be particularly busy with our spiritual traditions, reciting extra Tehillim (“Psalms”), giving more tzedakah (“charity”) and studying more Torah.
Older rabbis and community members have shared their memories of Elul in the shtetl before the war. They recalled how back then, you could feel Elul in the winds! It was in the very atmosphere of the community. People were profoundly aware of the coming Days of Judgment.
Well, we’re here, alive and hopefully well, and we’re ready for another year of life.
Last year, God granted us a good new year. We are here to tell the tale, thank God. But, here’s the question: Did we really and truly merit a good new year last Rosh Hashanah? If we’re honest with ourselves, we might conclude that, in fact, God gave it to us on credit rather than on merit.
Now a shop or business may give their customers credit. But how much credit? Usually, it’s 30 days. If you’re a good negotiator, perhaps you can get 60 days. Some people get as much as 90 days, and some exceptional dealmakers get a line of credit for 120 days! Well, God Almighty gave us a “hundred and plenty days!” And He gave it to us in the anticipation that we would do better this year than we did the year before.
Perhaps we prayed last Rosh Hashanah and said to God, “Hashem, You do Your side, and I’ll do mine.” If we are alive and well now, then He did His part. But did we do ours? He’s a very patient businessman, the Almighty, but even He does expect us to pay for what we took on credit a year ago. He gave us 11 months, interest-free!
Who gives such terms? Well, just as there is an end to the financial year, so, too, is there a spiritual year-end. And God wants to “close His books.” He needs to make sure that they balance, and that there are no outstanding debts. Elul is the time to make good on all our commitments. If not, then we owe Him.
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is our last opportunity to make good on the promises we made to God in shul last Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Remember all those wonderful New Year’s resolutions? Well, if we haven’t made good on them until now, then now is definitely the time to do so.
In less than a month, we will once again gather in synagogues around the world for Rosh Hashanah—the annual Day of Judgment—and this year, God Almighty, the chief justice of the supreme heavenly court, may have to consider whether we are a good “credit risk” or not.
If we pay now, we can return to synagogues on Rosh Hashanah without feeling indebted, ashamed and apologetic. And we can then confidently ask for another new year of health and happiness. “You see, God, I pay my debts. You can trust me.”
What promises did we make last year? Did we promise to increase our observance of Shabbat, tefillin, kashrut? Did we promise to give more tzedakah, light candles at the right time for Shabbat, build a sukkah or end a faribel, a long-standing grudge with someone? Whatever good resolutions we may have made, now is the time to implement them if we have not yet done so. It’s not too late. He is very patient. Let’s do our part and the Almighty will do His. Elul is the time. Now is the moment. Let’s not squander it.
Wishing us all a Good and Sweet New Year filled with all the Almighty’s abundant blessings, and especially, peace, tranquillity and security in Israel and for Jews the world over.
Shanah Tovah!
The post If Not Now, Then When? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addresses followers via a video link at the al-Shaab Mosque, formerly al-Saleh Mosque, in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
The Israeli army said on Saturday that a missile fired from Yemen towards Israeli territory had been “most likely successfully intercepted,” while Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed responsibility for the launch.
Israel has threatened Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement – which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza – with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist.
The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group was responsible for Saturday’s attack, adding that it fired a missile towards the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.
Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
The post Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran’s capital Tehran as the country held a funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month’s aerial war with Israel.
At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned at the funeral, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Their coffins were driven into Tehran’s Azadi Square adorned with their photos and national flags, as crowds waved flags and some reached out to touch the caskets and throw rose petals onto them. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display.
Mass prayers were later held in the square.
State TV said the funeral, dubbed the “procession of the Martyrs of Power,” was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children.
In attendance were President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Khamenei’s son Mojtaba.
“Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honor and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who also attended the funeral, said in a Telegram post.
There was no immediate statement from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the conflict began. In past funerals, he led prayers over the coffins of senior commanders ahead of public ceremonies broadcast on state television.
Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq.
Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
TRUMP THREAT
Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has said it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.
Bagheri, Salami and Hajizadeh were killed on June 13, the first day of the war. Bagheri was being buried at the Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran mid-afternoon on Saturday. Salami and Hajizadeh were due to be buried on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again, while Khamenei, who has appeared in two pre-recorded video messages since the start of the war, has said Iran would respond to any future US attack by striking US military bases in the Middle East.
A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had delivered a “major blow” to Iran’s nuclear project. On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that Israel and the US “failed to achieve their stated objectives” in the war.
According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the war before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 were injured.
Activist news agency HRANA put the number of killed at 974, including 387 civilians.
Israel’s health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured.
The post Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival
Revellers dance as Avril Lavigne performs on the Other Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
i24 News – Chants of “death to the IDF” were heard during the English Glastonbury music festival on Saturday ahead of the appearance of the pro-Palestinian Irish rappers Kneecap.
One half of punk duo based Bob Vylan (who both use aliases to protect their privacy) shouted out during a section of their show “Death to the IDF” – the Israeli military. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) show the crowd responding to and repeating the cheer.
This comes after officials had petitioned the music festival to drop the band. The rap duo also expressed support for the following act, Kneecap, who the BCC refused to show live after one of its members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known by stage name Mo Chara – was charged with a terror offense.
The post Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival first appeared on Algemeiner.com.