It started 2,800 years ago. The First Temple stood as millions of Jews lived among prophets and Divinely chosen kings serving Hashem in the Land of Israel.
About four thousand kilometers to the west, the legend says, two brothers were born: Romulus and Remus. According to the folklore, they were raised by animals. When they grew of age, they decided to build a city.
But who would rule?
They performed divination to see. One said, “I will rule on this spot.” On the neighboring hill, the other said, “I will rule on this spot.” To prove his point, Romulus killed Remus. Rome was built on the blood spilled between two brothers.
The blood of Rome’s father, Esau, was no different. He spent his life lusting for his brother’s blood. For 22 years he plotted to kill Ya’akov.
Esau, Romulus, and Remus form the Edomite Trinity of raw hatred towards one’s brother.
What it Means for Klal Yisrael
Why are we called Jews? There are 12 tribes making up 13 names that we can be called. How did Yehudah, Judah, merit that even Kohanim and Leviim today are named in his honor? Didn’t Yehudah play a role in selling his brother Yosef into slavery?
He made the most amazing repentance. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his brother. In Genesis, 44:33, he offers to live a life of slavery for the sake of his brother Binyamin: "So now, please let your servant stay instead of the boy as a slave to my lord, and may the boy go up with his brothers."
In the very next parsha, Ya’akov tells him his descendants will be kings for all time, up to and including the End of Days.
Every time we identify as Jews, we are the living fulfillment of Ya’akov’s prophecy. We are a living reminder of how great the commandment to “love thy neighbor,” or love your fellow Jew is.
Esau vs Ya’akov and Rome vs Israel
Esau knew two things: He knew that as long as we sinned, he would rule over us. The key to his power was Israel not holding the mitzvot. The moment we serve Hashem, he becomes our slave.
That’s why it’s not the Arabs that are our enemies, it’s the west. It’s the “kiss of Esau” that saps us like toxic poison being injected into our bodies. The alliance with such a nation that has us on a leash.
Over a thousand missiles rained down on Israel this past month. Baruch Hashem, there was only a single. albeit tragic, fatality – an open miracle. God, our only ally, neither slumbers nor sleeps. His protection for us is without conditions and is supernatural.
The Iron Dome and David’s Sling anti-missile systems intercepted over 250 missiles, saving lives. We in Israel designed the systems. We built them. We use them in battle.
So why do we need American approval to replenish them? Because all of the parts to build and maintain our own weapons systems are built in the US and sold to us . . . with the permission of the American Congress. Our defense is in the hand of Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.
We are like dogs on a leash, slaves to the whims of Edom.
Why hasn’t the government passed judicial reform? Joe Biden said so.
What does a society handcuffed to a Hellenistic justice system mean? It means more and more heathenism will seep into the Holy Land. More of us will be tempted to sin, and fall to even greater depths, G-d forbid.
For as long as we are down, they are up.
Turning the Tables on their Own Game
Nazi commander Erwin Rommel was the smartest general in World War II. With inferior material and manpower, he swept through North Africa like a hot knife through butter.
How was he stopped?
There was a tank battle between one of Rommel’s divisions and an American battalion. The Nazis employed superior tactics and were pushing the Americans back.
Midway in the battle, the Americans suddenly turned it around. At the Allied command post stood General George Patton. He was screaming at the enemy lines, words intended for their commander:
“I read your field manual. Thanks *******s!”
The wicked initiated war and bent their bow to cast down the poor and the needy, to slay those who walk on a straight path. Their sword shall enter their heart, and their bows shall be broken. (Psalms 37:14-15)
The very sword the doers of evil used became the very instrument of their demise.
It’s time for us to look beyond the American General and see our great General: King David.
Knowing that when Ya’akov finds favor in the eyes of Hashem, Edom becomes his servant, it’s time for us to up our Torah efforts. Our teshuva will bring down the mighty Empire of Edom once and for all.
What repentence can turn the tables? How do we break the chains of the Romans from our necks?Why did we go into exile in the first place? Why did Hashem send Edom’s children to destroy us?
We committed, on a national scale, the sin of Romulus and Remus. We hated one another so Hashem sent us a nation born in the blood of fratricide to humble us.
Our repentance to the commandment to “not hate your brother in your heart,” will turn the tables and win the war.
We don’t have to agree with Yair Lapid, Merav Michaeli, or their followers, but we must stay focused on wanting Moshiach for the likes of Yair Lapid, Merav Michaeli, and all of their brothers and sisters – that is us!
We want every Jew in Israel to fight for Torah and Mitzvot with the same vigor that they fight “judicial reform.” We want everyone to want the Kingdom of Torah as passionately as they do their next round of VC funding.
We want everyone to win in the eyes of God. We want everyone to greet Moshiach and to dance alongside a revived King David so once again we will live among prophets and a Divinely anointed King in the Land of Israel to serve our Eternal Master. May we, united as the nation God commands to have brotherly love, defeat the nation of shedding brotherly blood to usher in the era of eternal peace.
David Ben Horinworks as a marketing manager in a hi-tech company in Hadera and loves Israel passionately. He can be found at https://www.proudlycandid.com.