A Warning to Jews

When you see an article in the newspaper that theIn Afghanistan new personnel arrive daily. The Persian
New York City Police Department is adding extraGulf and the Arabian Sea resemble parking lots for
security to city Synagogues in anticipation of anthe American navy. Troops in Iraq have handed off
attack, you'd better sit up and take notice. Such adaily duties to the Iraqi army freeing them up to be
piece appeared last week.ready in the event that they are needed. Even
In the coming days or weeks Israel will be making anRussia and Pakistan are quietly but firmly sidling up
important decision that will affect Jews worldwide.with the U.S. Action is coming and it's coming soon.
That decision is it's response to Iran's nuclearAside from attacking oil shipments, Iran has another
program and Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad'sweapon in its arsenal, one in which it is the authority;
threat of destroying Israel as soon as he has theterrorism. Hence the warning.
capability to do so.Jews worldwide are in danger of being targeted in
Debate rages about how close Iran is to fieldingretribution for an Israeli incursion into Iran. I say this
nuclear weapon technology. Unfortunately by thenot to instill fear. On the contrary, it is a caution
time we find out it will be already be too late.designed to make the 15 million Jews in the world
Iran has a capability today that could make parts ofaware so that they are forewarned and, as such,
Israel uninhabitable for tens of thousands of years. Itforearmed.
can do so by delivering dirty bombs filled withWhatever groups you belong to - temples, schools,
radioactive particulates perched atop their alreadyand community organizations - should put security
proven missile technology. They are button-pushplans in place today. Today, not tomorrow. There will
away from launch.be no advance notice of a threat.
As has happened my times before, Israel is beingPersonal protection plans likewise should be reviewed
painted into a corner from which it can only emergeso that you and your family know what to do in the
through aggressive measures of self-defense. Indeedevent of an emergency. Contacts with the local
when our lives are threatened, Torah allows for apolice is encouraged to make them aware of
proactive strike against our enemies.concerns so that they can react quickly should their
Israel is caught in a deadly Catch 22. If the countryhelp be needed. One can only hope that this warning
waits to react to Iran's threats it will be too late,is unnecessary. However, caution is the armor of the
missiles will already be in the air. If it acts now it riskswise.
igniting a fierce regional conflict drawing the world intoOn a final note and this is addressed to the rest of
subduing Iran, which has already declared that ifthe world. It is high time to acknowledge Israel as a
attacked it will strike at oil shipments in the Persianworld diplomatic ally and true partner as the U.S. does.
Gulf. In many ways Iran is as much a global problemAs the sole democracy in the Middle East and the
as it is Israel's.seat of Western religious faith, Israel is a true
It must come as a surprise to Ahmadinejad thatmember of the international community; it has proven
President Obama has not turned out to be the wimpso again and again.
he had eagerly anticipated. Indeed Ahmadinejad mustNow is as good a time as any to stand shoulder to
be feeling uneasy as Iran is encircled by Americanshoulder with Israel and protect this tiny country
military forces.from the forces that threaten it and its people.