Another important aspect of our current war with Hamas which is definitely worth publicizing, is the Talmud (Sanhedrin 106a) written about 1,600 years ago and is precisely relating to today’s situation:
” ‘וישא [=בלעם] משלו ויאמר אוי מי יחיה משֹוּמו א-ל’ (במדבר כד, כג) א”ר יוחנן אוי לה לאומה שתִמצא בשעה שהקב”ה עושה פדיון לבניו! מי מטיל כסותו בין לביא ללביאה בשעה שנזקקין זה עם זה!”.
” ‘He [Bil’am] took up his parable [=prophesizing about the end of days] and said: Alas! Who can survive when He does this?’ Woe to the nation who will be found hindering the Jewish people at the time when the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeems His children. Who dares place his garment to separate between a male lion and a female lioness when they wish to mate? [Woe to him, for who does so will certainly not “survive”].”
This clear and vivid quote speaks for itself. Nevertheless, when I showed this to my neighbor and colleague R. Yair Ben-Shitrit, he was floored, but then noticed that the Talmud is relating to both of our relationships with G-d during the ge’ula process: He is our Father and also our Lover. When IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was taken hostage by the Hamas several years ago, his father Noam Shalit shook the heavens and earth, successfully pressuring the government of Israel to free 1,000 convicted terrorists (!) in exchange for his son’s freedom. We similarly heard unbelievable heroism 2 weeks ago on Simchat Torah, especially of parents who did the incredible in order to free and save their children. How much more so will G-d do to those fools who try preventing Him from redeeming His children, the hostages themselves, as well as all of His sons of Israel, in our period of ge’ula.
Bil’am is prophesizing about our current period of redemption: Woe to the fool who interferes when the Lion [=Hashem] wants to mate with His beloved lioness [Israel] after 2,000 years of separation! Do they really think that a garment can divide and prevent such graphic love, 2,000 years of longing, desire and passion! Especially when they not only partition between Him and us, but actively murdered, maimed, mutilated, kidnapped and raped His sons and daughters. He will undoubtedly avenge and redeem us.
Someone should warn Hamas and the Gazans to get out of the way, for they are going to get walloped by the Almighty Lion and Father Himself!
With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
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