Nuclear Jews
By Yochanan Gordon
Every Jew is a spiritual force of cosmic proportions. Our enemies know it; do we?
There are endless places you can turn to for minute-by-minute updates on Israel’s war to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. And while we all have an insatiable hunger to be “in the know” faster than the next guy, it’s worth asking: what value does that truly bring? For influencers chasing views and clicks, breaking news is invaluable. But Israel isn’t engaged in just another war—this is a cosmic showdown. Political pundits warn that any confrontation with Iran could spiral into World War III. Our sages taught that the sound of war heralds the Messianic era—a moment far more consequential than a few viral posts.
When world-shaking events unfold, it’s easy to feel small. We wonder: do my prayers really matter? Are my good deeds actually making a difference? King David writes in Psalms: “From my enemies You have made me wise through Your commandments.” Our sages explain: by observing the strategy of our enemies, we can grasp the power of our mitzvos. Consider: Israel’s military carefully targets nuclear compounds, bases, terrorists, and scientists. Iran responds by firing missiles into civilian areas—Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bat Yam, Rechovot—taking innocent lives and wreaking havoc. Yet we hear no outcry from those who otherwise police morality. Why? Because to our enemies, every Jew is a “nuclear scientist”—every Jew threatens their mission of darkness.
Throughout our history, we’ve imposed our own distinctions: who we’ll associate with, who we’ll marry into, who we respect. But our enemies, from Hitler to Hamas, make no such distinctions. To them, every Jew is sacred—and dangerous to their hateful vision. This reality should fill us with awe and responsibility. But instead, many Jews struggle with a spiritual inferiority complex. Who am I to think my prayers change anything? But those doubts come from the side of impurity—because the forces of evil know: if a Jew davens or does a mitzvah, it’s game over for them. Their attacks on our civilians reveal just how much they fear us. And where are the moralists now? Has Piers Morgan or anyone else condemned Iran for targeting innocent civilians? No. Because on some level, even they see that every Jew—religious or not—is a spiritual powerhouse.
My father pointed out: Hamas has always demanded exorbitant prices for prisoner swaps or to return bodies for burial. At first, I agreed but then I realized: that may simply exploit Israel’s own values. What we see now is different. When Iran responds to strikes on their top officials by aiming at our civilians, they expose the truth: every Jew is priceless—in their eyes, and in reality.
This truth reminded me of a remarkable encounter Rabbi David Lapin shared about meeting the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Early in his career, Rabbi Lapin was pouring himself into outreach in South Africa, but the effort strained his family. He questioned whether his work really mattered. When he sought guidance from the Rebbe, the Rebbe rose, came around his desk, and spoke with intense seriousness. Rabbi Lapin felt overwhelmed by the Rebbe’s high expectations. He said: I’m humbled by what you see in me, but I’m young—what you’re asking seems beyond my reach. The Rebbe told him: Your mistake is seeing human interaction like a chemical reaction—two elements combining to produce one outcome. But human connection is nuclear. A nuclear reaction starts at one point and radiates outward in all directions. And as those rings expand, the impact grows exponentially—with no limit. When you touch one heart, you create a nuclear explosion. That person will touch many more. That vision fueled Rabbi Lapin, and it explains the unparalleled success of Chabad’s global outreach.
Today, Israel fights to stop Iran from building weapons of death. But we, the Jewish people, already hold a nuclear arsenal—not for destruction, but to build a dwelling place for G-d on Earth. Every mitzvah, every kind word, every honest prayer—that’s a nuclear act. And the reverberations? Infinite. So let’s stop doubting our worth. If our enemies know how powerful we are, shouldn’t we?
Yochanan Gordon can be reached at [email protected]. Read more of Yochanan’s articles at 5TJT.com.
