Rabbi Compares Trump’s Policy Shift to Historical Precedents Like Cyrus and Jerusalem’s History

Rabbi Avraham Bales draws on the Ramban’s principle "The deeds of the fathers are a sign for the children" to analyze U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent policy changes. He suggests that Trump’s actions, much like those of the ancient Persian king Cyrus, are part of a broader historical process where significant shifts repeat over time. The Ramban’s rule helps clarify complex historical events, such as the struggle over Jerusalem. For example, during Israel’s War of Independence, the Old City of Jerusalem was not held, and even after the Six-Day War, control over the Temple Mount remained elusive. This pattern mirrors King David’s late conquest of Jerusalem and his purchase of the Temple Mount from the Jebusites near the end of his reign, illustrating the prolonged effort to liberate Jerusalem from foreign control.

Rabbi Bales highlights that Trump’s policy reversal is not unprecedented, comparing it to Cyrus’s initial support for rebuilding the Temple followed by a change of stance. He questions why Trump initially showed strong friendship and support, suggesting it was to bring attention to issues often seen as radical, such as encouraging migration from Gaza and the West Bank and the U.S. Defense Secretary’s call for rebuilding the Temple. Thanks to America’s initial embrace, these topics have entered public discourse, making what once seemed impossible now appear achievable. Rabbi Bales concludes that once Israel fulfills its true mission, it will become a beacon of light for the entire world.