The legacy of victory and heroism of the first Hebrew warrior
Parshah and its realization - Parshah Lech Lecha and the Operation Swords of Iron, 5784
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Dedicated to the IDF soldiers' success, the healing of the wounded and the return of those abducted, and to the memory of the fallen.
Among them Geula Bechar, הי"ד - my friend and commander - Major General Yossi Bechar's mother.
Since the beginning of the war, we have met thousands of fighters and commanders from various units, in regular service and in reserve duty, all in preparation stages for the ground fighting in Gaza. We were impressed by their high motivation to go out and fight the Hamas terrorists in Gaza and beat them with one epic blow, with a clear awareness of the expected dangers in the Gaza dense territory. Among the soldiers, prevails a real warrior brotherhood- brothers in arms, which connects the hearts of warriors from all corners of Israeli society. Some of them participated during the first days of the war, lost friends, and witnessed atrocities, but no less than that, they witnessed the many and amazing displays of heroism that were discovered in those days. The fighters' and hundreds of ordinary citizens' heroism, who went out to fight the damned terrorists, voluntarily, taking responsibility, and risking their lives to save others. Thanks to their bravery, the dimensions of the terrible disaster did not increase to greater numbers.
It is impossible not to be amazed by the strength of the heroism that has existed in the people of Israel since time immemorial. Bravery that was manifested in the first days of fighting, and even more than that manifested in the willingness to fight in Gaza, until victory. All the skeptics who passionately claimed that Israeli society had lost the fighting spirit, the willingness we knew in the past, and the brotherhood of the fighters, were proven false, big time. In spite those who claimed and complained that 'we are not brothers', and the rift within us cannot be reconciled, the warriors and society have demonstrated an exceptional display of unity,
אַחִ֧ים אֲנַ֛חְנוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד
"…brothers, the sons of one man" (Beresht 42:13).
In this week's Parasha we learn about the roots of our legacy of victory, heroism, volunteerism and brotherhood, which begin with the heroism of our father Abraham, 'Abraham the Hebrew', the first Hebrew warrior.
The first world war mentioned in the Bible was the war of the four and the five. The four defeated the five, among them the king of Sodom, and captured Lot, Abraham's nephew who lived in Sodom, and kidnapped him to the Damascus area (they probably mistakenly believed that he was Abraham, because they looked alike):
וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶת־ל֧וֹט וְאֶת־רְכֻשׁ֛וֹ בֶּן־אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ...
" They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, and his possessions, and departed… (Bereshit 14:12).
When Abraham found out about this, he volunteered to go immediately into battle to rescue him from his captors:
וַיָּבֹא֙ הַפָּלִ֔יט וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְרָ֣ם הָעִבְרִ֑י וְהוּא֩ שֹׁכֵ֨ן בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י מַמְרֵ֣א ... וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָ֔ם כִּ֥י נִשְׁבָּ֖ה אָחִ֑יו וַיָּ֨רֶק אֶת־חֲנִיכָ֜יו יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֗וֹ שְׁמֹנָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף עַד־דָּֽן׃ וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם לַ֛יְלָה ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וַיַּכֵּ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ עַד־חוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃ וַיָּ֕שֶׁב אֵ֖ת כׇּל־הָרְכֻ֑שׁ וְגַם֩ אֶת־ל֨וֹט אָחִ֤יו וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ הֵשִׁ֔יב וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעָֽם׃
"A fugitive brought the news to Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling at the terebinths of Mamre the Amorite… When Abram heard that his kinsman’s [household] had been taken captive, he mustered his retainers, born into his household, numbering three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. At night, he and his servants deployed against them and defeated them; and he pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the possessions; he also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, and the women and the rest of the people". (ibid 13-16)
Abraham Avinu was the first volunteer among the people of Israel:
ויש שלושה מיני נדיבות: האחד נדיב בממון, השני נדיב בגוף, השלישי נדיב בחכמה. ואלו השלושה היו באברהם אבינו: שהיה נדיב בממון, דכתיב (בראשית כא לג): "ויטע אשל". נדיב בגופו, שהציל לוט בן אחיו ונלחם עבורו. נדיב בחכמתו, כי לימד לכל העם הדרך הישר עד שנתגיירו...
"There are three kinds of generosity: generosity with money, generosity with one's body, and generosity with one's wisdom — and all three were found in Abraham, our father. He was generous with his money, as it is written, "And he planted a tamarisk" (Ber. 21:33). He was generous with his body, for he saved his nephew, Lot, and fought for his sake. He was generous in his wisdom, for he taught everyone the right path until they became converted... " (Orchot Tzadikim 17)
Abraham did not have to risk himself and his proteges to rescue Lot, but he felt responsible for the fate of his brother's son. If we notice, the verse changes Lot's title several times from 'his brother's son' to 'his brother'. וְכִי אָחִיו הָיָה? "Was Lot actually Abraham’s brother?". The scripture teaches us that Abraham went out to rescue him out of a feeling that he was his 'brother' and had a responsibility, despite the risk.
If we delve into the order of the verses, we will find that Abraham did not conduct 'negotiations' with Lot's cruel captors for his release, but instead went to battle against the army of the four kings: וַיַּכֵּ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙.
"…defeated them; and he pursued them..." And only when he won and defeated them militarily, then וַיָּ֕שֶׁב אֵ֖ת כָּל־הָרְכֻ֑שׁ וְגַם֩ אֶת־ל֨וֹט
"…He brought back all the possessions; he also brought back his kinsman Lot…"
He probably knew that this was the only way to get him out alive.
The legacy of the heroic volunteering and victory of Abraham, our nation's father, the first Hebrew warrior, should stand before our eyes in all generations and especially in times of war. These are our roots.
This is what Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Zt'l said: "There is a special commandment, a prophetic commandment, from the Kabbalah, to learn about Abraham Avinu, as it is said in Yishayahu:
...הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ אֶל־צ֣וּר חֻצַּבְתֶּ֔ם ... הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֣ם אֲבִיכֶ֔ם
"…Look at the rock you were hewn from… Look back to Abraham your father"(Yishayahu 51:1-2)
"This is said in imperative language: Look, observe, watch. You are commanded to learn about Abraham Avinu in a special way" (Lech Lecha 5734-1973).
With faith, unity and bravery we will win!