Day 420 Swords of Iron – “Am I surprised”
Chaim starts the video by mentioning once again that the Thanksgiving holiday just passed and he’s thankful for the rains in Galilee which have put out some fires started by Hezbollah-launched rockets. He’s also thankful for the snow that’s fallen on Mount Hermon, even though the IDF soldiers there have to endure cold weather. It also helps them in some ways as they seek to keep an eye on Hezbollah, which has already broken the terms of the cease-fire agreement. Chaim says he’s not surprised that this happened, but he and his IDF comrades are not going to let the cease-fire deteriorate into a joke. They’re going to put an immediate stop to any violations.
He also says he’s thankful for all the blessings in his life, big and small. He says he’s especially thankful for his viewers and the supporters of the Aliyah Return Center.
He’s also thankful that the IDF was able to capture so much of the weaponry in Gaza and Southern Lebanon that was meant to be used against them. He is thankful that Hezbollah sustained so much damage, much more than in the Second Lebanon War in 2006. He lists some of the accomplishments of the IDF, including the removal from the battlefield of many of Hezbollah’s most highly trained and capable operatives.
Chaim says he’s thankful for the victory over Hezbollah and the emerging victory over Hamas in Gaza, but he says we must keep our focus on total victory and not settle for anything less or we’re just setting ourselves up for future problems.
He points out the renewed rebel offensive against the Assad regime in Syria and the ongoing problems caused by the Houthis in Yemen. He says these regimes must make a stand, and so must the civilized world.
In this context, he tells a short story about the tomb of the prophet Shimon, which is in Lebanon and was briefly held by the IDF in this campaign. In this context, Chaim quotes Luke 2:29-30; “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, snd the glory of Your people Israel.”
Shimon was referring to the prophet Isaiah in this passage, specifically Isaiah 49:6; Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Chaim speaks of this man and other prophets including Daniel, who is buried in Persia and some of the others who are buried in Babylon (modern Iraq) as examples of how the Jewish people have brought light to the nations.
And speaking of light in the darkness, Chaim mentions the project by the Aliyah Return Center to buy thermal drones so IDF soldiers can do their jobs in greater safety, seeing the enemy before they are seen.
Chaim concludes by saying that wherever he gets sent next, whether it’s back to Gaza or the Lebanon border or into Lebanon itself, the IDF is going to see this thing through to the end. He thanks his viewers once again for their support and wishes them Shabbat shalom.
