Will the War in Israel Ever End

Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

With all that has unfolded in Israel over the past year—the losses, the pain, the tragedies, the atrocities, the senseless deaths—we can't help but wonder: Will the war in Israel ever end? This is not just an abstract question; it is a deeply rooted apprehension, a profound and painful tension that grips any decent heart witnessing such upheaval.

Tragically, this isn't new. The past year has only amplified a long-standing reality. If we look back through the years, the decades, the centuries, Israel has been at war since the beginning of time. As a modern state since 1948, it has faced numerous wars against its sworn enemies. But if we go back further, we see that wars have been waged over this land for millennia since biblical times. In the days of Abraham, conflicts erupted over this region. Then after the Egyptian exodus the Jewish people had to fight to reclaim their promised land. During the First Temple era, Israel and Jerusalem were attacked by the Assyrians and Babylonians. The Second Temple period saw battles with the Persians, Greeks, and finally the Romans who destroyed the Temple and exiled the Jews. Throughout history, from the Crusades to the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, many have fought over this small piece of land called Israel. Essentially, the history of Israel in the last fourteen centuries has consisted of wars between the Chrsitians, Muslims and the Jews, all seeking control of the Holy Land.

What is going on? Are we doomed to perpetual conflict, or is there hope?

Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this crucial discussion as we explore not just a global issue but a personal one. What lies at the heart of these wars, and what can we do to end them once and for all?