You sense it everywhere you turn. It is etched in everybody's faces and in the lines around everybody's eyes. The "family" is being threatened again by forces out of their control. The momentary urge to cry out against the stubborn arrogance and shortsightedness of our recent leadership, which led to this situation ,quickly melts away in concern for our children. Every phone call is treated with concern, as this friend's son has been called into Gaza and this other one is not being let out of the army for another two months.
Throughout our history, the nation of Amalek and its spiritual children have never let up in their spiritual warfare against the people of Israel. Those that are still under the impression that this struggle is about land and national self determination are missing the whole story. This truly is a war of cultures and spiritual beliefs.
The Bible relates how Amalek happened upon (asher karcha) the Israelites at the time of their exodus from Egypt and engaged them in war. The only difficulty is that Amalek could not have "happened" upon the Israelites. They inhabited land very far from where the Israelites were wandering. Obviously, the words asher karcha do not simply mean that they "happened upon them," but rather, the word karcha implies two deeper messages.
The first ,our sages tell us, is rooted in the word kar, or "cooled". The Amalekites were the first to attack the Israelites coming victoriously out of Egypt and they attempted to cool the ardor of the faith of the people of Israel and the fear of all those nations in the adjacent lands.
The second understanding comes from the word mikreh, or "happenstance". That is, their purpose was to shake the Israelites' belief in G-d's providential supervision in the world. They wanted to insinuate in the hearts of these freshly released ex-slaves the doubt that perhaps everything in the world was just happenstance. According to our tradition, that is the eternal spiritual purpose of Amalek, to increase doubt and lessen the belief in G-d's providential control in this world.
As it is written in Exodus 17:16: "And he said: 'The hand upon the throne of HaShem: HaShem will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." Interestingly, the word 'throne' is missing the letter aleph, the letter representing G-d and representing faith. Amalek's war against Israel and its G-d is all focused on reducing Israel's faith, and introducing doubt and fear into the world.
The Jewish people remain strong when they are filled with and anchored in faith, and in a deep trust in their destiny. Every Kassam rocket and kidnapping is meant to destroy and kill, but more importantly, it is aimed at sowing fear and doubt in the people. Every incursion and attack is meant to dislodge that anchor of faith and hope.
As I sit here in the center of the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, all around me there is peace and quiet. Yet, it is a quiet tinged with concern and worry. Tourist groups are still walking by smiling and singing. Older people are sitting on the benches, resting on their canes. Children are all playing in the streets. Zechariah's prophecy (Zechariah 8:4-5) will not be stopped by the terror of those filled with the spirit of Amalek.
The future is concerning and fraught with tests of faith. The people of Israel need to explore within themselves and discover the spark of faith that lies embedded in every heart in order to have the courage to deal with the days ahead. They need to find strength within their family and receive encouragement from their friends. That is the beginning of the antidote to the scourge of Amalekite terror.
It is critical that all extended family and friends of the State of Israel around the world not succumb to the doubt and concern promulgated by Islamic terror. Those who are impassioned with the same vision of Israel's destiny must continue to maintain contact with this beleaguered land. Those who have planned to visit must continue with their plans. These days of war will subside, but it is during these days and in the days immediately following that the people of Israel need the greatest amount of support.
This will be the great test of this extended family.
Throughout our history, the nation of Amalek and its spiritual children have never let up in their spiritual warfare against the people of Israel. Those that are still under the impression that this struggle is about land and national self determination are missing the whole story. This truly is a war of cultures and spiritual beliefs.
The Bible relates how Amalek happened upon (asher karcha) the Israelites at the time of their exodus from Egypt and engaged them in war. The only difficulty is that Amalek could not have "happened" upon the Israelites. They inhabited land very far from where the Israelites were wandering. Obviously, the words asher karcha do not simply mean that they "happened upon them," but rather, the word karcha implies two deeper messages.
The first ,our sages tell us, is rooted in the word kar, or "cooled". The Amalekites were the first to attack the Israelites coming victoriously out of Egypt and they attempted to cool the ardor of the faith of the people of Israel and the fear of all those nations in the adjacent lands.
The second understanding comes from the word mikreh, or "happenstance". That is, their purpose was to shake the Israelites' belief in G-d's providential supervision in the world. They wanted to insinuate in the hearts of these freshly released ex-slaves the doubt that perhaps everything in the world was just happenstance. According to our tradition, that is the eternal spiritual purpose of Amalek, to increase doubt and lessen the belief in G-d's providential control in this world.
As it is written in Exodus 17:16: "And he said: 'The hand upon the throne of HaShem: HaShem will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." Interestingly, the word 'throne' is missing the letter aleph, the letter representing G-d and representing faith. Amalek's war against Israel and its G-d is all focused on reducing Israel's faith, and introducing doubt and fear into the world.
The Jewish people remain strong when they are filled with and anchored in faith, and in a deep trust in their destiny. Every Kassam rocket and kidnapping is meant to destroy and kill, but more importantly, it is aimed at sowing fear and doubt in the people. Every incursion and attack is meant to dislodge that anchor of faith and hope.
As I sit here in the center of the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, all around me there is peace and quiet. Yet, it is a quiet tinged with concern and worry. Tourist groups are still walking by smiling and singing. Older people are sitting on the benches, resting on their canes. Children are all playing in the streets. Zechariah's prophecy (Zechariah 8:4-5) will not be stopped by the terror of those filled with the spirit of Amalek.
The future is concerning and fraught with tests of faith. The people of Israel need to explore within themselves and discover the spark of faith that lies embedded in every heart in order to have the courage to deal with the days ahead. They need to find strength within their family and receive encouragement from their friends. That is the beginning of the antidote to the scourge of Amalekite terror.
It is critical that all extended family and friends of the State of Israel around the world not succumb to the doubt and concern promulgated by Islamic terror. Those who are impassioned with the same vision of Israel's destiny must continue to maintain contact with this beleaguered land. Those who have planned to visit must continue with their plans. These days of war will subside, but it is during these days and in the days immediately following that the people of Israel need the greatest amount of support.
This will be the great test of this extended family.