Together, together.
Parshah and its realization - Parshat Vayetze and the war of the 'Iron Swords' 5784
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Dedicated to the IDF soldiers' success, to safeguard them lest any harm come to them, to my son's speedy recovery - Mordechai Abraham ben Malka (may he live long), to the healing of all the wounded and the return of the abducted.
If there is one thing that almost all the fighters and commanders I have met in the last month and a half have in common, from all corners of Israeli society, is the uplifting feeling of 'togetherness' - the unity, brotherhood, and camaraderie among themselves, regardless of religious, political, or social differences. In real time, we all realize that we are members of the same tribe. Outstanding commanders who instill an atmosphere of unity in their units longing for the home front unity as well.
From the uplifting feeling of 'togetherness' they draw strength and energy to face the challenges of intense combat and the pain of seeing close friends wounded or killed. They love each other, and are ready to die for one another.
Many of them wish that the feeling of 'togetherness' will continue also 'after'- after the battles are over. Lest us not go back to the days before Shabbat Simchat Torah 5784, to the days of conflicts, days of polarization, dealing with the differences and separations, and in an attempt to build on the shortcomings and destruction of the concept with which they are in dispute.
Shabbat Simchat Torah's tragic and monstrous events clarified for everyone that: 'we are brothers' and we have a common destiny, that our enemies do not differentiate between us, whether we like it or not, that the rising worldwide anti-Semitism, and in our region is not going anywhere, that we must cherish the brotherhood between us, not only during difficult times but also during our day to day lives. We must look for the good and the positive in every opinion and not just criticize the weaknesses. The intention is not to obscure the differences and the lack of uniformity within us, which need to be taken into proportion, but to shed light on what we do have in common. Instead of the difference becoming a wall of contention, it can be a diverse factor through which one will complement the other's shortcomings and together we will be complete.
In my conversations with them, I felt the longing for a good spirit, for national reconciliation, and for brotherly love - unconditional love, where each one gives their best, to a maximum, and for a unifying and harnessing leadership that does not incite between brothers. A feeling that we have paid a heavy price for the separation between us, for the poisonous wind that blew within us, to the point of risking our mere existence. Besides the reconstruction of the ruins, the time has come for restoring our society. We must build a new floor on the state and the society in Israel.
I hear the sayings that just as we have a common destiny, we also have a common mission, and just as we fought shoulder to shoulder, without any differences between us, so too we must embark 'together' on a new path for Israeli society, side by side. We must build the next floor of the country 'together'. Like an oath that from now on we will not allow any political or media factor to conflict and separate between us.
In this week's Parsha, we continue to read about the roots of the Patriarchs from which the Israeli nation grew. We read about Ya'acov's departure to Haran, to build his home there, the nuclear family from which the nation of Israel would rise.
On his way Ya'acov dreams the dream of his life. A dream that is a vision for the near and distant future. His and the nation's. Before he lays down to sleep, he places stones under his head. The Sages differed regarding the number of stones there were. Rabbi Yehuda said there were twelve stones:
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁנֵים עֶשְׂרֵה אֲבָנִים נָטַל, כָּךְ גָּזַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא מַעֲמִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם לֹא הֶעֱמִידָן, יִצְחָק לֹא הֶעֱמִידָן, אֲנִי אִם מִתְאַחוֹת הֵן שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲבָנִים זוֹ לָזוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁאֲנִי מַעֲמִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּתְאַחוּ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲבָנִים זוֹ לָזוֹ, יָדַע שֶׁהוּא מַעֲמִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים.
“He took from the stones of the place” - Rabbi Yehuda said: He took twelve stones. So, the Holy One blessed be He decreed that he would produce twelve tribes. He [Ya'acov] said: ‘Abraham did not produce them, Yitzhak did not produce them, I, if these twelve stones join with one another, I know that I will produce twelve tribes.’ When the twelve stones joined together one to another, he knew that he would produce twelve tribes". (Bereshit Rabbah 68:14)
The turning of the twelve stones into one stone, shows that twelve tribes will come out of it and become one nation, גּ֥וֹי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ "a unique nation on earth". The test of becoming a nation has been, since then, that the stones will unite with each other.
Our future and destiny depend on the 'togetherness' and unity of all the tribes of Israel.