Counting down

The countdown has commenced.

This year, unlike all other years, Jews in Israel will be counting down towards two seemingly unrelated deadlines.

The first is the annual counting of the Omer, which marks the period between Pesach and Shavuot. For 49 days (seven weeks) observant Jews record each day marking liberation from servitude in Egypt until the dramatic revelation at Mount Sinai commemorated by the Festival of Shavuot.

The acceptance of the Torah by the assembled multitudes remains a critical component of the Israelites’ transformation from a collection of ex slaves to a “people” with a constitution and solid plan for eventual sovereignty. Once they settled in the Promised Land, Shavuot not only marked the anniversary of the Torah revelation but it also acquired a meaning related to the agricultural aspects of life there.

As one of the most life-changing events that the Jewish People have ever encountered, the countdown to Shavuot remains a crucial part of our lives.

Two thousand years of exile in perpetually hostile foreign lands somehow obscured its historical meaning and relegated Shavuot to a minor observance. Tragedies, pogroms, plagues and other disasters mean that the first 33 days from Pesach until Lag B’Omer recall a time of death and destruction. That is why no weddings are celebrated during this period.

Now that Jewish sovereignty has been restored, the Festival of Shavuot is observed in Israel as a major occasion.

This year, we celebrated our deliverance from bondage in Egypt amidst the continuing bombardment of missiles and drones from those who still wish to annihilate us. Many Israelis held Seders in safe rooms, air raid shelters, underground car parks and other reinforced facilities. It was surreal to observe our annual rituals to the sound of alerts, sirens, and explosions as incoming projectiles flew overhead, intercepted or fell from south to north across the country.

We have been counting the days since this war started, and we are still counting.

Unlike the Omer counting, we have no idea when this will really end or whether regime change will eventuate.

It is a stressful, nerve-racking time, especially for those who have been impacted by damaged or demolished homes and forced to evacuate. Sleepless nights and disturbed daily routines create a sense of uncertainty and unease. Seeing so-called allies missing in action and refusing to confront pure evil does not help.

Deadlines are announced and then aborted.

Most Israelis know that the Iranian threat must be eliminated and the long-suffering Iranian people liberated from their nearly five-decade-long nightmare.

Unfortunately, apart from the USA and Israel, nobody else is prepared to act. For Jews, this is an old, familiar story that has been repeated over two millennia. Despite this reality, there are still some who think that confronting evil is wrong. They prefer to stop counting and instead appease genocidal plotters in the vain hope that they will be targeted last.

One of the defining characteristics of Jewish history, ancient and modern, is the upheavals generated by differences of opinion when faced with life-shattering decisions.

Judaism encourages dialogue, discussion and questioning.

Unfortunately, this can often result in acrimonious debate, rigid positions, and religious and political paralysis.

Currently, many Israelis and Jews in the Diaspora are engaged in a frenetic frenzy over the subject of capital punishment, especially as it relates to terrorists who carry out murderous attacks against Israeli civilians.

Since the re-establishment of Jewish sovereignty in 1948, the only person to have been sentenced to death was Adolf Eichmann. As one of the architects and enablers of the “final solution” he was found guilty by an Israeli court and hanged. His defence that he was “only following orders” did not absolve or mitigate his involvement in the murder of Jews.

It is important to remember these facts because the hysterical opposition to the law just passed by the Knesset deliberately obscures and distorts the situation.

Some background on how we have reached the current situation is warranted to provide relevant context.

The Knesset member who introduced this death penalty legislation did so after she learned that her husband’s murderer was freed as part of the disastrous deal releasing two thousand Islamic terrorists for kidnapped hostages. Terror groups proudly proclaim that they will continue to murder Israelis until the last terrorist is released from jail.

Like those who carried out the Nazi campaign of extermination to kill Jews, jihadist followers are indoctrinated to do exactly the same. There is no difference between Eichmann facilitating mass murder and today’s Islamic disciples carrying out murderous ideologies.

Opponents of the legislation and their willing media helpers have, as usual, distorted the situation.

They claim that the law is racist because it “would execute Arab Muslims.” In actual fact, it only applies to non-citizen terrorists who live under military jurisdiction. It does not apply to Israeli citizens, Jews or Arabs, whatever their religion may be.

The European Union, among others claim, that the provisions are “deeply concerning” because “the death penalty is a violation of the right to life.”  Apparently, the fact that the murderers themselves actually violated the right to life of innocent Israelis and, moreover, are dedicated to doing so again and again when they are released, seems to be of no consequence. The likelihood that jailed killers will be released sooner rather than later is a fact. Imagine the agonising pain suffered by spouses, children, parents, siblings and others when this occurs, as it has frequently occurred in the past and present.

Some other salient facts are worth considering as well.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Brunei and Mauritania execute gay individuals without the UN, EU and other critics of Israel convulsing or losing any sleep.

Our misnamed “peace partners” of the Palestinian Authority have a law in place that calls for the death penalty for any of their citizens who sell land to Jews. That is about as racist as it can get, yet those who accuse Israel of racism remain mute and silent in the face of Islamic racism.

A recent report revealed that in 2025, the Palestinian Authority transferred approximately half a billion shekels in payments to terrorists and their families.

During this period, 395 million shekels were allocated to terrorists currently imprisoned in Israeli jails. In addition, 92 million shekels were paid to the families of terrorists killed while carrying out attacks. Released terrorists let out as part of “deals” were also granted a special payment.

I have yet to detect spasms of moral outrage from those currently condemning Israel.

Some critics have described the death penalty law for terror murderers as an “abomination.”

In my humble opinion, the only real abomination is hypocrisy in the face of Islamic terror.

In the words of Gilbert & Sullivan – “let the punishment fit the crime.”  

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.