"And they said: 'Come, let us build us a city and a tower with its top in the heavens and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed across the whole earth.'"


Under the threat of another flood that would destroy the world, King Nimrod, the mighty hunter who ruled the entire world, gathered all the peoples of the Earth and told them: 'Let us build a big city in which all of us can live together. In it we will erect a very high tower.'

HaShem gave these rebels tremendous success in all of their endeavors.

The idea was enthusiastically accepted by all the nations.


People had different reasons for wanting to build the tower, Some thought that it could save them from another flood, saying that the water would not reach them there. Some said that by building the tower, they would make a name for themselves. Still others wanted to build the tower and place an idol there and do battle with HaShem. All of the above groups had in mind to rebel against HaShem.


Yet another group denied HaShem’s very existence, claiming that HaShem did not exist at all and all the troubles that have befallen man came from natural occurrences. Whether it was the tidal wave in the generation of Enosh that washed away a third of the world's population or the flood in the time of Noach, they had a rational and scientific explanation for every event in the universe. They said: every 1,656 years the heavens shake, causing a flood. To prevent the heavens from collapsing again, we must take precautions by building supports, and the first pillar will be this tower in the valley of Bavel.


It is interesting to note that HaShem gave these rebels tremendous success in all of their endeavors, partly so they would not be able to say that if they could have built the tower, then they would have overcome Him. The bricks were fashioned as if by themselves, and when the people placed a brick in the wall, they found two others in its place. When they put down two, they found four set up. The tower grew and became so high that it took a person a full year to climb to the top.


Among all of the people rebelling against HaShem, Abraham stood out as opposing the tower project. He rebuked them, saying: 'You forsook HaShem, who is the Tower, and chose instead to substitute a tower made of bricks.' Abraham would curse the builders of the tower saying: 'Destroy them, O L-rd, and divide their tongues!' Still, Abraham's rebuke went unheeded, and the people mocked him, saying, 'Look at this barren mule, he is childless.'


If we would stop the story at this point, it would certainly seem that the rebels of this world came out the winners. A tremendous tower was taking shape under the leadership of the evil Nimrod, and the lone voice of opposition, Abraham, is belittled and silenced and without children. Still, to correctly view the events of history, we must be in it for the long haul. Looking back, we certainly can see the folly of Nimrod and his followers, while the

The doctrine of Abraham continues to this very day.

doctrine of Abraham continues to this very day.


So it has been throughout our long history, each empire rising up to greatness telling us of the high value of their beliefs and trying to destroy us for ours. Still, when the dust settles and time passes, the truth of HaShem and His chosen people is clear for all to see, even if, at the time, our opponents had much success.


Today, too, the fools continue on this path, learning nothing from history, whether it's in the form of trying to eliminate the Jewish people, or in the form of those from within and without who want to force us to give away our precious Land. Don’t they know that they labor in vain? True, as in the times of Nimrod, they might have looked for a while to be on top, but this is only to bring them down. In the end, the truth of HaShem's word and promise to His people will shine through.