On Shavuot, the Festival of G-d?s giving us the Torah, we customarily read the Scroll of Ruth. As is well-known, from Ruth the Moabite emerged King David, from whom will emerge the Messiah. The Messiah?s task will be to see to the practice and application of our holy Torah in Eretz Yisrael. It is true that the Torah was given in the desert, but perfect fulfillment of it depends on its being practiced in the Land, in a State run by a G-d-fearing, Torah-learned king like King David. Not only was David a political and military leader, but a great and saintly Torah scholar.
Indeed, King David ran his kingdom with wisdom and understanding despite the harsh wars that he waged against Israel?s enemies. Our sages tell us that when an economic crisis befell the kingdom, ?the wise men of Israel came to him and said, ?Our master the King, your people Israel need support.? To this he replied, ?Go and have some [the wealthy] support the rest [the poor].? Yet the sages replied, ?A small quantity of food cannot satisfy a lion; neither can a pit be filled up by the dirt previously removed from it.?? (Berachot 3b) In other words, the wealthy cannot support the poor (this recalls the argument of the Finance Minister that the top ten percent cannot fill the country?s coffers).
King David then replied, ?Go to war!? By which he meant that expanding Israel?s borders would increase the nation?s economic opportunities. King David consulted with his strategic advisors, got the authorization of the Sanhedrin and the blessing of the Kohen Gadol [the high priest], and went to war.
Today, the situation of the State of Israel is similar, but also different. It is similar in that we are in an economic crisis, with tens of thousands poor and out-of-work; with factories, as well as Torah institutions, collapsing; with the State?s coffers emptying out. Yet, in contrast to the situation faced by King David, we are not initiating wars of choice. Rather, for many years already, we have been faced with a war of no-choice over our very existence. This conflict has been forced upon us by an Islamic holy war going back to the State?s establishment, and it has been a constant fixture, albeit in varying forms. At times, the surrounding nations have attacked us. At other times, they have waged a cruel war of terror against us. Sometimes, perhaps worst of all, we have faced ?peace attacks?, whereby the Arabs have stealthily attempted to achieve the same ends - the conquest of Jerusalem and the liquidation of the State of Israel - may it never be.
We have to learn from King David how to deal with our enemies. Only by soundly defeating them will we merit true peace in the land of our life?s blood. As King David said, ?I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; neither did I turn back until they were consumed. I have consumed them and smitten them through, that they cannot arise; yea, they have fallen under my feet.? (II Samuel 22:38-39)
Not by surrendering to our enemies and not by handing over parts of Eretz Yisrael will we bring peace to our land. Only through faith and strength, for ?G-d will give strength to His people. He will bless them with peace.? (Psalm 29:11)
With blessings for a joyous Shavuot.
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Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UveEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il.
Indeed, King David ran his kingdom with wisdom and understanding despite the harsh wars that he waged against Israel?s enemies. Our sages tell us that when an economic crisis befell the kingdom, ?the wise men of Israel came to him and said, ?Our master the King, your people Israel need support.? To this he replied, ?Go and have some [the wealthy] support the rest [the poor].? Yet the sages replied, ?A small quantity of food cannot satisfy a lion; neither can a pit be filled up by the dirt previously removed from it.?? (Berachot 3b) In other words, the wealthy cannot support the poor (this recalls the argument of the Finance Minister that the top ten percent cannot fill the country?s coffers).
King David then replied, ?Go to war!? By which he meant that expanding Israel?s borders would increase the nation?s economic opportunities. King David consulted with his strategic advisors, got the authorization of the Sanhedrin and the blessing of the Kohen Gadol [the high priest], and went to war.
Today, the situation of the State of Israel is similar, but also different. It is similar in that we are in an economic crisis, with tens of thousands poor and out-of-work; with factories, as well as Torah institutions, collapsing; with the State?s coffers emptying out. Yet, in contrast to the situation faced by King David, we are not initiating wars of choice. Rather, for many years already, we have been faced with a war of no-choice over our very existence. This conflict has been forced upon us by an Islamic holy war going back to the State?s establishment, and it has been a constant fixture, albeit in varying forms. At times, the surrounding nations have attacked us. At other times, they have waged a cruel war of terror against us. Sometimes, perhaps worst of all, we have faced ?peace attacks?, whereby the Arabs have stealthily attempted to achieve the same ends - the conquest of Jerusalem and the liquidation of the State of Israel - may it never be.
We have to learn from King David how to deal with our enemies. Only by soundly defeating them will we merit true peace in the land of our life?s blood. As King David said, ?I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; neither did I turn back until they were consumed. I have consumed them and smitten them through, that they cannot arise; yea, they have fallen under my feet.? (II Samuel 22:38-39)
Not by surrendering to our enemies and not by handing over parts of Eretz Yisrael will we bring peace to our land. Only through faith and strength, for ?G-d will give strength to His people. He will bless them with peace.? (Psalm 29:11)
With blessings for a joyous Shavuot.
-------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UveEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il.