YOM KIPPUR ON 20th of September 2026

 Nadene Goldfoot

Stop! "Lest we forget": Let me remember another YOM KIPPUR  that happened, the Yom Kippur War which was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973, a 20 day war 53 years ago,  when another coalition of Arab states,  led by Egypt and Syria, launched a surprise attack on Israel on their holiest of holy days, the day they were asking for G-d's forgiveness for any wrongs they may had done, and their decision to be better this next year by improving.  Now, this happened to be a well-known holiday amongst our enemies evidently that knew the whole population of Israel would be davening (Praying) in their synogogues and temple.  What a time to attack!  

Egypt and Syria  attacked Israel on October 6, 1973, primarily to regain the sovereign territories they lost to Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967, they said.  That was a war where the Arabs were all lined up ready to attack and had given plenty of warning.  Israel, knowing they were about to be attacked by this amazing hoard of soldiers, pulled a surprise on them by attacking first. Egypt and Syria were against Israel, with indirect support from the United States (supporting Israel) and the Soviet Union (supporting Arab states).  Israel won the Six-Day War in 1967 and took control of the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Arab Goals: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat wanted to regain the lost land and restore Arab pride.

" Despite eventually turning the tide to achieve a decisive military comeback, the overwhelming sentiment among Israelis was shaped by the devastating casualties and the shock of being caught completely unprepared.  Because the war began with a massive, coordinated surprise attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, citizens initially feared an existential threat to the state. When the fighting stopped, the sheer scale of the losses—roughly 2,650 Israeli soldiers killed—cast a heavy shadow over the country. 

 The stunning early setbacks shattered public faith in military leadership and the government. The public felt a sense of betrayal and hubris. This widespread anger ultimately mobilized the populace against the governing establishment, leading to massive protests, inquiries, and significant political shifts. Does this sound familiar?  The same attitude was going on today with the October 7, 2023 attack.  

Relief: While victory was achieved in military terms—with Israeli forces pushing back the advancing armies and encircling the Egyptian Third Army—in 1973, it was celebrated primarily as a survival of a disaster rather than a cause for joyful, triumphant celebrations.

 Ultimately, the trauma and strategic shock of the war forced a psychological shift. The Brookings Institution notes that the realization of the war's high cost set the stage for subsequent diplomacy,"Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made his historic visit to Israel from November 19 to November 21, 1977. He delivered his famous speech to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on November 20, 1977.His visit completely mesmerized the Israeli public. Millions watched his arrival on television, and thousands lined the streets to see his motorcade. This monumental gesture broke decades of hostility and eventually led to the Camp David Accords in 1978 and the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in 1979. Egypt signed the Egypt–Israel peace treaty on March 26, 1979, in Washington, D.C.  Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter (as witness).

Syria has never signed a formal peace treaty with Israel.

Resource:

Wikipedia