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Obama’s Diplomacy with Iran

Dvar Torah Courtesy of Rabbi Da-vid Rosenthal – AISH MN (July 2nd)

There’s a lot of differing opinions on how to deal with Iran. As of now, Iran is considered Israel’s no. 1 security problem. We’re not talking about one or two or even 100 suicide bombers – we talking about a nuclear bomb. Recently, Obama has taken the more diplomatic approach, with varying degrees of success.

In this week’s parsha, there is an unlikely recipient of the Torah’s “peace prize”. Pinchas – a Jewish leader who enforced spontaneous corporal punishment – receives G-d’s “covenant of peace”. How can we reconcile such opposites? On one hand, a violent act of punishment; on the other, a pat on the back by G-d for being a peacemaker.
I believe Neville Chamberlain is the answer.

On 30 September 1938, Prime Minister Chamberlain arrived back in England, holding a “peace treaty” with Germany. This document assures “peace for our time” claimed Chamberlain. It was only a few months later, that the ridiculousness of that claim came to reality.
There are many times that diplomacy and negotiations are worthwhile. Between warring friends, between husband and wife, between siblings. Yet there are just as many circumstances that diplomacy will not only get you nowhere, but might actually leave you worse for wear. Who knows what the world would look like today if The League of Nations would have acted with more decisiveness back in 1938.

The example I often refer to is teaching my children about the dangers of the road. If my young child runs on the road, I don’t give him a lecture, I give him a smack. Better tears from a spank than tears from something much worse in the future. Some call it “tough love”. Words can achieve a lot, but there is a limit to how far that can go. You can’t negotiate with terrorists, their word isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

So sometimes a harsh act is the only way to make peace.
Whether or not this is the case with Iran, I let you decide – but the principal is valid none-the-less.

Good Shabbos