Looking for the Little Light of Hashem’s Supervision Behind the
Scenes
I am no political mavin; I don’t have the time or patience to read
or listen to the news. However, I do believe in the importance of contemplating
the historical events of our time to discover Hashem’s miraculous supervision
behind the scenes. It is a known fact that things often have to get worse in
order to get better. I have recently experienced in my own family life how an
emergency conflict is now laying the foundation for a new and better restart. Whereas
we all mourn our fallen soldiers and keep praying for the plight of hostages,
we do see the light at the end of the tunnel. The last part of the lyrics of Hurricane
(the only Hebrew part) song by Eden Golan expresses well the sentiment
here in Israel across the spectrum of our people:
לֹא צָרִיךְ
מִלִּים גְּדוֹלוֹת רַק תְּפִלּוֹת אֲפִלּוּ אִם קָשֶׁה לִרְאוֹת תָּמִיד אַתָּה
מַשְׁאִיר לִי אוֹר אֶחָד קָטָן.
“We don’t need big words, only prayers, even if it is hard to see, You
always leave us a little light.”
I’m a light seeker who tries to live according to the principle of unless
proven otherwise, choose to see the light, and believe in the good outcome!
Through the thick and thin of our rollercoaster of life, my husband and I bless
each other every night before going to sleep with, “There is still hope!”
Believing that G-d is in charge of everything that happens personally and
globally and believing that G-d is the ultimate good, I choose to look for
underlying glimmers of light in everything happening in the world, including
the effects of October 7th. Interestingly, Israel ranked in the top 5, in the 2024 World Happiness Report, despite,
political turmoil, and the October 7 attack occurring during the observed
period. Following the ‘October 7 crisis,’ many
anticipated a significant mental health downturn in Israel. Contrary to these
predictions, the Health Ministry reported a decrease in suicides from October
to December compared to the previous years. The traumatic event
spurred an unprecedented wave of solidarity and mutual support. The sense of ‘togetherness’
and shared destiny became palpable. The
strong sense of belonging and community in Israel plays a pivotal role in its
high happiness ranking. How can we continue to
discover the light behind the political scene of the world, and how does it tie
in with the First Peace Treaty in the world depicted in Parashat Vayera?
How Did October 7th Affect the Israeli Outlook on a Two-state
Solution?
Parashat Vayera teaches us the foundations of understanding who
the land of Israel belongs to, as well as the Torah’s conditions for Israel entering
a peace treaty with other nations. Sarah,
prophetically inspired, demands that Avraham expel his biological son, Yishmael
because he has become a threat to Yitzchak’s life:
ספר בראשית פרק כא פסוק י וַתֹּאמֶר לְאַבְרָהָם גָּרֵשׁ הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת
בְּנָהּ כִּי לֹא יִירַשׁ בֶּן הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת עִם בְּנִי עִם יִצְחָק:
“Then Sarah said
to Avraham, ‘Drive out this handmaid and her son, for the son of this handmaid
shall not inherit with my son, with Yitzchak’” (Bereishit 21:9).
Rashi explains that Yishmael
would quarrel with Yitzchak about the inheritance, saying, “I am the firstborn
and will, therefore, take a double portion.” They would go out to the field,
and he would take his bow and shoot arrows at him, as it states, “Like a
madman who casts firebrand” (Mishlei 26:18). He would then say: “I
am just playing” (Rashi, Bereishit 21:10). Maharal explains that the reason Sarah
stressed “he won’t inherit” [the right to the Land of Israel] as the main
reason why Yishmael must be expelled, is because the inheritance threatened to
cause Yitzchak’s murder. What else is new?!
ספר בראשית פרק כא פסוק יא וַיֵּרַע הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּעֵינֵי אַבְרָהָם עַל אוֹדֹת
בְּנוֹ:
“But the matter greatly displeased Abraham,
concerning his son” (Bereishit 21:11).
Avraham was very reluctant to
send away his son, but when Hashem validated Sarah’s assertion, he
nevertheless, got up early to fulfill the difficult mitzvah:
ספר בראשית פרק כא פסוק יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל אַבְרָהָם אַל יֵרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ
עַל הַנַּעַר וְעַל אֲמָתֶךָ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר אֵלֶיךָ שָׂרָה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלָהּ
כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע:
“Then G-d said to Avraham, ‘Be not displeased
concerning the lad and concerning your handmaid; whatever Sarah tells you,
listen to her voice, for in Yitzchak will be called your seed’” (Bereishit 21:12).
This Torah verse gives a clue of how to
solve the Middle East conflict and the war over the right to the Land of
Israel. The Torah makes it clear that there is to be no “two-state solution” in
the biblical land of Israel. The phrase “In Yitzchak, your seed will be called”
implies that Hashem told Avraham, “My covenant, that I established with your
seed; to give them the land of Israel… this promise pertains to Yitzchak [alone]
(Rashbam, Bereishit 21:12). One of the little lights that October 7th
ignited is that any residual public support for the establishment of a
Palestinian state west of the Jordan River has disappeared (outside the fever
swamps of the radical left). The onslaught from Gaza, which has been an
independent Palestinian state since 2005, and the near-unanimous support the
atrocities enjoyed among Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria made clear that
a Palestinian state is not a solution to anything. Rather, it is an existential
threat to Israel no less severe than Iran’s nuclear weapons project. Caroline Glick, Arutz 7,
Israel National News, Nov 7, 2024.
How do we Recognize Hashem’s Hand in Electing
His World Leaders?
When I attempt to look at recent political
events with G-d-colored classes, I’m amazed at the re-election as Presidents of
both Benjamin Netanyahu with an open court case of accusations, and Donald
Trump who recently was criminally convicted. With all the opposition prior to
both presidents’ re-election, it just doesn’t make sense logically that they
both became reelected as presidents! On top of this, the 78-year-old Trump is
the oldest elected president in American history. Trump became the second president to be
elected to a non-consecutive second term, 132 years after Grover Cleveland
defeated Benjamin Harrison in the 1892 election; Trump, at the age of 78, is
also the oldest person ever to be elected U.S. president. These circumstances seem to me to clearly show
how none of these two men became presidents coincidentally nor due to their
great popularity, as I have never heard of any president with more opposition
than Donald Trump. When he became president for the first time in 2017, I
even was asked to treat a Jewish woman in NY for her distress and anxiety due
to Trump's election. It is clearly the Hand of Hashem electing these men to positions
of power to return the land of Israel to its rightful owners. Trump is well
known for hosting the signing of the Avraham Accords in 2020, in which several Arab countries recognized Israel’s
sovereignty over the Land of Israel without having to accept a future
independent Palestinian state alongside it - the so-called two-state solution -
previously a condition of Arab countries for such a regional deal. Trump has also repeatedly urged to Israel “finish the job”
and destroy Hamas. Netanyahu has demonstrated bravery
and strength in refusing to give in to world pressure of ending the war before
its objectives have been procured, that is: permanent security. After decades of Israel’s tolerance of terrorism
without responding with a strong hand, under Netanyahu’s government, the Israeli parliament has given its final
approval to controversial legislation to expel family members of terrorists if
they publicly supported or identified with the terrorist act or praised,
sympathized with, or encouraged terrorism or terrorist organizations. The law passed 61-41 on November 7,
2024.
Why did Avimelech and his General Request a Peace Treaty After
Yishmael’s Expulsion?
After the expulsion of Yishmael and his mother, Hagar, Avimelech, the
King of ‘Palestine’ and his general came to request to make a peace treaty with
Avraham:
ספר בראשית פרק כא פסוק כב וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִוא וַיֹּאמֶר
אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּפִיכֹל שַׂר צְבָאוֹ אֶל אַבְרָהָם לֵאמֹר אֱלֹהִים עִמְּךָ בְּכֹל
אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה:) כג) וְעַתָּה הִשָּׁבְעָה לִּי
בֵאלֹהִים הֵנָּה אִם תִּשְׁקֹר לִי וּלְנִינִי וּלְנֶכְדִּי כַּחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר
עָשִׂיתִי עִמְּךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמָּדִי וְעִם הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר גַּרְתָּה בָּהּ:
“Now it came to pass at that time, that Avimelech
and Pichol his general said to Avraham, saying, ‘G-d is with you in all that
you do. Now, swear to me here by G-d, that you will not lie to me or to my son
or to my grandson; according to the kindness that I have done with you, you
shall do with me, and with the land wherein you have sojourned’” (Bereishit 21:22-23).
Why would the king of the land and his general ask a stranger to swear not to harm them? Why
would they want to make a peace treaty with a mere sojourner? One answer is that when his neighbors saw Avraham’s great cruelty in sending away to the
wilderness – the woman lying in his bosom together with his firstborn son –
with only a container of water and bread – they feared him lest he become angry
with them and take revenge. They took counsel to precede the ‘healing’ to the
‘wound,’ by making a covenant with him. This is the reason it states, “and it
was at this time…” (Meshech Chachmah, Bereishit 21:22). Another response
is that when Avraham had sent away his firstborn son, and all his future
became rooted in Yitzchak, it became clear to Avimelech that he is not just
relating to Avraham as an individual person. Rather he is facing the seed of
Avraham’s entire future, as an entire people facing his people. He is aware of Hashem’s
promise to Avraham that would now be fulfilled through Yitzchak. Yishmael is no
longer, and Avraham is at the end of his life, although Yitzchak is still
swinging in his crib – with him the future of the entire people will rise
(Rabbi Shimshon, Raphael Hirsch, Bereishit 21:23).
Israel’s Conditions for Entering
into a Peace Treaty with Other Nations
The very first Peace Treaty in the world is described in Parashat
Vaera. A careful, in-depth reading of the Torah verses about this Peace
Treaty teaches us important principles that pertain to current politics. After
having taught the Torah Reading for the first day of Rosh Hashana for about two
decades, Hashem revealed Ten of these principles to me, which I share with you
below:
Biblical Peace Treaty Based on the Brit Between Avimelech
and Avraham Bereishit 21:22-30 The Peace Treaty must be:
1.
Inspired
by Experiencing the Strength and Gevurah of Israel to Act Harshly When
Necessary
וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִוא – “It was at that time” (verse 22)
When his neighbors saw Avraham’s great
cruelty in sending away to the wilderness – the woman lying in his bosom
together with his firstborn son – with only a container of water and bread –
they feared him lest he become angry with them and take revenge. They took
counsel to precede the ‘healing’ to the ‘wound,’ by making a covenant with him.
Therefore, it states, “and it was at this time…” (Meshech Chachmah, Bereishit
21:22).
2.
Initiated
by the Party Who Wants to Make a Covenant with Israel
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
וּפִיכֹל שַׂר צְבָאוֹ אֶל
אַבְרָהָם – “Avimelech and Pichol his general said to Avraham” (verse 22).
3.
Prompted
by Recognizing that G-d is with Israel
אֱלֹהִים עִמְּךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה: - “G-d is with you in all that you do” (verse 22).
4. Motivated by the Fear of Israel’s Power …” (verse
22).
(Meshech Chachmah, Bereishit 21:22).
G-D IS WITH YOU - Therefore I fear you, not because of your might and
wealth. Therefore, I request that you
swear to me (Sforno, Bereishit 21:22).
5.
Acknowledging
the Divine Promise that the Land of Israel Belongs to the People of Israel
הֵנָּה אִם תִּשְׁקֹר לִי וּלְנִינִי
וּלְנֶכְדִּי – “Now, swear to
me here by G-d, that you will not lie to me or to my son or to my grandson…” (verse
23).
IT CAME TO
PASS AT THIS TIME – when Sarah gave birth, the kings of the land said, “Surely
G-d will fulfill His oath to Avraham as He said, ‘To your seed, I
have given this land from the river of Egypt…’” (Bereishit 15:18).
Therefore, Avimelech requested of him “that you will not deal falsely with
me, my offspring, or with my grandchild.” Avimelech could not ask
for more, for behold Hashem had promised Avraham, “But the fourth generation
shall return to here” (Bereishit 15:16). That is, after the fourth
generation of the Amorites, your children will return and conquer this land.
Therefore, when Avimelech, the second came in the days of Yitzchak, he said;
“Let us make a covenant between us, between our sons and yours” (Ibid. 26:28).
He did not ask on behalf of their grandchildren, since it stated, “but the
fourth generation will return here” (Chizkuni, Bereishit 21:22).
6. Believing in
the G-d of Israel and the Truth of His Torah
Avimelech
believed in the Brit Bein Habetarim (the Covenant between the Pieces),
that the land of Israel was promised to Avraham’s descendants (Verse 23).
7. Israel Must
Not Allow the Partner in a Covenant to Sign it, as They Can’t be Trusted to
Keep Their Word
וַיֹּאמֶר
אַבְרָהָם אָנֹכִי אִשָּׁבֵעַ: -
“Avraham said, ‘I will swear’” (Verse 24).
Davkah (precisely) “I
will swear” and not you, as I don’t desire your swear (Be’er Mayin Chayim, Bereishit
21:24).
8. Required to
Repair the Injustice They Have Afflicted Upon Israel Before Entering a Brit
with Israel
ספר בראשית פרק כא פסוק כה וְהוֹכִחַ אַבְרָהָם אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ עַל
אֹדוֹת בְּאֵר הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר גָּזְלוּ עַבְדֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ:
“Avraham contended with Avimelech about the
well of water that the servants of Avimelech had forcibly seized” (verse 25). By rebuking Avimelech about the wells his servants had stolen,
Avraham made it clear that the Brit is mutual, and both must keep their part.
If one party breaks his promise, the other is exempt from fulfilling his part
of the Brit. This is why David could conquer the Yibusi (descendants of
Avimelech) since they broke the Brit first (Malbim, Bereishit 21:25).
9.
Agreeing
to Grant Israel’s Rights
וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי אֶת שֶׁבַע כְּבָשׂת תִּקַּח מִיָּדִי
בַּעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה לִּי לְעֵדָה כִּי חָפַרְתִּי אֶת הַבְּאֵר הַזֹּאת:
“He said, ‘For these seven ewe lambs you shall take from
my hand so that it be to me for a witness that I dug this well’” (Verse 30). Avraham is saying these seven cattle
and sheep are a sign that I have dug this well, meaning that I have a right to
tzion after seven generations in the merit of having dug this well, that is
having revealed G-d’s kingdom on earth (Be’er Mayim Chayim, Bereishit 21:28),
10. Israel Must Never Agree to Give Away Any Part
of the Land of Israel Permanently Even for The Sake of ‘Peace’
(Verse
30) Since Avraham was concerned that Avimelech’s
descendants would hold this oath eternal, he placed the ewes as proof that “I
have dug this well – Tzion…” It is the way of someone who holds a house or a
city as a guarantee as collateral for a long time to place a rock or engraved
wood as proof that the collateral is only for a certain time. Afterward, it
will return to become his. The
seven sheep and cattle were a sign that the Brit with Avimelech would only last
for seven generations until Avraham’s children would conquer the land for his
children. (Be’er Mayim Chayim, Bereishit 21:28). Full autonomy over Yerushalayim
will thus eventually return to Avraham’s descendants.