April 9, 2003

The War in Iraq and the Exodus from Egypt:
Liberation from Tyranny and Turning Points in History

A Passover Message
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union 

The news coming out of Iraq of the triumph of U.S. and British forces makes it clear to all that the major objective of  “Operation Iraqi Freedom” has been achieved – the liberation of the people of Iraq from a tyrant.

Iraq’s liberation, taking place as it does at this time of the year, can only result in the minds of the Jewish people in a comparison with the liberation of the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, culminating in the Exodus and the Festival of Passover.

The Exodus was a liberating experience, but it was surely more than that. It was a turning point in Jewish history – so much so that many significant Jewish religious ceremonies recall the Exodus. It is not by chance that the Friday night Kiddush (Sanctification) refers to the Sabbath as zecher litziat mitzrayim – a commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt.

The Exodus took a large and sometimes unruly Jewish family, a collection of tribes, and turned it into a nation, the Jewish nation that exists to this day both in Israel and in the Diaspora.

A turning point represents a sea change in history, an end to life as we previously knew it.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, I believe, is such a turning point. It is more than a war, it is more than a military victory. It is an earthshaking event which will affect the history of the Middle East and the world.

The United States, under the far-sighted leadership of President Bush, together with the United Kingdom, under the equally distinguished leadership of Prime Minister Blair, saw evil in the world, and rather than ignoring this evil, with their power chose to confront it and to destroy it– all in the face of seemingly worldwide opposition.

It is true that there may be some negative after effects to the war in the attempts of Saddam loyalists to attack American and British forces and to disrupt the rebuilding of the country. Nevertheless, the victory in Iraq sends a message to the Islamic world that fanaticism and the resulting terrorism will not be tolerated and will be struck down by the United States and its allies. The victory further anchors the U.S.-British relationship, which 60 years ago destroyed the Nazi tyranny. It sends a message to the countries that opposed the war -- primarily France, Germany and Russia -- that it is in their best interests to cooperate with the United States rather than to oppose it; I believe that this message has been heard and that these countries will change their view of American power.

Regarding Israel, one would hope that in light of the victory over one of Israel’s greatest enemies, Israel’s neighbors will finally determine to live in peace with her and to send the message to the Palestinians that they must renounce terror and accept Israel’s existence.     

It has been said that the Middle East only understands power. Operation Iraqi Freedom represents the kind of power that cannot be ignored.

As a result, the war in Iraq – just as the Exodus -- represents more than liberation, as important as freedom is.  The war will be a turning point, the start of a new era, and one hopes the precursor of a domino effect that will lead to a better and more peaceful world.

That is something worth praying for – at Passover and any time of the year.     

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