Pray for Peace

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When I wrote - "Pray for peace, no matter what is needed to obtain it", I was reflecting on our past and what needed to be done to accomplish peace (at least for a time).

An example would be in the Book of Esther. Not pretty, but necessary.

There are many other biblical instances where G-d worked with us, but we needed to go out and complete the mission.

There is the temporary peace of a cease fire, and then there is a lasting true and equitable peace.

There is the so called justice that is nothing more than taking revenge and then there is true justice appropriately meted out. There is a difference between retribution and revenge.

Delaying, and thereby destroying, the opportunity, if presented, for a true equitable lasting peace for the purpose of satisfying a desire for revenge would be perverse and in opposition to the values of Judaism.

There is no victory if in obtaining victory we become the very thing that we are battling against.

That is very true RabbiO.

But then there is the constant threat which has been upon us since the State of Israel was acknowledged. Israel has made what seems to be and hopefully is lasting peace with several neighboring countries, so we see it can be done if both sides are serious with their intentions.

Those that just seek to destroy, annihilate and use barbaric means to come against us, must be dealt with to help prevent future instances. I don't think that would be categorized as revenge.