Memo to Israel’s chief rabbi: Prayer and the IDF are both essential

For a clergy who is supposed to be familiar with the scriptures that depict many instances of the children of Israel going to war, dressed for battle with weapons in hand, per God’s instructions, it seems more than odd that Israel’s chief Sephardi Rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, would make the statement that “Israel’s success in defending against the missiles and rockets fired by Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas is thanks to the yeshiva students and not the IDF.”

Apparently, in his desire to give full credit to yeshiva students, he’s forgotten that the Almighty employs many different means to bring victory from the enemy, and those accounts are documented in the well-known stories of the Old Testament, where such notables as Joshua, Gideon, King David and many others were called men of valor for the courage they showed in fighting wars to protect their people.

Armies were required to preserve the Israelites, in those days, with every able-bodied man joining the fight. In fact, it was God who commanded the children of Israel to fight and even wipe out the dreaded enemy – something which today is flatly rejected as immoral and unconscionable, yet it’s right there for all to read.

In the account of 1 Samuel 15, God told King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them. “Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” (vs. 3, 4) Due to Saul’s disobedience, in not adhering to God’s command, the kingdom of Israel was torn from him. (vs. 28)

It’s sad to think that such biblical stories are looked upon, these days, with contempt and horror, but by doing so, it is actually a rejection of God, Himself, who created all mankind and still has the power of life and death in His hand, regardless of one’s disbelief.

For those of us who still maintain that man is not the master of his fate, the power and hope of praying to our eternal Father is a sustaining factor, during such uncertain times as these, when no one knows what tomorrow will bring as we live in a world which has become filled with evil, violence and terror. 

There is no question that the many prayers that have gone up for Israel throughout her 76-year existence, but especially after the events of October 7, have impacted in ways that will never be known, but also in ways that have been expressed through unexplained circumstances that ended up saving individuals during attacks which otherwise should have killed them. One such woman shared her own story of how her house had miraculously been skipped in Kibbutz Kfar Azza as others in surrounding houses were being slaughtered. Throughout her ordeal, she prayed for God to spare her, and her prayers were answered.

No one is disqualifying the importance of prayer, but while Rabbi Yosef may feel gratified that many students are praying for the safety and preservation of Israel, why does he feel the need to diminish the great contribution of the IDF? Does he believe that Israel would be secure without them? Is he suggesting that to have faith in well-trained soldiers, who put their lives on the line, knowing that they may never return to their loved ones, is somehow less spiritual and takes away from one’s faith in God?

And where is the wisdom, expected from a man of the cloth, to refrain from engaging in provocative statements that completely lack any tact, at a time when most of us are fervently praying for the safety and well-being of our soldiers, who comprise the sons, husbands, brothers, spouses and grandchildren of each one of us? Young women also serve our country, putting their lives on the line as well. Are they less important, because they do not come from the ultra-religious sector which makes up Rabbi Yosef’s constituency? And if that’s true, what does that say about him? 

A rabbi who doesn’t have the sensitivity to honor those who are fighting for each one of us, day and night, is, himself, disqualified as being a representative of the loving and merciful God who is known by those characteristics, the ones which we, too, are supposed to exemplify.

Rabbi Yosef rightly acknowledges that a miracle occurred, because 13,000 missiles fired on us by the enemy should have resulted in thousands of casualties, but what about the contribution of technology in the form of the Iron Dome or the amazing capabilities of the men and women who played a role in their operation, keeping us as safe as possible? 

Can it be said that their extraordinary intellect and innovative creativity were in no way an endowment from on high? Has the Almighty not blessed the Israeli people with the brightest and sharpest minds, not only when it comes to military know-how, but also in the development of every industry imaginable, benefitting all of mankind? Why are those attributes of genius ignored? 

By referring to yeshiva students in his comment, “They protect all of the soldiers. They protect the entirety of the people of Israel,” Rabbi Yosef has elevated them to a place which is only reserved for God, because prayers are merely petitions made by mortal men, but it is the sovereign God who does the actual protecting and provides whatever is needed to keep us safe. That credit cannot be given to yeshiva students whose prayers are certainly no greater than those of millions of people worldwide whose faith is placed in their Creator.

Oddly enough, this is the same rabbi who, back in March, predicted that the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) “would all leave Israel if the draft was enforced,” compelling them to also perform military service. How would that impact Israel? Because in his mind, if these students are keeping Israel safe while here, would their departure leave us vulnerable to attack? If so, where is his trust and reliance upon the One he claims to follow?

Rather than be a conduit to unite the Israeli people, Rabbi Yosef has chosen to use words which are divisive, hurtful and careless, at a time when our people are already broken and looking for spiritual guidance, knowing that the bumpy road ahead is far from over. He could have been a great source of light during a dark time of despair, but, instead, missed a golden opportunity to publicly thank God for the gift of His chosen people who, although far from perfect, still honor their Creator by using the wonderful abilities He has given them.

Our prayers are being answered, and part of that answer is the protection God has given to us in the form of our wonderful soldiers. May He continue to guard each one of them until the battle is won!