Operation Protective Edge ends with a sour feeling that it did not achieve a decisive victory over the enemy, but today it is clear that the political echelon did not set the victory as the goal of the operation from the beginning. The goal was to create deterrence, and perhaps this was achieved to some extent and will give us a period of calm, until the next confrontation.
However, Operation Protective Edge had many important achievements in the domestic arena. It is doubtful whether we are able to fully appreciate the internal strengths that erupted in it, and their long-term implications. The upheaval that took place in the Israeli people from the moment the three boys were kidnapped until the campaign in the Gaza Strip is a very important turning point, and I hope we know how to take advantage of it properly.
The bodies of the three boys were found the week of Parashat Balak, and how symbolic is the verse in this Parashat, "They shall rise like a lion, and a lion shall exalt itself." Indeed, there are no words that can more succinctly express what happened to us at this time.
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Forces that erupted
Suddenly, the deep faith that existed in the hearts of the masses of the people was revealed. The parents of the three boys asked the people of Israel to pray, and the entire nation united in prayer to the Creator of the world and its leader. Suddenly, faith and prayer became the natural and necessary thing, beyond all argument and controversy.
We also saw the power of faith in the military operation. Commanders who write daily orders full of faith. Thousands of soldiers who request tefillin, Psalms, and tzitzit. Ordinary Jews who receive an addition to them in prayer and matters of Torah and mitzvot for the safety and success of the fighters. This operation illustrated how much we, sons of believers, believe.
The second thing that erupted with great force is the feeling of mutual responsibility, what is called solidarity. If before it seemed that we were divided into groups and sectors, suddenly it became clear how much we are one people. The whole world looked in amazement at the thirty thousand people who came to accompany a lone soldier, almost none of whom knew him. Crowds came to pay condolences to the homes of the bereaved families, to encourage the wounded or to bring something joyful to the soldiers in the field.
A third aspect, no less important, is the spirit of sacrifice and fighting. There have already been those who have eulogized it and claimed that it has passed and passed on. We are supposedly a spoiled generation, unwilling to make an effort and sacrifice. Each and every one thinks only of themselves and what is best for them. Our enemies have already built up a perception that a little pressure will subdue us. And suddenly it became clear that the people of Israel are indeed Protective Edge, ready to fight and make an effort, to suffer and sacrifice.
The size of the hour
A fourth point is unity and a deep sense of justice. In the past, we were used to everything being controversial. Even when we went out to fight those who wanted our lives, there were opinions here and there, demonstrations for and demonstrations against, petitions of support and cries of protest. This time, the division of hearts disappeared. Even the media adopted a line that, in its entirety, gave expression to this Jewish unity and marginalized the other voices.
A special time has now come to channel all these feelings into a deeper and more intimate connection to ourselves, to the faith in our hearts, to our origins, to the deep unity between us all, and to the immense power inherent in the Jewish people. May we know how to appreciate the magnitude of the hour.
• The column is published in The Conversation of the Week.
