The key issues: Iran and army service

A brief visit to Israel for personal reasons gave me a chance to experience and understand the atmosphere there. I have long held the view that while it is all very well to follow the news online even to an obsessive extent, only the personal interaction with Israeli day to day life gives the real picture.
In the multiplicity of newspapers available from street vendors and bookstores three themes stood out. There was extensive and intensive discussion about Iran, there was the ongoing issue of the Charedi draft, and the potential and actual implications of AI for the Israeli economy and even society.

Given my lack of knowledge regarding that third topic I won’t deal with it here but just concentrate on the first two; I did note however that in more recent days since my return, as the operation in Iran gathered strength, Ynet reported that in a video using an AI-generated version of his voice, the Prime Minister reiterated his appeal to Iranians, saying their moment “will come soon” and urging them not to miss a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to break free from tyranny.

Regarding Iran to which I will return later in light of the amazing developments that occurred subsequent to my return on the Thursday prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the view appeared to be that despite potential dangers as had been experienced in last year’s “12- day conflict” with Iran, the matter had to come to a head as soon as possible. Ignoring implicit dangers now for fear of negative outcomes  would only lead to a much worse outcome later. Build up of American resources in the region – aircraft carriers, fighter aircraft (based inter alia in Israel and Jordan) as well as missile and ammunition stocks was closely followed.

A key question – on which every cabdriver, the ultimate source of information for visitors,  had a view –  was the extent to which Trump was to be trusted to assist in any conflict – given his promise to Iranian  demonstrators that “help was on the way”, yet they were subsequently abandoned to be murdered. Other discussion centred not on “if” a conflict would break out but rather “when” – with much speculation as to Purim being an appropriate date that perhaps even Trump might favour for its historic connection to Iran – Persia.

And so to the events currently unfolding. Many see significance in commencement of the war on Shabbat Zachor – the day we remember and commemorate war with Amalek, the cowardly arch-enemy of Israel in ancient times, that we are instructed to destroy. In fact, however, in our calendar there is even greater significance to that day last weekend in regard to our relationship with Persia, i.e. Iran. Its date, Adar 11, is actually the commencement of Purim. In talmudic Tractate Megillah we learn the megillah we read on Purim was originally actually read on the 11th, 12th or 13th day of Adar as well as the 14th that we know as Purim (except in walled cities such as Yerushalayim, when Purim is held on the 15th of Adar).