Our sedra shows Judaism's "sensitive side," as one might say in today's language. It discusses how we must be responsive to the needs of the poor, the widow, the orphan, the disenfranchised, even to the slave and to animals.


But the sedra's closing section seems, at first, to be of a completely different flavor. It contains several mysterious episodes. First, HaShem says, "I am sending an angel to protect you; respect him, for My name is in him."


Then, Moshe sends the "youth of Israel" to bring offerings, the blood of their sacrifice is sprinkled over the people and Moshe declares, "With this blood the covenant is now sealed between you and HaShem."


Finally, Moshe, Aharon and the elders see a vision of G-d: "Under His feet was a sapphire brick, whose essence was as pure and bright as Heaven."


What does it all mean?


To me, the message is as clear as day; do you not see it? Who are the angels among us? Who are the youth of Israel who protect us, who embody the finest attributes of HaShem - such as courage and mesirut nefesh - whose blood is sprinkled on the nation at large?


These can be no other than the proud young men and women who wear the uniform of the Israel Defense Forces, who selflessly place their lives on the line every day to defend Am Yisrael. G-d's name is in each of these children, and it is in their merit, I am absolutely convinced, that we continue to frustrate the evil designs of millions of enemies who would destroy us. In their merit the yeshivas flourish, the tourists visit, the land blooms.


These angels in green, these "green" kids who trade school bags for M-16s, are the single greatest source of pride in Klal Yisrael, the tzadikim of this generation.


Chazal comment that the sparkling blue brick under HaShem's throne was there to remind Him of the pain and suffering we endured in Egypt, when the cruel Egyptians would place Jewish babies in the wall when their parents' quota of bricks was not fulfilled. Each time G-d started to "lose patience" with B'nei Yisrael, He would take out that brick. Remembering our self-sacrifice, His attribute of mercy would take hold and He would forgive us.


So, the end of the parsha, you see, isn't really so different in tone from the 53 mitzvot that are enumerated earlier. It continues the same theme: be sensitive and appreciative of those who serve us and risk their lives for us. They are the Heavenly bricks from which this great nation is built.