The story of King Cyrus contains a timeless lesson. Cyrus enabled the Jews to return to Jerusalem and permitted the rebuilding of the Temple. Yet his declaration was only the beginning. The real challenge lay in seizing the opportunity, overcoming political resistance, and turning vision into reality. Many Israelis compare Donald Trump to Cyrus. Trump has granted Israel political, diplomatic, and security support of a kind that few American presidents before him have provided. But the same principle applies here: even the greatest external support cannot replace the responsibility of Israeli leadership. Doors can be opened by others. The path through them, Israel must walk itself.
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him so that gates shall not be shut.” These were the words of the prophet Isaiah. Few non-Jewish rulers have held such a special place in Jewish history as Cyrus, the King of Persia. The Prophet Isaiah even refers...
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