As many in the West celebrated
the return of American prisoners who had been held in Iran, and Iran celebrated
its return to the “nations of the world” because it had purportedly fulfilled
its first obligation in diminishing its Nuclear program; there are those who
are naïve enough to think that the world is a safer place, that our faith in
humanity and reason should be restored, and even the most despotic, and evil
governments want to live peacefully among the nations. However despite this “good news” two incidents
occurred in Israel that remind us that not only is the world still very
dangerous, but left many testing their faith in any kind of peaceful solution
in Israel. Early in the week, two
Israeli woman were attacked by Palestinians and stabbed. One woman, Dafna Meir,
a mother of six, was slain by a Palestinian in her home in Otniel as she
successfully stopped the attacker from murdering her children. Soon afterwards, and while a police/military
dragnet searched for Dafna Meir’s murderer, a pregnant woman was stabbed in
Tekoah. For anyone who still thinks a two state solution is the most viable long
term solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; that faith continues to
erode. I know my faith in a two state solution continues to erode. At this time
of turmoil, this time of questioning and during the erosion of faith in a
peaceful outcome in Israel, Hadassah Froman has managed to keep her faith.
Hadassah Froman is a frum (Orthodox) Israeli. She is the mother in law of the
young pregnant woman who was stabbed in Tekoa. Hadassah’s late husband was the
late peace activist Rabbi Menachem Froman.
In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, Rebbetzin Froman said that
“Israel was ‘mishandling’ the delicate fabric of its relations with the
Palestinian, and needed to make a greater effort to distinguish between those
Palestinian who support terrorism and those who want to live in peace.
Rebbetzin Froman continued by explaining that Israel needs to reach out to
those Palestinians that wan to “Co-Exist”, to live in peace, and by
strengthening those Palestinians, by supporting those Palestinians and keeping
those Palestinians safe, it would go a long way in promoting a two state
solution.
This
Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shira (Shabbat of Songs) because of the
"songs" or poetry in both the Parsha, Beshallach, and in the
Haftarah. In Parsha Beshallach, B'nai Yisroel finally leaves Egypt. Pharaoh
sends them out and they hurriedly leave. Three days later, B'nai Yisroel
arrives at the Yam Suf, the Reed Sea, which is along the Mediterranean coast. With
Pharaoh's army behind them, and the Sea in front, B'nai Yisroel is trapped.
Then the sea opens up, B'nai Yisroel crosses through and arrives safely on the
other side. The Egyptian army gets caught in the sea - bed as the waters comes
crashing down. Out of joy and relief, B'nai Yisroel composes Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. No sooner are they finished celebrating, then
they begin complaining about the lack of water and food. God provides water and
Manna. However, B'nai Yisroel is still not safe. Now they are attacked by the
indigenous tribe, the Amalekites. B'nai Yisroel must put aside its hunger and
thirst and fight for their lives. They do, and they are victorious. The Parsha
ends with God commanding Moshe to blot out the very existence of the Amalekites.
From the time B’nai Yisroel
complains to Moshe about the oncoming Egyptian army and Yam Suf that lies
before them, to the lack of water, lack of food and lack of meat, one could
understand the entire Parsha as God testing B’nai Yisroel’s faith. With all the
complaining, with the refrain of the people cynically asking Moshe if God
brought them out of Egypt to have them die in the wilderness, or die on the
banks of the Yam Suf; it is very easy to view these newly released slaves as
not at all ready to engage in a covenantal relationship with God since they
lack faith. However the Midrash in Shmot Rabbah teaches us that Nachshon ben
Aminadov from the tribe of Judah went first into the Reed Sea even before it
split open. In fact the waters didn’t open up until he was completely submerged.
Only then did the waters open due to his faith and the rest of B’nai Yisroel
followed. The sea didn’t part because of
Moshe’s praying on behalf of the people; it split because of one man’s Emunah, one man’s faith that taking the
next step forward would ultimately prove to be the step that saved a nation. As a result Nachshon’s faith, the tribe of
Judah would have dominion over Israel.
I am always intrigued by those
who have the ability to keep faith under the most trying circumstances. I am
amazed by the stories of those who questioned yet kept their faith in God
during the Holocaust. I am struck by those who have faith in the decency and
goodness of humanity when they themselves carry the scars inflicted by those
whose souls are infected with darkness of terrorism and extremism. I am amazed
by those who have faith in prospect of peace and co-existence despite the pain
they have experience by the murder of loved one at the hands of those who don’t
want to co-exist. To those people of faith I applaud knowing deep down that I
should follow them, fight the terrorist agenda of living in fear.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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