Shortly after the news of the US bombing Iran’s three nuclear sites, I got a call from my oldest daughter asking if I could explain both what led up to this moment and what it all means. I suspected she would call to understand the issue better since it is so complex, rooted with historical significance, subtle context, and nuance, that she knew I could provide her with insight and perspective she could not get by looking online. Although I ended our conversation by sharing that it is too early to know what happens next, she appreciated having a better foundational understanding of how we got to where we are.

If you’re like me, you have probably experienced many emotions over the last several weeks. I believe this is primarily due to the subtleties, nuance, and complexity of what we have witnessed from over 9,000 miles away. Unlike before, the issues at hand are no longer black or white. They are so complex that I am afraid that when people look back at this moment in history, whatever the outcome ultimately will be, the nuance will be lost because it is so difficult to explain and articulate it. This is why I also think it has been so hard for Jews to express their feelings and convey the impact the last two and a half years have had on us – both as individuals and as a community.

But before we begin to unpack this, we must recognize that we are living in a moment that future students and scholars will study and analyze for many years.

As I write this week’s message, the recently negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Iran, brokered by the US, appears to be holding. However, I am also aware that there are differing opinions and thoughts surrounding the US’ involvement, let alone the actions Israel took that led to Saturday’s actions.

I am not sure if you are aware, but at the end of last week, before the US bombing of the Iran nuclear sites, both FOX and CNN conducted polls about whether Iran should be able to develop nuclear power. There was an overwhelming agreement by the United States public and its leaders (on both sides of the aisle) that Iran should never have the ability or capacity. In fact, there has been quite a bit of goodwill towards Israel that some world leaders, like Germany’s Chancellor, thanked Israel for “doing the world’s dirty work.”

And now, even with the ceasefire in place, we are currently in a time of instability and insecurity, and people have a considerable sense of doubt, fear, and anxiety about what will happen next. In all likelihood, we will be in this place of not knowing the full extent or impact this latest issue between Israel and Iran will have on not only these two countries but the Middle East or the rest of the world for several weeks and months. This also includes the divide within the Jewish world that has continued to grow following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliation against Hamas.

As American Jews, we live in a dual reality, understanding that even though we have no say in what the Israeli government does, any action by Israel has led to a significant increase in the incidents of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment that targets individual Jews and our Jewish community.

We need to understand that Israel’s leadership decided to confront the existential threat Iran has posed by continuing its effort to develop enough nuclear material to create a nuclear warhead because they know that, without question, Iran would point that weapon directly at the heart of Israel. After all, Iran has been chanting “Death to Israel” for quite a while.

And it is for that reason and many others that I firmly believe that now is the moment that we, as Jews, need to show our solidarity and stand together with Israel.