Viktor Ageyev

בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי הַמְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַקְרָב אֶצְבְּעוֹתַי לַמִּלְחָמָה

The position of rabbis of galut (the so-called "Haredim") towards army service is flawed not so much because they don't want to let their flock join the army in order to maintain control over their personalities, but primarily because they do so under the guise of the Torah.

Following the attack on Israel on 7.10.23, and considering the sacrifices we have endured and continue to endure in this war, such a stance cannot be justified.

The narrative that participating in a war in defense of Israel interferes with "Torah study" is just as absurd as the claim that treating the wounded interferes with studying medicine.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his address, congratulated the Iranian people on their victory over Israel and the United States of America:

Our practice shows that Israel’s habitual approach when facing enemies—"if we are attacked, we bomb in response until the enemy’s forces are damaged, then we agree to a ceasefire and peacefully watch the enemy celebrate victory" (here it must be emphasized: in their understanding, “victory” is in no way determined by the number of losses they suffered, but solely by the ability to proclaim and celebrate this victory)—is flawed, as it inevitably leads to the enemy, inspired by another “victory,” restoring strength, receiving increased support, and attacking again.

By contrast, the previously traditional method accepted in international law for ending wars—signing an instrument of surrende, i.e., a formal recognition of defeat in the war, imposing on the guilty party the costs of war (reparations), and depriving it of territories (annexations)—actually works.

In a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) press office dated 13 June 2025, it was stated that the Israeli army had carried out a preemptive strike on Iran.

In this context, I shall provide a brief international legal clarification:

In 70 CE, Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple was burned. The people of Israel were expelled from the Holy City. In 135, Jews were forbidden to settle in Jerusalem.

As Moshe (Moses) once said to his people: "And the Lord shall scatter thee among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth" (Deut. 28:64)

But every man from the people of Israel, entering into marriage, at the wedding ceremony pronounced an oath: "Let my right hand forget me if I forget Jerusalem"

Wedding each new year, the Jews raised a toast: "To the next year in Jerusalem"