In the battle against Amalek, Moses sent Joshua to fight Amalek while he, himself, "went up to the top of the hill. As long as he held his hands up, Israel would be winning, but as soon as he let his hands down, the battle would go in Amalek's favor." (Exodus 17:11)
Our sages ask, "Did Moses' hands actually make or break the battle? Rather, as long as Israel gazed upwards, subjugating their hearts to their Father in Heaven, they overcame Amalek, but when they didn't, they were slain." (Rosh Hashanah 29a) Regarding the significance of their gazing Heavenward and subjugating their hearts to their Father in Heaven, Rabbi Chaim Volozhin wrote in his book Nefesh HaChaim (Sha'ar 2, Chapter 11) that when Israel prays, they must train their thoughts exclusively on the needs of Heaven.
Wherever G-d's name is being profaned, as when the Jewish People suffer blows and affliction, we must beseech G-d to prevent that profanation from occurring. Moses, in holding his hands up towards Heaven, was hinting to Israel that the entire focus on their war was on preventing G-d's name from being profaned. If Israel were victorious, G-d's name would be sanctified in the world, but if Israel were smitten and slain, G-d's name would be profaned. Therefore, Moses steadfastly kept his arms up, even though this was hard for him and he needed the help of Aaron and Chur. Moses persevered by dint of his belief that Israel's entire purpose in this world is to sanctify G-d's name, and that if they fulfill that purpose, then G-d will help them to achieve victory in their war.
By their very existence, the Jewish People spread the light of faith. As our father Abraham did, they continue to call "in the name of the G-d of the universe." (Genesis 21:3) Yet, in every generation, those who continue in the path of Amalek rise up, and their whole ambition is to extinguish Israel's light.
In our own generation as well, Israel's enemies intuitively sense that Israel is diametrically opposed to them and to their path, which is so full of wickedness and barbarity. As that enemy of Israel from Germany said, he could not live in peace as long as there was one Jew on earth.
Thus, our present battle, as well, is a war between the sons of light and the sons of darkness. In our struggle to survive in our land, we must follow in the path of Moses, who showed us by means of his hands raised on high that our wars and struggles are not a private battle over just a particular house or settlement or area of the country. Rather, the struggle is over the glory of Israel, which is synonymous with the glory of G-d. With this in mind, we pray, "Spare Your people, O L-rd. Abandon not Your heritage to disgrace, that the nations should make them a byword." (Joel 2:17)
And just as Israel defeated their enemies when they left Egypt, so shall we achieve enormous victory over our enemies when we come to Jerusalem.
Our sages ask, "Did Moses' hands actually make or break the battle? Rather, as long as Israel gazed upwards, subjugating their hearts to their Father in Heaven, they overcame Amalek, but when they didn't, they were slain." (Rosh Hashanah 29a) Regarding the significance of their gazing Heavenward and subjugating their hearts to their Father in Heaven, Rabbi Chaim Volozhin wrote in his book Nefesh HaChaim (Sha'ar 2, Chapter 11) that when Israel prays, they must train their thoughts exclusively on the needs of Heaven.
Wherever G-d's name is being profaned, as when the Jewish People suffer blows and affliction, we must beseech G-d to prevent that profanation from occurring. Moses, in holding his hands up towards Heaven, was hinting to Israel that the entire focus on their war was on preventing G-d's name from being profaned. If Israel were victorious, G-d's name would be sanctified in the world, but if Israel were smitten and slain, G-d's name would be profaned. Therefore, Moses steadfastly kept his arms up, even though this was hard for him and he needed the help of Aaron and Chur. Moses persevered by dint of his belief that Israel's entire purpose in this world is to sanctify G-d's name, and that if they fulfill that purpose, then G-d will help them to achieve victory in their war.
By their very existence, the Jewish People spread the light of faith. As our father Abraham did, they continue to call "in the name of the G-d of the universe." (Genesis 21:3) Yet, in every generation, those who continue in the path of Amalek rise up, and their whole ambition is to extinguish Israel's light.
In our own generation as well, Israel's enemies intuitively sense that Israel is diametrically opposed to them and to their path, which is so full of wickedness and barbarity. As that enemy of Israel from Germany said, he could not live in peace as long as there was one Jew on earth.
Thus, our present battle, as well, is a war between the sons of light and the sons of darkness. In our struggle to survive in our land, we must follow in the path of Moses, who showed us by means of his hands raised on high that our wars and struggles are not a private battle over just a particular house or settlement or area of the country. Rather, the struggle is over the glory of Israel, which is synonymous with the glory of G-d. With this in mind, we pray, "Spare Your people, O L-rd. Abandon not Your heritage to disgrace, that the nations should make them a byword." (Joel 2:17)
And just as Israel defeated their enemies when they left Egypt, so shall we achieve enormous victory over our enemies when we come to Jerusalem.