The government of Iran has nothing over Hollywood when it comes to simulating war scenes. Hollywood could have produced more realistic and sophisticated footage of the bombing of Israeli cities than what Iran’s state TV station aired last week. The only difference is that Iran’s film was not meant as thriller fiction but rather as portentous reality.
I am not by nature fearful or squeamish. But after several minutes of watching Iran’s state-of-the-art warplanes firing on the familiar sites of Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa’s oil refineries, and Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers, I felt revolted. The simulated film was accompanied by ominous music, punctuated by the wail of ambulance sirens, and interspersed with actual footage of bearded Israeli medics evacuating dead and wounded Jews from the site of terror attacks.
The climax of the film is a missile barrage that destroys Tel Aviv, with skyscrapers melting a la the Twin Towers and plumes of smoke rising amidst a crescendo of sirens. However, lest only those of us who live in Israel are left trembling, the film concludes with an attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln, an American aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, reminiscent of movies about Pearl Harbor.
The video is labeled, “The simulation of Iran’s thunderous reaction against Israel’s contingent attack.” It starts with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declaring: “Anybody who thinks of attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran should be prepared to receive strong slaps and iron fists from the Armed Forces. … And America, its regional puppets and its guard dog – the Zionist regime – should know that the response of the Iranian nation to any kind of aggression, attacks or even threats will be a response that will make them collapse from within."
Let’s get this straight: Anyone who even thinks of or threatens to attack Iran’s nuclear installations will deserve the doomsday scenario then so graphically depicted.
“From the Holocaust we learn that if someone says he wants to destroy you, believe him.”
I tried to shrug off the film as mere Iranian bravado. But my mind kept replaying the famous words of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu: “From the Holocaust we learn that if someone says he wants to destroy you, believe him.”
Of course, we do have the Israel Defense Forces, with its own state-of-the-art anti-aircraft missiles and Patriot batteries to ward off any such attack. And Israel should and must do everything in its power to protect the six million Jews of Israel from annihilation, either by nuclear or conventional attack.
But the brief and war-torn history of the modern State of Israel has taught us a trenchant lesson. After the miraculous victory of the Six-Day War, when Nassar’s threats of doom were turned into a stunning military victory, we here in Israel, heady with triumph, prided ourselves on “the best army in the Middle East.” Six years later came the calamity of the Yom Kippur war, with Syrian tanks trampling northern Israel and 2,000 of our soldiers killed. The Torah warns us that the God-absent attitude, “My strength and the might of my hand has accomplished all this,” is a precursor to disaster.
Iran is the modern name of Persia, and this is not the first time that the Persian government made plans to annihilate the Jewish People. The approaching holiday of Purim commemorates the events of 357-356 B.C.E. The king of Persia, egged on by his viceroy Haman, promulgated a decree of extermination that must have filled the Jews of that time with as much dread as the present TV film intends to do to us.
The response of the Jews was weeping, fasting, and repentance. Queen Esther, secretly Jewish, appealed to the king and a second decree was promulgated, empowering the Jews to fight and kill their enemies. Instead of annihilation, the Jews celebrated a great salvation, which we commemorate every year on Purim.
The theme of Purim is the sudden and dramatic reversal from certain doom to surprising redemption.
Therefore, I’d like to respond to Iran’s forecast of Israel’s destruction with a prophecy from Jewish sources. The sages of the Talmud 2,000 years ago predicted (as recorded in Yalkut Shimoni, Sefer Yeshayahu, ch. 499): In the future, Persia will make war on Arabia, and Arabia will go and ask help from Edom [the West]. Persia will destroy the world, and the world will be in chaos. The nation of Israel also will be confounded. But then God will say to the Jewish People: “Don’t worry. The time for your redemption has arrived. And this redemption will not be like the redemption from Egypt [which was followed by a difficult history]. This redemption will be a total redemption.”
Personally, while I avidly support Israel’s hardline stand on stopping Iran’s nuclear program, I’m also trying to repent and improve my actions. Judaism teaches that repentance can avert any heavenly decree. But lacking any widespread repentance, if I had to choose between dire future scenarios, I would put more stock in our forecast for the future than in Iran's.
(11) Ben Yom, June 20, 2020 1:58 AM
there will be another Koorosh
Average Persian loves Israel
(10) Gary Katz, February 28, 2014 7:56 PM
One possible approach
Israel might deter such an attack if it convinces the Ayatollahs that they would be the primary targets of Israel's counter-attack, and their homes would be the next targets.
(9) joel, February 26, 2014 8:47 PM
Iranian video
The problem -- for those who would wage war on Israel, or even the United States for that matter -- is that it wouldn't be a one-way -only barrage. Mechanisms have already been established to retaliate immediately. These countries would be committing suicide, even as they would attack first. Not every antagonistic country -- read: Iran and North Korea -- believes in 27 virgins waiting on the other side...
Ellen, May 31, 2014 7:45 AM
Yeah, but
Suppose the United States does not strike back? The Iranians have said numerous times that they will destroy the U.S. and Obama has responded by lifting sanctions and saying he wants to visit Iran. As for the virgins, 27 may not be that big of a draw but 72 is what the koran promises and muslims seem to find that to be an incentive.
(8) Maree Paz, February 19, 2014 2:12 AM
Many people threat to destroy Israel, & they are not more but Israel is still standing, God never sleep or slumber, & He will defend His people like He always done in the pass. Maree
(7) joseph, February 17, 2014 6:17 PM
The film looks naive
The film looks naive. It is hard to belive that even a TV Iranian spectators belive in this scenario. hovewer Israel must be on alert.
regards Joseph
(6) Chaim, February 17, 2014 12:26 PM
Not worth much thought
The video is so badly made and so delusional it doesn't even deserve much thought. There's absolutely no possibility the described scenario could ever take place given Israel's military capability.
I think it's safe to say that if Iran ever attempts to fly a single airplane to Israel it will be turned into a parking lot. They are all so way over their heads it's kind of funny. The only sad part is that there are animals that actually think like them.
Anonymous, February 18, 2014 12:28 PM
The point is this,God will not stand by and not help His people,these trouble makers are not fighting against the jews but against God,and they do not know it.
Betty Hansen, February 19, 2014 6:55 PM
No truer words have ever been spoken
Just read about their history! 1948 and 1967 are amazing! No way without God's Hand!! Just read the Bible folks! It is all there! Put your faith in God and no worries!!
(5) david k., February 16, 2014 5:32 PM
Purim?
You mentioned the story of Esther as a fact in your article, I grew up with this story but never have found any actual historical reference anywhere. You even have dates for it, can you point me to where you found these dates from and where is it recorded as history and not just Jewish folklore.
Thank you!
Chuck, February 16, 2014 7:15 PM
historical accuracy
The book of Esther is included in the Christian list of old testament books. Meaning that over 2 billion people believe that Esther is in fact a real Biblical character.
Is there any proof of George Washington?
Other than "George Washington slept here" signs dotting the east coast of the USA, he might be just as fictional as Esther.
Robin, February 16, 2014 11:26 PM
Yehuda landy book on Purim
This book published by feldheim shows the amazing archeological evidence of Purim! A must read for everyone! You Can actually see pictures of items from the story- which is totally true!!!
(4) Anonymous, February 16, 2014 5:00 PM
Iran, Israel and the Almighty
'Iran, tv and me,' is commentary that is beyond moving. Written beautifully, Shakespeare could not have matched Ms. Rigler's article.
Anonymous, February 16, 2014 7:17 PM
Shakespeare comparison
I would be offended if I were Ms Rigler
(3) Anonymous, February 16, 2014 4:32 PM
Iran.
Dream on Tehrani; and I at 65 dream of becoming an Olympic skater. A first-year film skater would do better.
(2) David Rice, February 16, 2014 4:12 PM
I do not get your point!
There were a lot of Jews in Germany that prayed and repent and where did that get them? Netanyahu is right and the Obama administration's policies have virtually destroyed any credibility the US had in the Middle East. Obama is not a friend of Israel and nuclear bombs are far different from what transpired in 1967. Get real. When Kerry can threaten Israek with a boycott, the support of the US is just not there.
Shirley, February 16, 2014 10:49 PM
God protects
The point is that if Israel relies on God then God will protect. God promised to forever have Israel as His chosen people and promised His protection. Relying on the United States is out of the question. I dont think Iran will have a chance to destroy the U.S. - we are too busy doing it ourselves.
(1) Anonymous, February 16, 2014 3:49 PM
Forewarned is forearmed.
let's get to work. Repentance, charity, and prayer.