A wake-up call - We will win with faith.
Parsha and its realization - Bereshit and the 'Iron Swords' War - 5784
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Dedicated in memory of a dear friend, partner in establishing our Ofakim branch:
Moshe Ohayon and his son Elad - Hashem Yikom Damam (May Hashem avenge their blood) who bravely went out to fight terrorists and save the lives of residents and fell in battle.
The events of Shabbat Simchat Torah 5784 are among the most difficult we have known since the founding of the State. We finished the rounds of Hakaffot at a late hour, Simchat Torah at night, the Yeshiva students in the communities in Modi'in in an uplifting atmosphere. In the morning as we were walking towards the Yeshiva, we heard explosive sounds from the Iron Dome placed nearby, and alarms going on from the west. We understood that something bad was happening. When we arrived at the Yeshiva, we were greeted by a few students, who serve as medics and paramedics; the look on their faces said it all. Something terrible had happened! They informed us that they had been called to go reinforce ambulances in the south. Prayers and Hakaffot took place as possible, with a pained heart, but with great intensity and uplifting spirits. As the hours ticked by, more were called by "Tzav Shmoneh" *1, students, Abrechim (graduates) and Rabbis.
At the end of the holiday, the dimensions of the horror began to be revealed. The difficult images of casualties, the unfathomable numbers, the abductees, the takeover of the settlements surrounding Gaza, and the IDF bases, and above all the terrible frustration at the unbearable ease with which things happened, without adequate preparation and response. The collapse of all the systems that were supposed to prevent this. Although the means and scenarios were familiar, in real time, they did not work.
At the same time, more and more stories of heroism were published, of citizens, soldiers and officers who rescued citizens from danger and fought heroically against the terrorists. Some of them paid with their lives. A testimony of the enormity of soul bravery and the Arevut Hadadit- the mutual responsibility borne by each and every member of Am Yisrael.
Our heart bleeds in terrible pain, but our eyes look towards the future, hoping to learn from our past mistakes. This serious event is a 'wake-up call'. Over the years since the Israeli disengagement from Gush Katif, the Hamas monster has grown bigger and bigger. Despite repeated attacks, the Israeli society preferred to 'hold' and postpone subduing Hamas, fearing the heavy price it might take, 'buying' more peace periods, allowing the 'rounds' paradigm to be born. Despite the rise in Hamas' buildup and equipment from round to round, there was no willingness to recognize the great risks that could arise, and to act proactively to neutralize it. Now, after what happened, the Israeli government has decided to go to war with the 'Iron Swords' in Gaza. There is no other choice. Now, everyone understands that whoever runs away from terrorism, terrorism pursues him, and whoever is not willing to pay the price of confronting it when it is small, will have to pay the price twice as much when dealing with it when it grows to monstrous dimensions.
This is a difficult and complex war, there are more than a hundred abductees in Gaza, hostages we are responsible for, but only a full force attack and the defeat of Hamas will ensure that they will return home in peace. Our hope is that Hamas' 'excessive success' in the first days will fundamentally change the paradigm, from 'accommodating' to 'decisiveness'.
אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם וְלֹֽא־אָ֝שׁ֗וּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃
"I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them". (Psalms 18:38)
This will create a long-term deterrence, also against other enemies around us, and especially against Hezbollah and Iran. And from the great break, a major correction will emerge, which will change the face of the future.
Parashat Bereshit, which will be read this Shabbat, opens with the story of creation. However, the Sages taught:
מִכָּאן שֶׁהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹנֶה עוֹלָמוֹת וּמַחֲרִיבָן, בּוֹרֵא עוֹלָמוֹת וּמַחֲרִיבָן, עַד שֶׁבָּרָא אֶת אֵלּוּ וְאָמַר דֵּין הַנְיָין לִי, יָתְהוֹן לָא הַנְיָין לִי.
"…From here [it is derived] that the Holy One blessed be He built worlds and destroyed them, created worlds and destroyed them, until he created this [world], and said: ‘These please Me and those did not please Me." (Kohelet Rabbah 3:11)
It was not for nothing that the worlds that existed before our finished world were destroyed. Because when the foundation of our world was enacted, some processes would advance only following painful crises that would destroy what preceded them.
And now, in the face of the difficult images and the indiscriminate slaughter, after many months of severe internal discord, the killing of almost all the 'sacred cows', of challenging brotherhood and calls for insubordination, the people of Israel are coming back to rediscover the strength of their unity. The feeling of shared fate and destiny. The strength, the heroism and commitment to the mission.
Compliance with 'Tzav Shmoneh' is over 100% in all units. And the lines to donate blood are long. I met many soldiers. Their motivation and belief in the righteousness of the path is extremely high. They are ready to go to the end to defeat Hamas once and for all. These are the conditions needed for victory.
When we are united, have faith and the motivation is high, we have 'the help of Heaven':
כִּי֩ ה' אֱלֹקיךָ מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֶ֗ךָ לְהַצִּֽילְךָ֙ וְלָתֵ֤ת אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ...
"Since Hashem your G-d moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you…" (Devarim 23:15)
We can win if we have faith!
In a prayer for the peace of our soldiers and the peace of the residents:
ה' יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע יִשְׁמֹר אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ. ה' יִשְׁמָר צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם
"Hashem will guard you from all harm; may G-d preserve your soul.
Hashem will guard your departure and your coming from now and forever." (Psalms 121:7-8)
*1- Tzav Shmoneh: literally means “Order 8” and is the term used for the emergency call-up notice that summons Israelis away from their day-to-day life – studies, work, family – and back into the army.