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The Case Against a Ceasefire with Hezbollah: A Jewish Perspective
People rush to a soccer field hit by a Hezbollah rocket in the majority-Druze northern Israeli town Majdal Shams Photo: Via 924, from social media used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah presents profound questions about security, morality, and the responsibilities of a nation bound by both historical and religious imperatives.
From a Jewish religious standpoint, the notion of a ceasefire with Hezbollah raises critical issues about the survival of the Jewish people and the imperative to protect the land of Israel.
The Torah teaches the importance of self-defense, and the protection of life. In Exodus 22:2-3, we read, “If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.”
This verse underscores the principle that a person must act to protect themselves and their community. Hezbollah, an organization that openly declares its intention to destroy Israel and its citizens, embodies a direct threat to Jewish life and existence.
Throughout Jewish history, we have faced existential threats, and the Biblical narrative reflects this reality. The wars fought by the Israelites were often in response to direct aggression.
For example, in the Book of Joshua, the Israelites were commanded to engage in battles to secure their land against hostile nations (Joshua 1:6-9). This historical precedent emphasizes that the survival of the Jewish people often required military action against those who sought their annihilation.
Similarly, Hezbollah has shown its desire and willingness to kill Jews, and the people of Israel.
For decades, Hezbollah has engaged in acts of terror and violence against Israeli citizens. The organization, armed with advanced weaponry and trained militias, poses a continual risk to the Jewish State. A ceasefire would not eliminate this threat; instead, it would allow Hezbollah to regroup, rearm, and prepare for future aggression.
Ecclesiastes 3:8 reminds us, “A time for war, and a time for peace,” but it is crucial to recognize when peace is merely a facade for future conflict.
Judaism places a high value on the sanctity of life. The Talmud teaches that saving a single life is akin to saving the entire world (Sanhedrin 4:5). In the face of a persistent threat like Hezbollah, which targets civilians and undermines the security of the Israeli state, the imperative to act is reinforced.
Ceasing military action might result in greater loss of life in the long run, as Hezbollah could continue its assaults unimpeded.
The Jewish tradition stresses vigilance against threats. Proverbs 25:26 states, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.”
Allowing Hezbollah to remain intact and capable contradicts the very essence of Jewish perseverance and survival. This is not merely a military strategy; it is a reflection of our commitment to ensuring a secure future for the Jewish people.
In light of the Biblical imperatives and the contemporary realities facing Israel, it is clear that a ceasefire with Hezbollah would be both a strategic error and a moral failing. The Jewish people have a responsibility to defend themselves against those who seek their destruction. As we reflect on our historical and religious texts, the call to protect innocent Jews remains paramount. We must continue to dismantle Hezbollah’s capabilities, ensuring that we can thrive in peace, security, and faith.
In the end, our commitment to survival is rooted not only in our desire for peace, but in our profound responsibility to protect the sanctity of life for all who call Israel home.
Darren Hollander is the Group CEO of Global Energy, based in South Africa and the United States.
The post The Case Against a Ceasefire with Hezbollah: A Jewish Perspective first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself. Really?
JNS.org – If I asked you to name the most famous line in the Bible, what would you answer? While Shema Yisrael (“Hear O’Israel”) might get many votes, I imagine that the winning line would be “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18). Some religions refer to it as the Golden Rule, but all would agree that it is fundamental to any moral lifestyle. And it appears this week in our Torah reading, Kedoshim.
This is quite a tall order. Can we be expected to love other people as much as we love ourselves? Surely, this is an idealistic expectation. And yet, the Creator knows us better than we know ourselves. How can His Torah be so unrealistic?
The biblical commentaries offer a variety of explanations. Some, like Rambam (Maimonides), say that the focus should be on our behavior, rather than our feelings. We are expected to try our best or to treat others “as if” we genuinely love them.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, in his classic text called the Tanya, argues that the actual feelings of love are, in fact, achievable provided that we focus on a person’s spirituality rather than how they present themselves physically. If we can put the soul over the body, we can do it.
Allow me to share the interpretation of the Ramban (Nachmanides), a 13th-century Torah scholar from Spain. His interpretation of the verses preceding love thy neighbor is classic and powerful, yet simple and straightforward.
“Do not hate your brother in your heart. You shall rebuke him, but do not bear a sin because of him” by embarrassing him in public. “Do not take revenge, and do not bear a grudge against your people. You shall love your fellow as yourself, I am God” (Leviticus 19:17-18).
What is the connection between these verses? Why is revenge and grudge-bearing in the same paragraph as love your fellow as yourself?
A careful reading shows that within these two verses are no less than six biblical commandments. But what is their sequence all about, and what is the connection between them?
The Ramban explains it beautifully, showing how the sequence of verses is deliberate and highlighting the Torah’s profound yet practical advice on how to maintain healthy relationships.
Someone wronged you? Don’t hate him in your heart. Speak to him. Don’t let it fester until it bursts, and makes you bitter and sick.
Instead, talk it out. Confront the person. Of course, do it respectfully. Don’t embarrass anyone in public, so that you don’t bear a sin because of them. But don’t let your hurt eat you up. Communicate!
If you approach the person who wronged you—not with hate in your heart but with respectful reproof—one of two things will happen. Either he or she will apologize and explain their perspective on the matter. Or that it was a misunderstanding and will get sorted out between you. Either way, you will feel happier and healthier.
Then you will not feel the need to take revenge or even to bear a grudge.
Here, says the Ramban, is the connection between these two verses. And if you follow this advice, only then will you be able to observe the commandment to Love Thy Neighbor. If you never tell him why you are upset, another may be completely unaware of his or her wrongdoing, and it will remain as a wound inside you and may never go away.
To sum up: Honest communication is the key to loving people.
Now, tell me the truth. Did you know that not taking revenge is a biblical commandment? In some cultures in Africa, revenge is a mitzvah! I’ve heard radio talk-show hosts invite listeners to share how they took “sweet revenge” on someone, as if it’s some kind of accomplishment.
Furthermore, did you know that bearing a grudge is forbidden by biblical law?
Here in South Africa, people refer to a grudge by its Yiddish name, a faribel. In other countries, people call it a broiges. Whatever the terminology, the Torah states explicitly: “Thou shalt not bear a grudge!” Do not keep a faribel, a broiges or resentment of any kind toward someone you believe wronged you. Talk to that person. Share your feelings honestly. If you do it respectfully and do not demean the other’s dignity, then it can be resolved. Only then will you be able to love your fellow as yourself.
May all our grudges and feelings of resentment toward others be dealt with honestly and respectfully. May all our grudges be resolved as soon as possible. Then we will all be in a much better position to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The post Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself. Really? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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‘Nonsense’: Huckabee Shoots Down Report Trump to Endorse Palestinian Statehood
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on during the day he visits the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem’s Old City, April 18, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
i24 News – US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday dismissed as nonsensical the report that President Donald Trump would endorse Palestinian statehood during his tour to the Persian Gulf this week.
“This report is nonsense,” Huckabee harrumphed on his X account, blasting the Jerusalem Post as needing better sourced reporting. “Israel doesn’t have a better friend than the president of the United States.”
Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The leader’s first trip overseas since he took office comes as Trump seeks the Gulf countries’ support in regional conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and curbing Iran’s advancing nuclear program.
However, reports citing administration insiders claimed that Trump has also set his sights on the ambitious goal of expanding the Abraham Accords. These agreements, initially signed in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The accords are widely held to be among the most important achievements of the first Trump administration.
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US to Put Military Option Back on Table If No Immediate Progress in Iran Talks
US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy-designate Steve Witkoff gives a speech at the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena on the inauguration day of Trump’s second presidential term, in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria
i24 News – Unless significant progress is registered in Sunday’s round of nuclear talks with Iran, the US will consider putting the military option back on the table, sources close to US envoy Steve Witkoff told i24NEWS.
American and Iranian representatives voiced optimism after the previous talks that took place in Oman and Rome, saying there was a friendly atmosphere despite the two countries’ decades of enmity.
However the two sides are not believed to have thrashed out the all-important technical details, and basic questions remain.
The source has also underscored the significance of the administration’s choice of Michael Anton, the State Department’s policy planning director, as the lead representative in the nuclear talks’ technical phases.
Anton is “an Iran expert and someone who knows how to cut a deal with Iran,” the source said, saying that the choice reflected Trump’s desire to secure the deal.
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