Considering a recent book on changing attitudes towards aging in 20th-century America, Mira Balberg examines how ancient rabbis understood adult children’s obligations to their parents. Take the Talmud’s description of how Rabbi Tarfon treated his mother:

Every time Rabbi Tarfon’s mother wanted to climb into her bed, he would stoop down to let her up, and every time she would step out of her bed, she would step down onto him. When Rabbi Tarfon was praising himself in the study house, his fellows said, “You have not even reached half the honor that is due one’s parents. Did she ever throw your money into the sea in front of you, while you did not disgrace her?” (Kiddushin 31b)

Nor is this passage exceptional. It seems, Balberg relates, that “one can never properly meet” the obligations imposed by the Fifth Commandment. Yet the rabbis weren’t just interested in displays of devotion, but sensitive to the psychological effects of children having to care for infirm parents:

In the course of its discussion of the obligation to honor one’s parents, the Jerusalem Talmud comments that it is not enough for one to provide for all one’s parents’ physical needs; one must also treat them kindly. [It] tells the story of a son who served his aged father “fattened hens,” that is, sumptuous food, but when the father tried to make conversation during the meal, the son snapped, “Shut up and eat, old man! Dogs are supposed to eat silently.” That son, the Talmud assures us, will end up in hell regardless of what he gave his father.

On Monday night, the IDF struck a group of Hamas operatives near the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, the main city in southern Gaza. The very fact of this attack was reassuring, as it suggested that the release of Edan Alexander didn’t come with restraints on Israeli military activity. Then, yesterday afternoon, Israeli jets carried out another, larger attack on Khan Yunis, hitting a site where it believed Mohammad Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, to be hiding. The IDF has not yet confirmed that he was present. There is some hope that the death of Sinwar—who replaced his older brother Yahya after he was killed last year—could have a debilitating effect on Hamas.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is visiting the Persian Gulf, and it’s unclear how his diplomatic efforts there will affect Israel, its war with Hamas, and Iran. For its part, Jerusalem has committed to resume full-scale operations in Gaza after President Trump returns to the U.S. But, Gabi Simoni and Erez Winner explain, Israel does not have unlimited time to defeat Hamas:

Israel faces persistent security challenges across multiple fronts—Iran, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon—all demanding significant military resources, especially during periods of escalation. . . . Failing to achieve a decisive victory not only prolongs the conflict but also drains national resources and threatens Israel’s ability to obtain its strategic goals.

Only a swift, forceful military campaign can achieve the war’s objectives: securing the hostages’ release, ensuring Israeli citizens’ safety, and preventing future kidnappings. Avoiding such action won’t just prolong the suffering of the hostages and deepen public uncertainty—it will also drain national resources and weaken Israel’s standing in the region and beyond.

We recommend launching an intense military operation in Gaza without delay, with clear, measurable objectives—crippling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of hostages. Such a campaign should combine military pressure with indirect negotiations, maximizing the chances of a successful outcome while minimizing risks.

Crucially, the operation must be closely coordinated with the United States and moderate Arab states to reduce international pressure and preserve the gains of regional alliances.