Will we forever live by the sword? - opinion

Over the past two years, I have been asked one difficult and uncomfortable question again and again: Will we forever live by the sword?

The question is not merely what awaits us tomorrow morning but what historical consciousness we must develop in order to endure, defend ourselves, and preserve our freedom over time.

A deeper look at the heritage and history of the Jewish people teaches us that this is not merely a random sequence of disasters, persecutions, and wars.

This uniqueness inspires many people, but it also provokes resistance. At times, it is envy toward talented, educated, entrepreneurial, and creative people. At times, it takes the form of ancient blood libels returning in modern disguise.

At times, it is religious, national, or ideological hatred. And at times, it is simpler than that: Some cannot accept the very existence of a free, sovereign, and self-confident Jewish people in the Land of Israel.

We can see this clearly in today’s reality. The world changes, language changes, technology changes, yet certain underlying phenomena return. Once Jews were accused of poisoning wells; today, lies about them spread through social media.

Once Jewish businesses were boycotted; today, efforts are made to isolate the State of Israel in international institutions, academia, culture, and commerce.

Once hatred was presented in religious terms; today, it may appear under the guise of morality, human rights, or political struggle. Not every criticism of Israel is antisemitism, of course – but not all antisemitism arrives with a swastika. Sometimes it wears more “polished” language.

Geography is also part of the story. The Land of Israel is not only a historical and spiritual homeland; it is also an intercontinental crossroads, a strategic area with military, economic, and religious significance.

Over thousands of years, the land was conquered time and again by empires and great powers: the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, and the British.

Anyone seeking influence in the Middle East – over trade routes, the eastern Mediterranean basin, or the region’s sacred sites – has looked toward this place.

Therefore, anyone trying to understand hostility toward us solely through a single event misses the larger picture. The conflict is not merely a disagreement over a border, an arrangement, or one leader or another. It contains deeper layers: religion, identity, history, power, fanaticism, interests, and geography.

We can (and should) strive for arrangements, reduced conflict, and a better life in the region. But we must not build a national outlook on the assumption that all our enemies are driven only by misunderstanding, and that if we simply explain ourselves well enough, hatred will disappear.

This does not mean that we should despair. On the contrary, sober awareness is not pessimism – it is a condition for responsible hope. A people that does not understand its surroundings, does not identify threats, and does not invest in security, education, the economy, and social resilience invites danger.

But a people that recognizes reality, prepares for it, and believes in its own strength can face even severe challenges.

We seek life: families, creativity, Torah, science, economic prosperity, culture, a flourishing society, and a future for our children. The sword is not a vision – it is a necessary tool of defense in a reality where some seek to harm us.

But precisely because we seek life, we must not be naïve. When you stand out, succeed, remain unique, and stay loyal to your identity, you may also provoke the less admirable sides of humanity.

That is why we need a consciousness of responsibility: to remain aware, to be prepared, to be shrewd in the positive sense of the word, and to know how to distinguish between wishful thinking and reality.