Going through an extremely difficult time, like we are right now in Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel), creates a sense of helplessness and despair in a great many people. The effects of the ongoing war are starting to hit hard at the nation?s economy and industry. Unemployment is a curse directly affecting the availability of bread on the table. When our leaders do not have any plausible solutions or even encouraging words of comfort, how could one expect ordinary people to feel the strength and courage that rightfully should be ours. We are, after all, living as an independent nation in our own land. We have the strongest and most developed army in the region. Why are we so irresolute and perplexed?
The whole world belongs to God. He decided to give different parts of it to different nations. Some He gave to the Finns, some to the British, a large part he saw fit to give to the Arab nations. Before this took place, he was seeking out a beautiful and fruitful part of the world that he wanted to dedicate to his own people. Eretz Israel is our gift from Hashem (God). Somebody else lived here when we entered the land, but He gave instructions to conquer the land and what to do with the previous inhabitants.
We must remember that Hashem also gave us other precious gifts, like the Holy Torah, wherein, for example, the Shabbat shines like a bright jewel. Did we ever imagine giving up part of the Holy Torah? Can we consider trading in parts of it for a more positive world opinion? Maybe some mitzvot (commandments), which seem to be of lesser importance, could be exchanged for a supportive United Nations resolution? Let us examine the care we give to the reading of the weekly parsha (Torah portion) in our Beit Knesset (synagogue). Even a mispronunciation is quickly corrected. It would be unimaginable to delete anything from our Holy Torah. Why don?t we show the same care and responsibility for the other gift that Hashem gave us ? Eretz Israel? Whenever our enemy comes up with a proposal to share the land, to divide it or tear it to pieces, surprisingly, many presumably smart and responsible people are so eager to accept the trade-in proposal.
Recently, we were reminded of our ongoing battle with Amalek by the reading for parshat Zachor, according to the mitzva to ?remember what Amalek did.? He turned against our forefathers in the desert, out of the pure lust to destroy our people. The same spirit was in Haman, a true descendant of Amalek. Thank God we had Mordechai and Queen Esther! Our first King, Shaul, had a clear order to destroy the Amalekites ? to completely wipe out this evil people. He was forbidden to make any treaties, any land for peace deals, with them. He was not to have any pity on them. King Shaul made one mistake, he listened to the people instead of obeying his Master?s order. Sometimes, democracy can be fatal. In the case of our first king, following public opinion cost him the throne.
Can we learn something from another King?s judgement? Two women came to Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon) in dispute over who was the mother of a baby. The famous response from the wise king was to split the baby in half so they could ?share? the baby. The lesson and the wisdom is not to divide the baby, but to learn who is the rightful ?owner.? In this perspective it is almost frightening to implement this lesson in today?s situation. According to some people, the wisdom seems to lie in the suggestion of division, rather than in the lesson regarding who is the rightful owner. Let this be an encouragement for the brave people living on the frontline in Judea and Samaria. You are showing us the clear message: the land is ours, it is not up for division or splitting in half. The Jewish people are the rightful caretakers of Eretz Israel and Jerusalem, it?s undivided capital. The rightful Owner entrusted it to us, to settle, to cultivate and to enjoy its fruits.
So how can we turn away from our despair? There must be something we can do while longing for the Moschiach (Messiah). First of all: we must remember, we are not alone! Although we do not have world opinion with us, we do have the Creator of the world with us. See how beautifully this is described in the Torah: ?For the Land to which you cross over to possess it is a Land of hills and valleys; from the rain of heaven will it drink water; a Land that Hashem, your God seeks out, the eyes of Hashem, your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to year?s end.? (Deut. 11:11-12.)
Secondly, while engaged in our current battle with the Amalekites, we can learn something from our first battle with this enemy of ours. Early on in our exodus from Egypt, when we were attacked and had to defend ourselves from Amalek, victory was guaranteed only when Israel looked heavenward and subjected our hearts to our Father in Heaven. We still had to do a real battle, but with Moses? hands raised in prayer we could focus on the One giving us the strength and the victory instead of concentrating on our weaknesses and failures.
Thirdly, we cannot pretend as if there is a solution to a conflict with an Amalekite enemy without a war. This war has already started, yet still our leader promises he will not lead us to war. We would be better off if the clear message would be: Let?s fight this war and win it. The advisers we have to heed are not from the United Nations, nor from the European Union, rather from the same Holy Torah as our forefathers had. The advice therein is still valid. Our Torah says: ?When you go out to the battle against your enemy, and you see horse and chariot ? a people more numerous than you ? you shall not fear them, for Hashem, your God, is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. It shall be that when you draw near to the war, the Kohen shall approach and speak to the people. He shall say to them: Hear O Israel, you are coming near to the battle against your enemies, let your heart not be faint, do not be afraid, do not panic, and do not be broken before them. For Hashem your God is the One Who goes with you, to fight for you with your enemies, to save you.? (Deut. 20: 1-4)
We are not alone. We must seek the advice and company of Hashem, our God, Who gave us this land. We do not need acceptance by or advice from world opinion. We are proud of our strong army, our hi-tech industry, and rightfully so. Yet when we talk about our pride, we must not forget our greatest strength and asset ? our Holy Torah. When we are strong in our Jewish faith, we are strong as a nation.
--------------------------------
Shlomo Brunell lives in Ra?anana.
The whole world belongs to God. He decided to give different parts of it to different nations. Some He gave to the Finns, some to the British, a large part he saw fit to give to the Arab nations. Before this took place, he was seeking out a beautiful and fruitful part of the world that he wanted to dedicate to his own people. Eretz Israel is our gift from Hashem (God). Somebody else lived here when we entered the land, but He gave instructions to conquer the land and what to do with the previous inhabitants.
We must remember that Hashem also gave us other precious gifts, like the Holy Torah, wherein, for example, the Shabbat shines like a bright jewel. Did we ever imagine giving up part of the Holy Torah? Can we consider trading in parts of it for a more positive world opinion? Maybe some mitzvot (commandments), which seem to be of lesser importance, could be exchanged for a supportive United Nations resolution? Let us examine the care we give to the reading of the weekly parsha (Torah portion) in our Beit Knesset (synagogue). Even a mispronunciation is quickly corrected. It would be unimaginable to delete anything from our Holy Torah. Why don?t we show the same care and responsibility for the other gift that Hashem gave us ? Eretz Israel? Whenever our enemy comes up with a proposal to share the land, to divide it or tear it to pieces, surprisingly, many presumably smart and responsible people are so eager to accept the trade-in proposal.
Recently, we were reminded of our ongoing battle with Amalek by the reading for parshat Zachor, according to the mitzva to ?remember what Amalek did.? He turned against our forefathers in the desert, out of the pure lust to destroy our people. The same spirit was in Haman, a true descendant of Amalek. Thank God we had Mordechai and Queen Esther! Our first King, Shaul, had a clear order to destroy the Amalekites ? to completely wipe out this evil people. He was forbidden to make any treaties, any land for peace deals, with them. He was not to have any pity on them. King Shaul made one mistake, he listened to the people instead of obeying his Master?s order. Sometimes, democracy can be fatal. In the case of our first king, following public opinion cost him the throne.
Can we learn something from another King?s judgement? Two women came to Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon) in dispute over who was the mother of a baby. The famous response from the wise king was to split the baby in half so they could ?share? the baby. The lesson and the wisdom is not to divide the baby, but to learn who is the rightful ?owner.? In this perspective it is almost frightening to implement this lesson in today?s situation. According to some people, the wisdom seems to lie in the suggestion of division, rather than in the lesson regarding who is the rightful owner. Let this be an encouragement for the brave people living on the frontline in Judea and Samaria. You are showing us the clear message: the land is ours, it is not up for division or splitting in half. The Jewish people are the rightful caretakers of Eretz Israel and Jerusalem, it?s undivided capital. The rightful Owner entrusted it to us, to settle, to cultivate and to enjoy its fruits.
So how can we turn away from our despair? There must be something we can do while longing for the Moschiach (Messiah). First of all: we must remember, we are not alone! Although we do not have world opinion with us, we do have the Creator of the world with us. See how beautifully this is described in the Torah: ?For the Land to which you cross over to possess it is a Land of hills and valleys; from the rain of heaven will it drink water; a Land that Hashem, your God seeks out, the eyes of Hashem, your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to year?s end.? (Deut. 11:11-12.)
Secondly, while engaged in our current battle with the Amalekites, we can learn something from our first battle with this enemy of ours. Early on in our exodus from Egypt, when we were attacked and had to defend ourselves from Amalek, victory was guaranteed only when Israel looked heavenward and subjected our hearts to our Father in Heaven. We still had to do a real battle, but with Moses? hands raised in prayer we could focus on the One giving us the strength and the victory instead of concentrating on our weaknesses and failures.
Thirdly, we cannot pretend as if there is a solution to a conflict with an Amalekite enemy without a war. This war has already started, yet still our leader promises he will not lead us to war. We would be better off if the clear message would be: Let?s fight this war and win it. The advisers we have to heed are not from the United Nations, nor from the European Union, rather from the same Holy Torah as our forefathers had. The advice therein is still valid. Our Torah says: ?When you go out to the battle against your enemy, and you see horse and chariot ? a people more numerous than you ? you shall not fear them, for Hashem, your God, is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. It shall be that when you draw near to the war, the Kohen shall approach and speak to the people. He shall say to them: Hear O Israel, you are coming near to the battle against your enemies, let your heart not be faint, do not be afraid, do not panic, and do not be broken before them. For Hashem your God is the One Who goes with you, to fight for you with your enemies, to save you.? (Deut. 20: 1-4)
We are not alone. We must seek the advice and company of Hashem, our God, Who gave us this land. We do not need acceptance by or advice from world opinion. We are proud of our strong army, our hi-tech industry, and rightfully so. Yet when we talk about our pride, we must not forget our greatest strength and asset ? our Holy Torah. When we are strong in our Jewish faith, we are strong as a nation.
--------------------------------
Shlomo Brunell lives in Ra?anana.