We’ve known something was up. It was right there before our faces. The Iranian threats. The Yemeni threats. The Qatari threats. The countdown for the peace talks/ nuclear talks with U.S. and Iran. The recalling of Ambassadors, military families, and others out of the Middle East. The US State Dept. messages to American citizens to stay in certain areas only traveling to the airport. There has been so much drama since last Tuesday. And then on Wednesday our government collapsed.

There has been a long-standing debate in Israel as to whether to force the Haredim, the Ultra Orthodox to serve in some capacity in the IDF. The men sit in the Yeshivas all day studying Torah at the expense of the taxpayer. Most live off of the generosity of the government dole. And many Israelis think it’s just not fair. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they make up several seats of the parties that have kept the coalition or government together. And Tuesday they called it quits. Dissolve the entire government. Force new elections. Bibi, you just lost control over your own government. And the EU and other countries are sanctioning our right wing politicians, Ben Gvir and Smotrich. Things are falling apart. (Well orchestrated smoke screen???)

Trump and Elon had a huge falling out/romantic and dramatic breakup of their bromance last week, which caused the diversion of much public attention from the Big Beautiful Bill and foreign affairs….until the riots started. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta. My how our heads were spinning this way and that just to keep up.

The Iran negotiations deal was stalling. Trump reported that the Iran talks were proving to be tough, which is interesting, seeing as Israel has already said they will completely dismantle their whole system if a stalemate is reached. It seemed as if the Trump/Bibi friendship, too, was on the rocks. Bibi was snubbed completely during the US/Trump whirlwind tour of the Middle East 10 days ago. Trump had repeatedly told Bibi to stand down. The last nuclear talk would be in Oman on Sunday. Wait. Don’t act. Just stand down, Netanyahu. (Was this part of the brilliant smokescreen created to lull the Iranians into at least a temporary complacency???)

Israeli fighter jets have been strafing the skies all day since Monday. That’s not altogether unusual, it’s just that it’s been really, really quiet here the past few months. Like zilch. Nada. Nothing in the skies. Still, we continued to make plans. On Tuesday we went cherry picking in the Golan with some friends. It was an idyllic day, and I’ve never seen so many cherries on trees before. All the thousands of rows had branches laden to the ground. Schoolchildren on field trips ran through the rows scarfing up the red and yellow jewels. We couldn’t ask for a better day. We were right up against the Syrian border, literally. And all was as peaceful as can be.

We continued to make plans for the weekend and into next week. We would go with friends to an art museum in Haifa at the top of Mt. Carmel on Monday to see the museum and the views. Spectacular views of the Mediterranean and Haifa port, looking North into Lebanon. A lovely café afterwards. On Tuesday, I made plans for a girlfriend from India to come over. I have 2 kg of organic fresh-picked apricots. It’s chutney season.

My Torah partner, Shari, and I met again last night to discuss the week’s Torah portion: Numbers 8-12. We discussed some current events as well and how the Scripture always seems relevant to our situation today. The Children of Israel are assembled and ready to venture forth into the Promised Land. The tribe of Judah/Yehudah always leads. Judah basically means “praise G-d” so praise goes before everything else. Something to remember.

Ch10:9 “And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that tries to destroy you, then you shall blow an alarm with the shofar; and you shall be remembered before the Lord your G-d, and you shall be saved from your enemies.”

Numbers 10:35 “Arise, o Lord, and let your enemies be scattered: and let them that hate you flee before you.”

It’s interesting that before any battle or any major operation (or before going into Gaza) the IDF soldiers pray. And Numbers10:35 is a main verse besides asking for His protection and His victory. I think it’s pretty cool that the modern army follows Torah so closely.

Two days ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu went to pray at the Western Wall with the President of Argentina, Javier Milei. Bibi placed a note in the wall that read “He shall rise like a lion and lift himself up like a king of beasts.” The military operation (all are named ) is called ‘Rising Lion’.

My other girlfriend from the States called to check up on us. To see if we were staying or leaving. If we’d been making plans or were ready. The news when she had awakened in California was less than hopeful. She was praying for Israel as were many members of her congregation.

I have a confession to make. John and I were pretty late to the game, but we’ve become absolutely addicted to the TV series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” We’ve been binge watching for the past two weeks. Yes. There’s a lot of foul language, but so many parts of it remind me of my childhood – my favorite uncle’s garment factory on the lower East Side. The food. The music of the Barry Sisters. The resort hotels of the Borscht Belt, where my parents worked their way through university while on summer break. The names (Weissman is my last name). The clothes. The arguing. It’s my story, too, in a way. So last night we decided to get in the last three episodes of season 3 before bed. It was 1:40 when we finished, and I decided to take a sleeping pill so I could get in one last good night’s sleep before any fireworks started.

At exactly 3am, we were spooked out of bed by the loud (loud doesn’t even begin to come close, was the siren in our bedroom window?) siren. It was a bit different from the ‘incoming’ siren, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I grabbed my phone and charger. John and the dog were marching down to the mammad. I decided to go out on the balcony to see what was up. Eerily quiet except for the blaring siren. Completely fogged in. Like milk. I could see nothing. Eeeewwwwww. Kinda creepy. No point staying out there, I began to head towards the stairs when both our phones let out this bansheeeeee waaaaiiiiilllll like we’ve never heard before. Pierce your eardrums wail. What the hell???

It was not the usual red alert. It was weird. The messages that were coming were all in Hebrew. No use now to sit and decipher. It’s off to the saferoom. Something big is up. About 20 minutes later, after hearing nothing, John went up to the bedroom. He had no desire for just hanging out waiting. He needed his sleep.

I went into the kitchen, scouring the internet for why this was happening. What was up. Something really big. We were soon to find out all schools and all unnecessary activities would be closed. No large gatherings. Stay close to a shelter. Extreme high alert elevation emergency no fooling around time. All things canceled. Stay home. The instructions started pouring in from Home Front Command. Then, our mayor came on and gave a talk about staying calm, everything was under control. Be prepared, and read all the alerts being given. Wow. We had just launched a surprise attack against Iran.

Israel launched the craziest pre-planned-to-a-tee attack on Iran’s nuclear capabilities. 61 days ago, Trump announced that Iran had 60 days to make a deal. After that, all bets would be off. Bibi and Trump had been playing this game that they were not at all on the same page and the US would not be a part of any strike. This night was Day 61 and BAM! Just had confirmation that 4 of the leading IRGC generals have been eliminated. Several nuclear facilities have been hit including the Nanatz Nuclear Facility. Wiped out. Mossad agents on the ground in Iran doing other targeted eliminations. Ballistic and nuclear capabilities are being taken down.

Israeli official report: Alongside extensive strikes by the Israeli Air Force, the Mossad led a series of counterterrorism operations deep inside Iran. These operations were designed to damage Iran’s strategic missile array and air defense capabilities. Major explosions rocked Tehran overnight. Israel is now preparing for a large-scale missile and drone retaliation from Iran.

Early this morning, the phone alert system went off again. About 8am. Stay close to shelters. All days activities canceled. Only necessary and emergency activity (Shopping for Shabbat?) Iran had launched over 100 drones towards Israel according to IDF spokesman, Gen. Effie Defrin (did I tell you how much I miss Daniel Hagai, our last IDF spokesman. Daniel. Come back!) IDF forces are actively engaged in intercepting the aerial threat…. I’m up watering the garden and picking tonight’s veg.

Oh….and this is super amazing. So there are people praying at the Western Wall, the Kotel 24/7. People are ALWAYS there at all hours of the night, in all weather, sending up their petitions. Interceding for Israel. Last night was no exception. After the sirens rang out throughout the country and it was announce the war had begun. several men began to blow their shofar. (Numbers 10:9 and recite the prayers. I have it on my army news feed. Its spine-tingling king in its Biblical veracity.

Now for the facts from today’s news:

The attack on Iran was preceded by a deception operation that included media and political components, both domestically and internationally, with the participation of various parties. Israel managed to surprise Iran with mind-blowing maneuvers.

Only a few secret partners jealously guarded the plan. As part of the deception plan, the Prime Minister’s spokesman distributed various announcements and briefings in the days leading up to the operation, among other things, in an attempt to influence the internal discourse in Israel and Iran.

Likewise, the Prime Minister’s office did not deny completely unfounded quotes supposedly from Netanyahu’s and Trump’s conversations (referring to the N12 report that Trump expressed opposition to the attack) on purpose, to project a public debate between Israel and the United States.

The goal was to make the Israelinpujblic and the Iranian leadership think that there would be no attack, and if there was, then not in the immediate future. This is out of fear that any information could ruin the surprise effect and the plan.

Now we are finding out the Tabriz airport has been taken out. The entire Iranian general staff and top nuclear scientists are reportedly eliminated in IDF strikes. air defense systems were wiped out. Radar installations and surface-to-are missiles have been destroyed. Israel has done this alone. Completely unaided, however, the some people in the US administration were in the loop. They had absolute coordination and understanding/cooperation of the US. The attack was a massive surprise. Israel couldn’t allow the world going on denying that Iran was not planning something.

Even yesterday he UN Security Council ruled that over the past 20 years they knew that the terror sponsor of the world was enriching uranium to make and use a nuclear weapon on Israel and the States. The Board of Governors of the Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for the first time in two decades Thursday after it refused to work with inspectors. Iran immediately announce it would establish a third enrichment site and swap out its older centrifuges for more sophisticated ones. Israel had to take the action they did on a remarkable surprise attack, taking out scientists, government, military leaders, weapons sites, weapons launch sites. The next few days a lot more will happen. We will be getting a lot more news about what is occurring.

This is just the beginning. There is more to be done. Hopefully, this will be the time for the beautiful Iranian people to step up and take back their country. We have the expectation that Iran or any of its proxies will retaliate in the next few days. Which is why it is so important that Israel took the action it did.

“ I was briefed on the attacks in advance, no surprises, but the US is not militarily involved and hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table. We are waiting to see what the Iranian response will be, we will defend Israel if absolutely necessary.” – President Trump.

It is now just past 1 pm here. I’m behind on my Shabbat cleaning and cooking. Iran’s supreme leader, Khameni has just replaced the top military commanders. Russia, the EU, the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and other nations are calling out Israel in violation of international law. Israel shot down over 200 UAVs this morning. Netanyahu and Trump are playing 4D chess. “ After a successful salvo of opening strikes, we will achieve many more, with G-d’s help.” No civilians have been targeted. Only terrorists and their leaders.

Israel, under complete cover, spent years preparing for last night. This included….. get this one! Building a drone base inside Iran and smuggled precision weapons into the country. According to the official, Mossad agents set up a drone base on Iranian soil near Tehran. The drones were activated overnight,striking surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel. In addition, vehicles carrying weapons systems were smuggled into Iran. These systems took out Iran’s air defenses and gave Israeli planes air supremacy and freedom of action over Iran. The third effort was Mossad commandos deploying precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites in Iran.

Israel has issued a severe warning to all Jews and to all its citizens abroad all around the world to be extremely vigilant.

i24 NEWS has stated that the strikes on Iran ‘achieved something on a scale that cannot yet be described.’ The head of the IRGC’s Air Force Amir Alihajizadeh was eliminated along with the top chain of command as they convened in an emergency meeting in an underground command center. 24 of the most important people in the Iranian army were eliminated last night in what will become known as one of the most daring and unbelievable missions I. The history of war. Do I hear movies forthcoming????

Attacks from Iran are expected. During Shabbat.In the heat of the night. We pray that G-d will rise and our enemies be scattered.

I’ll be back soon- in the meantime, please pray for all of us as well as your own safety. Could be an interesting weekend.