TBI Stands with Israel

June 13, 2025

​Shalom, Friends,
We are praying for the safety of the members of the Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Air Force, and all our brothers and sisters in Israel in the wake of last night’s daring and existentially essential strike against Iran.  If you are not familiar with the full context that led to this strike, we believe that it is important for you to know it.  

Below is an excerpt from The Times of Israel, timesofisrael.com (emphasis added).

Decades of Israeli warnings against Iran’s nuclear program and preparations for military action to thwart it culminated early Friday morning with the Jewish state launching a major offensive against the Islamic Republic, striking nuclear sites, military facilities, missile bases and senior leadership.

Jerusalem said it had engaged in a “precise, preemptive strike” against Iran, declaring an imminent threat from its nuclear program. . . Multiple waves of Israeli strikes were reported throughout Iran for several hours, starting at around 3 a.m. (Israel time) and into the morning. Over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft were involved in the opening strikes, and fighter jets dropped over 330 munitions on some 100 targets, the IDF said.

The operation, dubbed ‘Rising Lion,’ was directed at Iran’s nuclear program — the military assessed Iran currently has enough enriched uranium to build 15 nuclear bombs — as well as its ballistic missile factories and its military capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military said.

Israel said it had no choice but to attack Iran, adding that it had gathered intelligence that Tehran was approaching “the point of no return” in its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

“The Iranian regime has been working for decades to obtain a nuclear weapon. The world has attempted every possible diplomatic path to stop it, but the regime has refused to stop,” the military said in a statement. . .All Israeli Air Force pilots and aircrews who participated in the strikes returned to their bases unharmed, the military said late on Friday morning.

The Israeli operation was expected to last days, according to military officials, who added that the IDF was preparing for heavy fire from Iran, but asserted that “at the end of the operation, there will be no nuclear threat” from the Islamic Republic. 

Friends, please join us for Shabbat services tonight (6:15pm) and tomorrow morning (9:30am - Regular Service, 10:45am - Rabbi Perlman’s Contemplative Service), when we will gather as a community, support one another, pray for the success of the “Rising Lion Operation,” and pray for the continued safety of all Israelis.

One of our great biblical leaders was Aharon, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) – Moses’ brother.  The Talmud teaches that we should be like Aaron – ohev shalom v’rodef shalom – “loving peace and pursuing peace.”  That has always been, and continues to be, a core value of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.  Tragically, the Islamist Revolutionary Regime has threatened to destroy Israel for decades.  It is important to note that this is NOT an attack against the Iranian people.  Most of them want to overthrow their extremist, oppressive government.  

May we see this evil regime fall, and may it lead to a New Middle East, where peace, freedom, and dignity can flourish.  May our brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been “living under the sword of Damocles” for so long, finally know peace.

We pray to God to watch over and protect our precious brothers and sisters in Israel.  Oseh Shalom bimromav Hu ya’aseh Shalom, aleinu, v’al kol Yisrael, v’al kol Yoshvei tevel.  V’Imru: Amen.

May the One Who makes peace in the Heavens, bring peace to us, and all the Children Israel, and all people of Good Will.  And let us say:  Amen.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Rabbi Michael Mishkin
Rabbi Sharyn Perlman

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