With each passing week of the war in Israel people are noticing connections between current events and the timeless words of the Torah.
Some of the connections between the Torah and Israel’s current war are only noticeable in the original Hebrew text.
Here are some chilling Torah references to the current war in Israel that only Hebrew speakers notice.
1) Operation “Rising Lion”
The name of the 12-day operation, in June 2025, when Israel continuously bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and took out key leaders of the country is “Rising Lion.” However, Rising Lion isn’t just a mascot-like name to rally the troops (literally)—it also echoes a prophecy which Hebrew speakers might recognize. The Torah prophecy states, “Yes, a nation will rise like a lion cub, and lift itself like a lion.” (Bamidbar/Numbers 23:24)
The fact that the Israeli government named the operation after this prophetic verse highlights just how daunting the idea of striking Iran has always been. But Israelis who recognized the reference took comfort in the prophecy that we would one day rise up against our most dangerous enemies successfully. Whether or not this was that moment—we couldn’t be sure at the time. But the words of the Torah gave us strength.
In hindsight, it seems the time was right—and the name even more so.
2) The F-35 Jet Mentioned in The Torah
The final words of chapter 10 of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) say how Lebanon will fall. “And the Lebanon will fall by the Adir.”
In Hebrew, Adir is generally an adjective meaning “mighty.” So clearly something mighty is supposed to make Lebanon fall at some point in time.
In modern Hebrew, the “Adir” also happens to be the name of the Israeli variant of the F-35I fighter jet.
Israel used the F-35I Adir extensively in battles against Hizballah in Lebanon. Rabbi Ephraim Palvanov has pointed out this connection here that when it says “the Lebanon will fall by the Adir” it could very well be hinting at the F-35I Adir jet plane.
Given that there are multiple levels of meaning in the Torah. And Israel’s operations in Lebanon were not against the Lebanese themselves, just the terrorist organization in their midst. This reference in the text is probably not the literal meaning of the verse, but is very possibly a deliberate prophetic hint.
3) “Hamas” Will No Longer Be Heard In Your Land
In Arabic, “hamas” has many meanings. It can mean zeal, enthusiasm, fervor, and is also an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement (aka, the full name of the Hamas terror organization).
In Hebrew, “hamas” also has many meanings and appears in the Torah many times. In various contexts it means violence, kidnapping, theft, cruelty, and injustice.
The fact that word “hamas” sounds so noble in Arabic, while representing so many facets of evil in Hebrew, is in-and-of-itself a noteworthy reflection of the entire conflict itself.
In Tehillim (Psalms), King David says, “Hashem tests the righteous; but hates the wicked who love violence (hamas).” (Tehillim 11:5) It might be worth reading that again because it’s saying that G-d hates those who love hamas. As mentioned, “hamas” in the Hebrew text can mean things like violence, kidnapping, theft, etc…but it can also mean Hamas.
When Netanyahu Quoted Isaiah
On October 25, 2023, in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre when Hamas terrorists crossed the border and committed acts of “hamas” against innocent civilians, Israeli Prime Minster, Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel’s upcoming ground invasion to Gaza. In his nationally televised speech he quoted a prophesy saying, “Hamas will no longer be heard in your land.” (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 60:18) The verse literally means that violence will no longer be heard in the land of Israel, the word for “violence” being, of course “hamas.” Very fitting.
4) Who is Haman Today?
On the holiday of Purim, Jews celebrate being saved from the wicked counsel of Haman. Thousands of years ago, Haman wanted to wipe out all of the Jews everywhere. He was the leader of the government of Persia, the country that is known today as Iran.
Coincidentally, Ali Khamenei, the Ayatollah of modern day Iran since 1989 fits the same description as Haman. He’s the leader of Persia. He wants to kill Jews everywhere. And his last name is even pronounced almost the same as Haman – Khamenei. (Apparently, according to native speakers, the actual Persian pronunciation is very similar to the way “Haman” is pronounced in Hebrew.) In another incredible coincidence, the previous Ayatollah, Ruhollah Khomeini, also had a very similar last name even though he wasn’t even related.
Interestingly, the Kabbalah teaches that a soul that returns in a later reincarnation will often have a similar name (Sha’ar HaGilgulim). So, if I had to guess who, in this generation, is Haman’s incarnate, Khamenei would be a very obvious possibility.
Final Thoughts
There is nothing like reading a book in its original language. That’s all the more true with the Torah, which is written in Hebrew — the same language that G-d used to create the world.
As world events unfold the Torah’s prophecies in real time, the world is constantly seeing how so many secrets and hints are hidden in broad daylight.
What other Torah references to modern events do you know of?
