As by now you surely know, the new person, Yossi Cohen, appointed to head the Mossad is a somewhat religious Jew. he grew up religious, learned in yeshiva, his kids learn in yeshiva, he is shomer shabbat and keeps kosher, though he does not normally wear a kippa during the week, and is an accomplished person with a strong record as a Mossad agent.

After the appointment was made public last week, Cohen spoke on shabbos in his shul in Modiin. During his drasha he mentioned that the State was founded with God's help. Cohen also said that the State still needs God's help today.

This threw the media and many on the Left into a frenzy. How dare Cohen mention God! How dare Cohen, the head of Israel's intelligence agency, believe that God had some role in our country! Will he next turn the State into a halacha state? Will he cancel democracy? How dare he talk about God in a speech in shul!

this is a Jewish state, in addition to being democratic. With more religious people moving into more and more roles of leadership and authority, they better quickly get used to the new approach, to hearing God mentioned a little more frequently than before.

I see nothing wrong with what he said nor with what he believes. The strong rejection of what he said by some is more troubling. This is a Jewish State. God plays a role. Somehow, somewhat is something that can perhaps be debated, but it is time the Left, the media and the secular accept the fact that the religious, even those in leadership roles, include God in their lifestyle and beliefs.

And. the best thing about Cohen's speech in shul was probably that he got, perhaps for the first time, so many people to go to shul when they normally wouldn't - just because they wanted to hear what he would say, perhaps get some scoop (as they did). Perhaps one or two were even inspired by what he said or by something else in the services. It at least opens the door for them.