Rabbi's Blog

It is safe to say that most contemporary religions do believe in a higher Authority. We all recognize that while I may mention the God of another religion, I am only stating that this belief applies to that other religion, not to Judaism 

 

When God created the world there was only the belief in Hashem, but over time many other religions evolved. Over the past two thousand years, three major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have become the dominant religions of the world. History clearly shows us, however, that only one of these three major religions dominates the world at any given time. Unfortunately, we Jews have been repeatedly victimized by both Islam and Christianity. Right now we are witnessing the rise of Islam and its intent on world domination. This world-view focuses on any individual and any group which does not follow Islamic law. Whether or not the West understands or chooses to admit this, the Jewish State of Israel is fighting a religious war against Islam. 

 

Many wars throughout history have been fought by countries seeking to expand their borders or control another people. Some wars, however, have been rooted in the cause of religion and will stop at nothing in the name of religion. When going out to battle, many will call out in the name of their god, justifying the bloodshed and mayhem. I find it interesting to note that Islam’s call to war and to all terror activities begins with their battle call of ‘Allah Akbar’. Although the phrase ’Allah Akbar’ is a common phrase used by all Muslims in various situations, including the Salah - the obligatory five prayers a day - and has even been used in the past by some non-Muslims as a show of support for the protesting Iranians, it is widely associated with the Muslims who shout it whilst engaged in Jihad. Many people claim that ‘Allah Akbar’is simply the Arabic translation of a common English phrase meaning "God is great”! 

 

If one were to ask, “what is the phrase we Jews use to call to battle ?”the answer would be that it depends upon the type of war in which we are engaged, Milchemes Reshus or Milchemes Mitzva - a defensive or an offensive war. In a defensive war, a Milchemes Mitzva which is going on right now…..has no call to battle. Throughout the millennia Jews have cried out the words ‘Shma Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad’. We don’t use the name of God to kill, maim and destroy; in times of distress and need we call out to our God for help and mercy. We speak in terms of peace and tranquility amongst our people; we don’t use the name of God to rationalize terror, bloodshed and destruction. In fact, we go the extra mile and take great care to try to minimize the losses of our enemies because we believe in and praise Hashem. The concept of giving our enemies a chance to make real peace is highlighted and illustrated in this week’s Torah reading, Parshas Devarim. 

 

In Parshas Devarim Moshe Rabbeinu reviews many scenes of history through which the Jews fought and survived. Despite the G-d-given ability to mow down the enemy, the Jewish people always tried to use a peaceful approach, crossing over hostile lands in order to get to Israel. One such case was the attempt to pass through Sichon, the Emori land. Hashem reassured the Jews that they ‘will tremble and fall before you’. Hashem guarantees in 2:24 “that I have given over Sichon, the Amorite king of Cheshbon, and his land, into your hands. Begin to conquer them! Provoke him into war”! Oddly enough in 2:26 the Torah states: “VaEshlach Malachim MiMidbar KeDeimot El Sichon Melech Cheshbon Divrei Shalom Laymore”. “I sent emissaries from the Kedemoth Desert to Sichon, king of Cheshbon, with a peaceful message, saying”. Why did Moshe send a ‘peaceful message’ to the king? Hashem had already guaranteed a victory. Why bother sending greetings for a peace? 

 

Rabbi Shlomo Lunchitz, in his commentary Kli Yakar, gives us an insight regarding that generation and for the actions of the Jewish people for all future time. Moshe sent messengers and extended his hand for Shalom with Sichon despite the fact that he knew Sichon would decline. Moshe Rabbeinu knew through Ruach HaKodesh a Divine Spirit that Sichon was going to decline, but nevertheless he extended a peace treaty because of a concern for Chilul Hashem, desecration of God’s name. Moshe was concerned that the nations of the world should not say, “Oh the Jews came upon us in deceit.” Moshe learned this important lesson from none other than God Himself. He learned it from the place called Midbar Kedemoth, which literally translates ‘the previous desert’. That previous desert was none other than the Sinai, the location of Mount Sinai the place where our Torah was given. At the time Hashem was to give theTorah to Bnei Yisrael, He offered the Torah to all the other nations, despite knowing that they would all to refuse it. A second example was the offer to Pharoah to change his ways if Hashem would stop the plagues. Even though Hashem knew Pharoah was not going to give in and let the Jews go, it didn’t stop Hashem from offering a cessation of the devastation the Makkos, the plagues, were having on Egypt. God wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be any grievance against Him later for not at least offering Pharoah a chance to extricate himself from the situation. So, too, Moshe has to offer a peace treaty even though he knows the enemy is not going to take it. 

 

Throughout the past two months the Jewish people throughout the world has been criticizing Israel, demanding that it destroy our enemy who is out to destroy us and our land. They ask; ‘Why are we warning them and even putting our own soldiers at risk because of this policy’? Believe me I am one of those critics, but the true answer is because we do not want to create a Chilul Hashem - to desecrate the name of Hashem. If we do not act with a higher and greater moral integrity, then we become like the rest of the world. The world knows who we are and what we stand for. If we did not give advance warning even though we knew that our offer would be rejected, , it would be a Chilul Hashem, a desecration of God’s name. 

 

Bnei Yisrael is the Am Hanivchar, the chosen nation. We are an Am Kadosh, a holy nation, and it is not easy to have to bear that responsibility. May Hashem see the sacrifices of his people, the soldiers of the IDF, and the civilians living in the Holy land of Israel and grant them and all of Klal Yisrael an immediate salvation before the coming day of Tisha B’Av. Let it be the day to celebrate and leave the mourning behind as a relic of the past. 

 

Ah Gut Shabbos 

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky