Dr. Chaim Botwinick
June 23, 2025
Last Saturday night, immediately after Shabbat, we learned about the long-awaited joint United States-Israel strike on Iran’s nuclear sites and installations.
Although it will take several days for the United States and Israel to complete a total damage assessment, indications strongly suggest that this unparalleled attack of historic proportion was successful and that Iran’s nuclear production and enrichment sites and capabilities were obliterated.
Baruch HaShem, we are blessed with a President of the United States who truly means what he says. He is indeed a leader who has demonstrated bold and unswerving leadership.
As we celebrate this unbelievable military accomplishment, we must thank President Trump for his courageous leadership and for America’s true unwavering strategic partnership with Israel.
This recent development was historic and great news for Israel, the United States and for the world.
Within hours after this attack, Iran retaliated against Israel with a series of powerful ballistic missile barrages, striking at the very heartland of Israel.
This retaliation, according to many experts, may unfortunately be the start of a new wave of attacks against Israel and American assets in the Middle East by Iran and its proxies. It can also catalyze Iranian supported sleeper cells now lurking throughout the world. HaShem Yerachem
Since the bloody massacre of October 7th, the world has witnessed a seismic explosion of Jew-hatred, anti-semitism and anti-Zionism unparalleled since the Holocaust.
This proliferation of unabashed vile hatred against our people is beyond reproach. It represents a tsunami of anti-Israel hatred and a deep and profound level of animosity toward Israel and our Jewish community.
In addition to its negative impact on our local Jewish communities, anti-Semitism and Jew hatred fuels the anti-Israel narrative lead by Iran and one which is spreading throughout the globe like a metastasizing malignant cancer.
Many of us in the States are currently witnessing Operation Rising Lion in real time through cable and TV network news, and social media platforms which transmit the continuous and relentless launching of ballistic missiles from Iran into populated centers of Israel.
As we experience these realities, I ask….. what we as a Jewish community in the United States can or should do in order to support achienu bnai yisrael living in Israel.
As we respond to this challenge, it is evident that Iran is committed to the complete destruction and inhalation of the Jewish people and Israel.
It is also critical to understand that following the devastating attack on Iranian nuclear instillations, that we do not become complacent.
History has taught us to always be vigilant and circumspect about Israel’s current and future safety, security and protection. We must also never ever be totally reliant upon others to protect us or to defend us.
Yes, the United States is in fact the closest and dearest ally and supporter of Israel. But friends, we also know from history that geopolitical circumstances and realities shift and change over time resulting in a variety of an unanticipated trajectory of outcomes, future potential relationships and policies.
This strongly suggests that Israel, although Israel sincerely appreciates the assistance and support of the United States, as a sovereign independent nation it must continue to protect and fend for itself.
In light of today’s realities, I ask the question……although there are numerous articles, papers, and social media posts on the topic of Iran’s threat to Israel, why have we not seen an avalanche of rallies or mass demonstrations in support of Israel as it tries desperately to defend itself against thousands of stockpiled Iranian missiles, launchers and military installations?
Except for several sporadic fundraising ads and social media posts, why are we not seeing national coordinated efforts on the part of our organized Jewish community to publically display support for Israel during these times of existential crisis, similar to the recent Israel day parade and other peaceful rallies and demonstrations in support of Israel.
In light of today’s crisis, I would have thought that we would be seeing hundreds of thousands of people rallying and marching arm in arm, hand in hand, in American streets and neighborhoods in support of Israel.
Is it possible that our communities in the diaspora are just drained and over-traumatized by the numbing effect of the sights and sounds of continued rocket barrages raining down on Israeli cities? Or that we are suffering from a bout of psychological and physical fatigue resulting from sleepless nights as we view the non-stop news coming out of Israel?
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Either way, it does not compare to the profound shock, trauma and depression that many of our families in Israel are now experiencing.
For us living in the United States, this physical and emotional stress and fatigue should never be viewed as being the result of complacency or apathy, or due to a lack of resilience. But, rather the result of constant and continuous exposure to real time images of horrifying missile attacks on Israel population centers.
One can only begin to imagine the continuous stress, strain anxiety and trauma this experience is having on thousands of Israelis and their families who are constantly running into safe rooms and bomb shelters.
It is obvious that while living in the United States, it is physically impossible to help or support acheinu in real time.
This reality therefore leaves us with a variety meaningful obligations and opportunities.
As envisioned, they may include:
- Increasing and intensifying our daily tefillot and the recitation of tehillim;
- Increasing the time we devote to Torah learning and study;
- Increasing and intensifying our chesed projects including volunteering and the giving of tzedaka to those in need and to Israel based institutions;
- Offering chizuk to acheinu living in Israel through more frequent telephone, and zoom contact with family members and friends living in Israel;
- Coordinating and participation in public rallies and gatherings in support of Israel;
- Participating in special school (or camp) programs and assemblies in support of Israel;
- Writing letters, articles, blogs and hosting podcasts in support of Israel;
- Sending toys, games and other child friendly items as well as supplies for families with children living in Israel;
- Contacting governmental municipalities in Israel in order to determine the type of material and goods Israeli families require (especially those who are forced to live in temporary living quarters); and
10. Demonstrating our unswerving gratitude to the White House for its ongoing support for Israel by writing letters, emails and placing public ads. This includes thanking the President for his unwavering support for Israel during this time of crisis.
As we know, the only aspect of this war which is certain is its uncertainty.
This uncertainly throughout our history has always been supported by our continued bitachon and emunah in HaShem.
We are truly a resilient people…it’s a resilience which can only be accomplished, realized and experienced through the etzpah of HaShem.
As we face uncertainty, may HaShem bless achienu bnai yisrael living in Israel and throughout the world with bracha, shalom and B’sorot Tovot.
Am Yisrael Chai
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Dr. Chaim Botwinick is a senior executive coach and an organizational consultant. He served as president and CEO of the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and Miami; in addition to head of school and principal for several Jewish day schools and yeshivot. As an Influencer in education, he has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to education, resource development, strategic planning and leadership development. Dr. Botwinick Co-Founder of LEV Consulting Associates and is the producer/host of the Chinuch Horizons podcast. He is the Author of “Think Excellence”, Brown Books, 2011.
