Gifts, Prayer and Soldiers

As the leaders of several countries in the Middle East were making their way to the Annapolis conference (which has just gotten underway at the time of my writing this blog entry), I was sending my son off to take his place in the Israeli army.

It reminded me of Rashi’s comment in last week’s Torah portion, where he suggested that Yaakov covered his bases as he prepared to meet his brother, Eisav – the last time he had seen his brother, Eisav has vowed to kill him.

In preparation he did three things:

 First, he sent gifts. 

It seems to me that the various veiled promises and “painful sacrifices” that Olmert continues to allude to are a form of a gift to the arabs.  In case they might really want peace this time, we must go through the motions of “gift-giving” –  indicating what we will give up if they ever become serious about living together with a Jewish State…..most Israelis have lost interest in this whole peace-making endeavor, feeling like we all have been down this road before, and it just has never paid off – in fact, it has consistently made things worse.

Next, Yaakov prayed.

Despite all that has happened over the last couple of years.   Despite the painful disengagement, despite the failed war in Lebanon, despite the corruption charges and scandals, we continue to ask God to protect the leaders of this government, to direct them to do what is right, what is best for the Jewish people and our homeland.  I have heard that there are people and places that have stopped reciting the Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel – that is upsetting. In the end, this is our governemnt, these are our leaders, they need our prayers…and how!

And third, Yaakov was a realist – so he divided up his family and he prepared for war.

Annapolis or no Annapolis, Israelis soldiers are being trained and prepared to defend the State of Israel and to protect her inhabitants. 

And we are proud to say that our son, Naftali, has become one of those soldiers.

We pray that there will be peace, we pray that we shall know no more war here, and yet, we prepare for all scenarios.

I heard a man who returned from a trip to Poland with my son, Yoni, and his senior class, speak about his expereiences there.  He said that after visiting the death camps of Poland, he now had a new realization.  He offered a new spin on the rabbinic maxim: The world stands on three things: Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim.

From his perspective, Medinat Yisrael stands on three things:

1. Torah – for it alone gives us claim to this land

2. Avodah – work and contribution to society

3. TZAH”AL -The Israel Defense Forces.  Never again will Jews be at the whim of other nations and their national interests.  Jews will not be defenseless. 

He encouraged our young men to see the army as a privilege -as difficult as it may be to do so. 

I pray that Naftali will be safe, I pray that he will find positive experiences awaiting him, friends that he will have forever, and a sense of great pride in the invaluable contribution he is making to the Jewish people here in Israel and throughout the Diaspora, today and forever.