After three weeks of heavy fighting, during which the Israeli Defense Forces inflicted heavy losses upon the Hamas terrorrist infrastructure, Israel and in turn, Hamas, declared unilateral ceasefires. On the one hand, the Israeli offensive has been phenomenally impressive, showing how much the IDF and the political leadership have learned from the Second Lebanon War, which was widely considered a failure, even as it did teach Hizbollah not to mess any more with Israel.
However, even today, a few days into the ceasefire, the media report that smuggling tunnels are again in operation. Even now, there is a feeling that the “Cast Lead” military campaign ended inconclusively; Hamas, while very much weakened, is still committed to terrorism (see the concluding paragraph).
So, Israel has come out better than after the Second Lebanon War, but things are still murky.
In retrospect, some words I wrote in the aftermath of the earlier war – in a sermon entitled “Now You Shall See” – seem somewhat prescient, and hence reassuring regarding the future. After rereading those words, I think that it is appropriate to affirm that, despite the lingering lack of clarity, there will be even more light at the end of this tunnel. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Arie Folger 
Nach drei Wochen schwieriger Kämpfe, während der die Israelische Verteidigungskräfte der Hamas schwierige Verlusste haben erleiden lassen, haben Israel und nachher Hamas, je einen 
The first encounter of Parshat Vayigash, between Yehuda, as he takes responsibility for Benyamin, and Yossef in his role of Viceroy of Egypt, is also the story of great moral leadership. Yossef and Yehuda, each in their own ways, display and examplify the great, dearly needed moral qualities of honesty, integrity, repentance, forgiveness and accepting the consequences of one’s actions. In short, they recognize and accept their responsibilities. 
Als die Seleukiden unter Antiochus IV Epiphanes versuchten, das jüdische Volk vom Judentum zu entfernen, verboten sie einige wichtigen Mizwót, auch die Beschneidung. Dass die Beschneidung eine zentrale Rolle in der jüdischen Identität und im jüdischen Selbstverständnis spielt, ist wohl bekannt. Die Beschneidung ist das physische Zeichen des Bundes G”ttes mit dem Stammvater Awrahám und seinen Nachkommen. Im hellenistischen Verständnis der Seleukiden sollte die Nichtbeschneidung den Juden erleichtern, sich zu assimilieren. Wenn wir kein Sonderzeichen in unseren Körpern tragen würden, würden wir – so hofften die Seleukiden – vielleicht auch die Auserwählung Israels verneinen und uns komplett mit den Griechen verschmelzen.
Mikolot Mayim Rabbim 