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Victims or Visionaries?
Rendering of the Pool of Siloam during the Second Temple period. Photo: Shalom Kveller/City of David Archives
JNS.org – I was looking through my files and came across the notes of a sermon I made just before Israel’s disengagement from Gaza back in August 2005.
I called the unilateral disengagement a tragedy. Nearly 10,000 good Jews and idealistic Zionists who had built and developed Gush Katif and other areas into thriving, successful, productive communities were now dragged from their homes and expelled.
I said that I feared this heartbreaking event would affect all the people of Israel, the defense capabilities of the IDF and Jews around the world. I said I hoped I was wrong, but I feared I was right.
Boy, was I right! Tragic and heartbreaking indeed, as we now reap the fruits of that catastrophically flawed decision. Already then, the Palestinians in Gaza came out en masse wearing t-shirts proclaiming, “Today Gaza, tomorrow Jerusalem!”
That dire event, too, occurred just before Tisha B’Av, the Jewish people’s National Day of Mourning, which will be observed this coming Monday night and Tuesday. At that time, hundreds of thousands converged at the Western Wall praying for a miracle that might have stopped the calamity, but it was not to be.
Once upon a time, the Babylonians violently banished us from our land. Then, 500 years later, the Romans did the same. In 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. But in 2005, fellow Jews removed our own people from our homeland! At the time, I remember feeling that this was a re-enactment of Tisha B’Av.
And here we are now, with Tisha B’Av looming and rumors that Iran and its proxies are planning to launch an attack on Israel on that very day next week! I never knew they were such good students of Jewish history.
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Chazon, from the opening line of the third and final Haftarah of Rebuke read at this time of mourning, Chazon Yeshayahu—“The Vision of Isaiah.”
We may not be prophets, but we must all be visionaries.
There is the famous Talmudic tale of some of the great sages who witnessed Jerusalem in ruins and wept. Rabbi Akiva, however, smiled. When his colleagues asked him how he could smile while seeing such devastation of our holy city, he replied, “Now that I have seen the prophecy of the Destruction fulfilled, I have even greater faith in the prophecies of the Rebuilding to come.” The other sages replied, “Akiva nichamtanu—Akiva, you have comforted us.”
The 18th-century Chassidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev famously wrote that on this Shabbat Chazon, a vision of our Third Temple to be rebuilt at the time of the Redemption is shown to all of us. Whether we see it manifested tangibly or not, our souls do sense it subconsciously. We may not merit to see it physically, but the vision is there and, somehow, it affects us in a spiritual way.
My respected friend and senior colleague, Rabbi Manis Friedman, points out that Fact and Truth are not necessarily always synonymous.
War is a Fact. Peace is Truth. Fact is what is. Truth is what ought to be.
At the Splitting of the Sea, when caught “between the devil and the deep blue sea,” the Israelites were instructed to “move forward.” But didn’t that mean going into the water? Well, at that most miraculous occasion, the facts yielded to the truth. Indeed, the sea split, and the Israelites crossed over on dry land while the pursuing Egyptians drowned.
The Churban, the Destruction of our Holy Temple, and the ensuing centuries of exile are a tragedy of the highest proportions. And yet, we need the vision to see beyond the facts on the ground and anticipate the great and awesome truths that will follow.
One interesting way of looking at the Destruction more hopefully is that G-d is doing a renovation and preparing for the most glorious Third and final Temple with the coming of the Messianic Age.
During a renovation, walls and houses may be leveled, but it is all for a bigger and more beautiful finished product that will eventually emerge. It is necessary destruction for the purpose of an improved and enhanced rebuilding.
I know that builders rarely finish the job on time and it is almost always delayed. Over 30 years ago, we renovated our home while living in it. The hardest part was preparing and eating our meals in the entrance hall while the kitchen was being remodeled.
It’s one thing to be delayed by a few weeks or months, but the renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem has been going on for over 1,900 years. Surely, this must be the longest renovation in history! But we do believe it, and we also believe that, in the end, this will truly be the most glorious Temple of all. Furthermore, it will usher in the long-awaited Redemption and the final banishment of evil from the face of the earth. I guess that’s something worth waiting for.
We must all be Rabbi Akiva’s students and followers. We, too, must become visionaries and develop a broader, deeper look and perspective.
On Shabbat, we show no outward signs of mourning. We look beyond. Please G-d, that vision will translate to reality even before this Tisha B’Av, and our courageous soldiers will win the war on all fronts, our hostages will come home safely, and these days of sadness and mourning will be transformed into days of joy and thanksgiving.
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Switzerland Moves to Close Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s Geneva Office Over Legal Irregularities
Palestinians carry aid supplies received from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the central Gaza Strip, May 29, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed/File Photo
Switzerland has moved to shut down the Geneva office of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed aid group, citing legal irregularities in its establishment.
The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza in late May, implementing a new aid delivery model aimed at preventing the diversion of supplies by Hamas, as Israel continues its defensive military campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group.
The initiative has drawn criticism from the UN and international organizations, some of which have claimed that Jerusalem is causing starvation in the war-torn enclave.
Israel has vehemently denied such accusations, noting that, until its recently imposed blockade, it had provided significant humanitarian aid in the enclave throughout the war.
Israeli officials have also said much of the aid that flows into Gaza is stolen by Hamas, which uses it for terrorist operations and sells the rest at high prices to Gazan civilians.
With a subsidiary registered in Geneva, the GHF — headquartered in Delaware — reports having delivered over 56 million meals to Palestinians in just one month.
According to a regulatory announcement published Wednesday in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce, the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ESA) may order the dissolution of the GHF if no creditors come forward within the legal 30-day period.
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Swiss decision to shut down its Geneva office.
“The GHF confirmed to the ESA that it had never carried out activities in Switzerland … and that it intends to dissolve the Geneva-registered branch,” the ESA said in a statement.
Last week, Geneva authorities gave the GHF a 30-day deadline to address legal shortcomings or risk facing enforcement measures.
Under local laws and regulations, the foundation failed to meet several requirements: it did not appoint a board member authorized to sign documents domiciled in Switzerland, did not have the minimum three board members, lacked a Swiss bank account and valid address, and operated without an auditing body.
The GHF operates independently from UN-backed mechanisms, which Hamas has sought to reinstate, arguing that these vehicles are more neutral.
Israeli and American officials have rejected those calls, saying Hamas previously exploited UN-run systems to siphon aid for its war effort.
The UN has denied those allegations while expressing concerns that the GHF’s approach forces civilians to risk their safety by traveling long distances across active conflict zones to reach food distribution points.
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Key US Lawmaker Warns Ireland of Potential Economic Consequences for ‘Antisemitic Path’ Against Israel
US Sen. James Risch (R-ID) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Washington, DC, May 21, 2024. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch (R-ID) issued a sharp warning Tuesday, accusing Ireland of embracing antisemitism and threatening potential economic consequences if the Irish government proceeds with new legislation targeting Israeli trade.
“Ireland, while often a valuable U.S. partner, is on a hateful, antisemitic path that will only lead to self-inflicted economic suffering,” Risch wrote in a post on X. “If this legislation is implemented, America will have to seriously reconsider its deep and ongoing economic ties. We will always stand up to blatant antisemitism.”
Marking a striking escalation in rhetoric from a senior US lawmaker, Risch’s comments came amid growing tensions between Ireland and Israel, which have intensified dramatically since the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Those attacks, in which roughly 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, prompted a months-long Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has drawn widespread international scrutiny. Ireland has positioned itself as one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s response, accusing the Israeli government of disproportionate use of force and calling for immediate humanitarian relief and accountability for the elevated number of Palestinian civilian casualties.
Dublin’s stance has included tangible policy shifts. In May 2024, Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state, becoming one of the first European Union members to do so following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The move was condemned by Israeli officials, who recalled their ambassador to Ireland and accused the Irish government of legitimizing terrorism. Since then, Irish lawmakers have proposed further measures, including legislation aimed at restricting imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, policies viewed in Israel and among many American lawmakers as aligning with the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
While Irish leaders have defended their approach as grounded in international law and human rights, critics in Washington, including Risch, have portrayed it as part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Israel. Some US lawmakers have begun raising the possibility of reevaluating trade and diplomatic ties with Ireland in response.
Risch’s warning is one of the clearest indications yet that Ireland’s policies toward Israel could carry economic consequences. The United States is one of Ireland’s largest trading partners, and American companies such as Apple, Google, Meta and Pfizer maintain substantial operations in the country, drawn by Ireland’s favorable tax regime and access to the EU market.
Though the Trump administration has not echoed Risch’s warning, the remarks reflect growing unease in Washington about the trajectory of Ireland’s foreign policy. The State Department has maintained a careful balancing act, expressing strong support for Israel’s security while calling for increased humanitarian access in Gaza. Officials have stopped short of condemning Ireland’s actions directly but have expressed concern about efforts they see as isolating Israel on the international stage.
Ireland’s stance is emblematic of a growing international divide over the war. While the US continues to provide military and diplomatic backing to Israel, many European countries have called for an immediate ceasefire and investigations into alleged war crimes.
Irish public opinion has long leaned pro-Palestinian, and Irish lawmakers have repeatedly voiced concern over the scale of destruction in Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation.
Irish officials have not yet responded to The Algemeiner’s request for comment.
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Israel Condemns Iran’s Suspension of IAEA Cooperation, Urges Europe to Reinstate UN Sanctions
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday condemned Iran’s decision to halt cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog and called on the international community to reinstate sanctions to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” Saar wrote in a post on X. “This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments.”
Last week, the Iranian parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA “until the safety and security of [the country’s] nuclear activities can be guaranteed.”
“The IAEA and its Director-General are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X.
The top Iranian diplomat said this latest decision was “a direct result of [IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi’s] regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency — a full decade ago — already closed all past issues.
“Through this malign action,” Araghchi continued, “he directly facilitated the adoption of a politically-motivated resolution against Iran by the IAEA [Board of Governors] as well as the unlawful Israeli and US bombings of Iranian nuclear sites.”
The Parliament of Iran has voted for a halt to collaboration with the IAEA until the safety and security of our nuclear activities can be guaranteed.
This is a direct result of @rafaelmgrossi‘s regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency—a full decade ago—already…
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 27, 2025
On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian approved a bill banning UN nuclear inspectors from entering the country until the Supreme National Security Council decides that there is no longer a threat to the safety of its nuclear sites.
In response, Saar urged European countries that were part of the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal to activate its “snapback” clause and reinstate all UN sanctions lifted under the agreement.
Officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), this accord between Iran and several world powers imposed temporary restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
During his first term, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal and reinstated unilateral sanctions on Iran.
“The time to activate the Snapback mechanism is now! I call upon the E3 countries — Germany, France and the UK to reinstate all sanctions against Iran!” Saar wrote in a post on X.
“The international community must act decisively now and utilize all means at its disposal to stop Iranian nuclear ambitions,” he continued.
The time to activate the Snapback mechanism is now!
I call upon the E3 countries- Germany, France and the UK to reinstate all sanctions against Iran!
Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy…— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) July 2, 2025
Saar’s latest remarks come after Araghchi met last week in Geneva with his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas — their first meeting since the Iran-Israel war began.
Europe is actively urging Iran to reengage in talks with the White House to prevent further escalation of tensions, but has yet to address the issue of reinstating sanctions.
Speaking during an official visit to Latvia on Tuesday, Saar said that “Operation Rising Lion” — Israel’s sweeping military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities — has “revealed the full extent of the Iranian regime’s threat to Israel, Europe, and the global order.”
“Iran deliberately targeted civilian population centers with its ballistic missiles,” Saar said at a press conference. “The same missile threat can reach Europe, including Latvia and the Baltic states.”
“Israel’s actions against the head of the snake in Iran contributed directly to the safety of Europe,” the Israeli top diplomat continued, adding that Israeli strikes have set back the Iranian nuclear program by many years.
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