Tensions are growing following Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran followed up with strikes of its own.
South Dakota’s lone rabbi had just returned from a trip to Israel with state leaders shortly before the strikes.
“I think that this trip couldn’t have come at a more important time. An important time in the history of what’s going on in Israel in general now," Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz said. "The fact that our governor chose Israel to be the first foreign place that he would visit is very important in showing the strength of the relationship between South Dakota and Israel, and even more broadly the United States and Israel. It was very special for this trip to be at such an important time. Just, you know, days before this, this war with Iran.”
Rabbi Alperowitz was invited to join a business trip with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and South Dakota Trade looking to increase business partnerships with the nation.
He said from his own perspective the strikes were “the right thing to do and the important thing to do.”
“The Torah and Judaism place the highest value on preserving human life, and sometimes the most effective way to do that is to strike first, not to wait until the threat has already targeted you," he said. "In the words of our sages, ‘If someone rises to kill you, rise up to kill them first.’”
He said the trip shows South Dakota leaders want to grow ties with Israel.
“The Jewish community is very grateful that the leadership in South Dakota are very supportive of the Jewish community and have such a strong relationship with Israel," Alperowitz said.
However, not all are supportive of Israel’s move, especially because the US was set to have a diplomatic discussion with Iran about their nuclear program. Many worry Israel might set off another large-scale war in the Middle East. Rabbi Alperowitz doesn’t agree with that line of thinking.
“Even if it’s not always the most popular thing in diplomatic or political circles, but if the goal is to actually save lives and not just earn compliments, this is clearly the right thing to do," he said.
Many politicians in Washington D.C. say they don’t want the US to fund another Israeli war. CNN reports President Donald Trump had warned Israel against the move prior to the strikes.
