There is a duality to the term found in this week's parsha, Ki Tisa, which characterizes the Israelites as a "stiff-necked people". It is a quality that could have doomed the Jews, and yet, it is also a source of their strength and endurance.
Following the sin of the Golden Calf, when Hashem tells Moshe that he is going to destroy the Israelite nation and make Moshe the leader of a new nation. (Exodus 22:10), Hashem characterizes the Israelites as "stiff-necked", as a reason for their destruction (Exodus 32:9, 33:5). Being "stiff-necked" denotes an unwillingness to listen to advice. The classical commentator Sforno states that "stiff-necked" is "like a neck made of iron, and they will not turn to listen to the advice of a righteous teacher, (thus) there is no hope that they will repent." (Sforno, Exodus 32:9) Since the Israelites had witnessed so many miracles performed on their behalf, how could they permit the abomination of the Golden Calf? Thus, nothing can move them and repentance is beyond their grasp.
Yet, stiff-neckedness can also be a most admirable trait, implying a kind of devotion that is unique. When Moses successfully pleas on behalf of the Israelites, he also utters the phrase "stiff-necked" - as a pretext for their survival! (Exodus 34:9) In other words, Moses was beseeching Hashem to spare the people because they will stand by God no matter what impediments they face! It is an argument vindicated by time. The Jews as a people stubbornly held on to their beliefs in the most difficult of circumstances and have outlived their many persecutors. Maybe their physical being could be controlled by despots, but not their souls and spirits.
Bilaam stated, "He crouched and lay like a lion, and like a lion cub, who can stand him up?" (Numbers 24:9) The Jews, when united in purpose, are unshakable. Bilaam was alluding to the future.
In our own time, such Jewish stiff-neckedness is evident.
Despite all impediments, the Jews returned to Zion after two thousand years and rebuilt the Jewish homeland. In the face of war, terrorism and economic boycotts, Israel has been unstoppable, its people steadfast in their determination. Such determination has produced bountiful results. Whether they were early Zionist pioneers who disregarded the scoffers and cleared swamps, developed the land and fought off malaria and terrorists. Or their children and grandchildren, who, on the eve of the Six-Day War, when Arab armies throughout the Middle East were poised to annihilate the Jewish State, did not budge but collectively held their ground. The potential prospect of defeat and disaster could not deter the peoples' will to fight for their rights to the land of Israel. In actuality, every day of their existence has been a victory for the people of Israel and a testimony to their fortitude.
Then, there is the other side of stubbornness, which results in detriment to the people of Israel - not heeding lessons of the past. It is all too apparent: the concessions of appeasement will fail. Releasing terrorists will only serve to breed and encourage terrorism in the future. Withdrawing from territory will only serve to diminish Israel's small and precious land mass and borders, while the Arabs and the world will no doubt soon demand further concessions in the name of "peace". How many times must Israel jeopardize its vital interests for bogus assurances?
Rather then ramming through bad policies and labeling patriotic Israelis who oppose this 'disengagement from sanity' as pariahs, it would surely be better to learn the lessons of the past and proclaim that Israel's diminutive borders can not be compromised, and that concessions will ultimately exacerbate the conflict. The Jews should use their age-old stiff-neckedness for their benefit, rather than their detriment.
Following the sin of the Golden Calf, when Hashem tells Moshe that he is going to destroy the Israelite nation and make Moshe the leader of a new nation. (Exodus 22:10), Hashem characterizes the Israelites as "stiff-necked", as a reason for their destruction (Exodus 32:9, 33:5). Being "stiff-necked" denotes an unwillingness to listen to advice. The classical commentator Sforno states that "stiff-necked" is "like a neck made of iron, and they will not turn to listen to the advice of a righteous teacher, (thus) there is no hope that they will repent." (Sforno, Exodus 32:9) Since the Israelites had witnessed so many miracles performed on their behalf, how could they permit the abomination of the Golden Calf? Thus, nothing can move them and repentance is beyond their grasp.
Yet, stiff-neckedness can also be a most admirable trait, implying a kind of devotion that is unique. When Moses successfully pleas on behalf of the Israelites, he also utters the phrase "stiff-necked" - as a pretext for their survival! (Exodus 34:9) In other words, Moses was beseeching Hashem to spare the people because they will stand by God no matter what impediments they face! It is an argument vindicated by time. The Jews as a people stubbornly held on to their beliefs in the most difficult of circumstances and have outlived their many persecutors. Maybe their physical being could be controlled by despots, but not their souls and spirits.
Bilaam stated, "He crouched and lay like a lion, and like a lion cub, who can stand him up?" (Numbers 24:9) The Jews, when united in purpose, are unshakable. Bilaam was alluding to the future.
In our own time, such Jewish stiff-neckedness is evident.
Despite all impediments, the Jews returned to Zion after two thousand years and rebuilt the Jewish homeland. In the face of war, terrorism and economic boycotts, Israel has been unstoppable, its people steadfast in their determination. Such determination has produced bountiful results. Whether they were early Zionist pioneers who disregarded the scoffers and cleared swamps, developed the land and fought off malaria and terrorists. Or their children and grandchildren, who, on the eve of the Six-Day War, when Arab armies throughout the Middle East were poised to annihilate the Jewish State, did not budge but collectively held their ground. The potential prospect of defeat and disaster could not deter the peoples' will to fight for their rights to the land of Israel. In actuality, every day of their existence has been a victory for the people of Israel and a testimony to their fortitude.
Then, there is the other side of stubbornness, which results in detriment to the people of Israel - not heeding lessons of the past. It is all too apparent: the concessions of appeasement will fail. Releasing terrorists will only serve to breed and encourage terrorism in the future. Withdrawing from territory will only serve to diminish Israel's small and precious land mass and borders, while the Arabs and the world will no doubt soon demand further concessions in the name of "peace". How many times must Israel jeopardize its vital interests for bogus assurances?
Rather then ramming through bad policies and labeling patriotic Israelis who oppose this 'disengagement from sanity' as pariahs, it would surely be better to learn the lessons of the past and proclaim that Israel's diminutive borders can not be compromised, and that concessions will ultimately exacerbate the conflict. The Jews should use their age-old stiff-neckedness for their benefit, rather than their detriment.