Category: Weekly Letters

As we approach Pesach, imagine if during the Ten Plagues, someone complained they can’t sleep because the Egyptians are crying too loudly, or about the pain of asking neighbors for wealth and Oy, having to pack for a long journey of Matzah! I would guess the complainer is a little child who doesn’t fathom the greatness of freedom from slavery which will be celebrated forever.

I remember overhearing a stewardess grumble that the flights to Israel are particularly trying because Jews tend to be real Kvetches. Some may even remember the SNL sketch about “The Weiners” (Whiners), who you couldn’t miss were distinctively Jewish! That’s the 40 years in the desert!

We see in this week’s Haftarah, “This nation [Israel] I created for Myself; they shall recite My praise” (Yishaya 43, 21). I think the pshat is that in the ge’ula, EVEN the Jewish Kvetches will have no choice but to recognize and praise G-d. He’s addressing 2,000 years of neurotic Jews, “And now, listen, Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. So said the Lord your Maker, and He Who formed you from the womb shall aid you. FEAR NOT, My servant Jacob, and Yeshurun whom I have chosen. As I will pour water on the thirsty and running water on dry land (sound familiar from the 40 desert years, 44).”

Despite all the anti-Semitism until this very day, which apparently gives us a “right” to be nervous and kvetch, G-d again allays our fears, “Fear not and be not dismayed; did I not tell you way back… and you are My witnesses; is there a god besides Me?!” (ibid). We have seen over the last century that MOST of the prophecies of redemption have already been fulfilled, so we Jews better get used to not kvetching. Mention at this year’s Seder: the Netziv stresses that G-d told the kvetching Moshe, “DON’T TELL ME HOW TO RUN MY REDEMPTION!, and adds that this message is for modern anti-Zionists, as well! (Shmot 4, 13 and Shivat Tzion, p. 17).

“But the State of Israel and the IDF are not 100% religious!” they kvetch (ignoring that neither were our fathers in Egypt, and most Jews and people in the western world aren’t either…), but G-d teaches us patience, ” This one shall say, “I am the Lord’s,” and this one shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and this one shall write [with] his hand, “To the Lord,” and adopt the name Israel” (ibid).

Keeping proportions is particularly important for Jews in general, and especially in Israel today. One can understand the complaints about 3 AM sirens to shlep down 3 flights to the shelter with a child on each arm and a third on your shoulders on an average of once a night, but don’t forget that just 2 weeks ago it used to be several times a night (and thank G-d we have shelters!). Feel PAIN but NOT DESPAIR when remnants of exploded Iranian missiles meet up with Israeli Iron Dome shells and rain debris breaking windshields and an occasional home, but would we rather not have worked decades to discover the Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling and have to deal with the missiles themselves?!

For decades the worst scenario imagined in Israel was a full-scale war with Iran, our largest, most sophisticated enemy with the most oil, Russian aid and nuclear plans. Well, that day is here, and we must profusely thank G-d and the IDF for pre-empting them with unprecedented intelligence, and professionalism to take out their entire leadership, anti-aircraft missiles and blow up their boats, planes and launchers without contest. We must thank Hashem for an American leadership, aid and military support, and for their generous replenishing of our shells (which was one of the biggest kvetches in the war against Hamas, that BH we eliminated our enemies at will, but were running low on ammo)! Others kvetch that we have to kill so many enemies, but that surely isn’t up to us.

Let’s be honest and objective, just 2 generations from the Holocaust. We have no right to complain about our sons being called up for the 5th time to go and conquer Lebanon as far as we want (how many armies know that victory is BH guaranteed?!), and we must still thank G-d and the IDF for those victories and consistent motivation. But we DO have a right to kvetch that many Jews (in Israel and abroad) belittle and don’t appreciate the years of research, and hundreds of days and nights of soldiers’ service, and don’t share the burden in the army. I think we can justifiably demand that they at least educate their children to participate in the next war, so that eventually we may ALL not have to run to shelters!

Our complaining shouldn’t hide the glory of the G-d-sent victory, which COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY EASIER (except were more Jews willing to share the burden). Let’s not forgot that we’re winning. Some people feel uncomfortable thanking G-d, and begrudgingly the IDF and the State of Israel whom He uses as His shlichim, for it may legitimize drafting yeshiva boys. Well maybe it does, but that doesn’t mean not to give credit, praise and thanks where it is due! Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

It has been 12 days since war erupted in Israel. Sirens, shelters, schools closed, and a nation mobilized for reserve duty. One question hovers in the air: When will it end? When can we finally return to a normal routine without fearing the next siren?

The truth is, nobody knows (not even Trump, only the true “King of the World”). But perhaps the truly important question isn’t exactly when it will finish, but rather: What should be our approach/mindset until then?

Here are three points worth pondering in the protected room during the next siren:

1. Understanding Why It’s So Hard

You see, there are two types of hardships in life. PREGNANCY, for example, can be an incredibly difficult period. Nausea, exhaustion, backaches and irregular contractions. But one thing sustains the woman: the knowledge that, in the end, comes the birth. No baby stays in the womb forever, and BH today, it’s successful.

Bachelordom, on the other hand, carries a unique challenge because of the uncertainty. It also holds loneliness, disappointment, and heartache, but above it all hangs a heavy shadow: there is no deadline for its end. It could take months, it might last years, and—G-d forbid—it might never end…

And wars? In this sense, regarding the time element they are more like bachelordom, but regarding the outcome, at least in Israel, it’s more like pregnancy. True, we know they aren’t forever—but no one can say exactly how long they will last.

If there is anything that helps in such a situation, it is shifting our gaze from the “End” to the “Middle.” What does that mean? It means stopping the futile preoccupation with questions like “When will I finally stand under the Chuppah?” or “When will the war end?” and focusing instead on a different question: How am I living today? How can I make this day as strong, encouraging, and meaningful as possible?

2. Remembering That Great Things Take Time

We were taught back in kindergarten: “Patience, patience”, and we know, Israelis are “patience-challenged.” We like things fast and sharp—”lightning operations.” The Six-Day War style. Long, gradual processes? We don’t like them, but we have to get used to them! That’s maturity.

History is full of long struggles, and the redemption of Israel appears “Kim’a Kim’a” (step by step, bit by bit, Yerushalmi Brachot 1, 1). Remember the Blitz of London in 1940/ת”ש- the Nazis bombed the capital every night for eight months! A million bombs were dropped, 43,000 civilians were killed, and over a million homes were destroyed. Thousands lived for months in subway stations just to find shelter.

And yet, the British held on. How? Because they knew they were facing the Nazi monster. They knew that if they wanted to stop it from taking over the world, they needed stamina and patience. They knew they had no other choice but to endure, which is what the civilians must do in order for the country to win!

3. Seeing the Big Picture

Let’s not forget—the struggle happening here is bigger than Israel’s security. We live in a “crazy” world where basic concepts of good and evil are blurred. Precisely within this confusion, the Jewish people have a unique role. The whole world is looking at us right now, learning how to distinguish between light and darkness and how to eradicate barbarism—all while we harness the world’s greatest superpower to fight by our side.

It is no coincidence that the war broke out on Shabbat Zachor, when we read about the struggle against the root of global evil—Amalek. The mission we began then, we are simply continuing today.

At the same time, it’s important not to lose perspective. We are not in an existential war like in 1948/תש”ח, nor are we in the traumatic moment of October 7th/שמחת תורה of 2 years ago. The State of Israel today is BH strong, stable, and steadfast. The ones struggling for existence are Hamas, Hizballah and the brutal Iranian regime, not us! BH we also have shelters (most in their own homes!) and don’t have to live in the subways! BH we have the greatest Air Force in the world, aided and supplied by the 2nd greatest (America), nowhere else has absorbed such a volume of fire with so few casualties.

So, until it’s over—we will continue to live, to believe, and to build. Similarly, this SHABBAT HACHODESH, we commemorate both the START of the Jewish Nation (Chodesh=month, comes from the word CHADASH=new, as symbolized by Pesach in Eretz Yisrael’s month of spring blooming= Chodesh haAviv) and today’s present RESTART of Israel. We will remember that we are living in an historic era, fulfilling a dream of generations, and writing the next chapter of the Bible, or more accurately: fulfilling the chapters of national redemption and her wars. Thank G-d, we are told (and have already seen!) what the end will be, precisely likened to the end of a pregnancy: a birth (not bachelordom!). Yishayahu (66, 9) prophesies precisely about the labor-pains of our period of the messianic era: “האשביר ולא אוליד יאמר ה’, אם אני המוליד?! “, “”Will I bring to the birth-stool and not cause to give birth?” says the Lord. “Am I not He who causes to give birth?!”. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat) and Rav Yoni Lavie

Yishayahu (25, 1) calls the mitzvot, “counsels from long ago”, and the Rambam writes that the mitzvot teach us ideas, actions and traits that serve us well throughout life (Guide for the Perplexed 3, 31). R. Soloveichik adds that even the halachic frameworks and details help us clarify proper mindsets.

Our sages continue and elaborate such ideas even more in their midrashic and aggadic works full of great and provenly successful ideas. For example, my father z”l used to often quote in daily life, “מצוה הבאה לידך על תחמיצנה”, “A mitzvah which comes to you, don’t let it sit and ferment to become chametz (but do it immediately)” (Mechilta on Shmot 12, 17). Similarly, “אל תאמר לכשאפנה אשנה שמא לא תיפנה”, “don’t say ‘when I have time I will learn’, for you may never find the time” (Avot 2, 4). Also, “”המתחיל במצוה אומרים לו מרוק (=גמור) whoever begins a mitzvah, tell him finish it” (Yerushalmi Megilla 2, Tosfot Hullin 29a). The common denominator is that Chazal teach us not to procrastinate, and to finish that which we began. If something is worth starting, it’s usually worth finishing!

The Israeli army is presently in the process of finishing off in Iran what we began in the previous 12-day-operation “Am KaLavie”, just 8 months ago to prevent their nuclear and ballistic programs directed against us. Why we didn’t complete the job then, I don’t know, but once we are there again, we surely must do so now efficiently.

In life, you never know how circumstances may change, and we must “seize the moment”. Especially in Israel, maybe the Prime Minister will change, maybe the President of the U.S. will change. Perhaps the unity and nationalist mindset of Israel may wear down, perhaps we may run low on ammunition, perhaps anti-Semites will turn the UN against us, and much more. So often, people lament that after the Six Day War we didn’t take full advantage of the atmosphere with our enemies! G-d teaches us the Torah “mindset”, when he sent a prophet to rebuke Achav for not finishing off Ben-Haddad, King of Aram, whom He gave to Achav to defeat (M’lachim I, 20). In short, we must make sure that this time, we are careful to “finish them” properly!

BH Israel has basically wiped out the Iranian anti-aircraft, assassinated their “Supreme Leader” and 40 of his top military and intelligence heads within the 1st minute of the war. They are clearly “on the run”, and as in boxing, we must now finish them off, as they planned to do to us. After the “Beeper Attack”, Hizballah was reeling, but unfortunately we let them regroup. Hashem has given us this G-d-sent situation that we can do there whatever we want, so all we have to do is ‘want’.

We find another clear Torah educational “mindset” in this week’s parsha, when Moshe Rabbenu calls “מי לה’ אליי”. He keeps it simple and clear: “Whoever is for G-d, comes and helps. There are no two ways of understanding this: if you are for G-d, you come and aid when it’s time for war. And if you do not come, you are not for G-d (Shmot 32, 26).

Matityahu copied (even if not precisely), where in the Book of Maccabees I (2, 27), “Whoever is zealous for the Torah and the covenant (with G-d), will follow me” and fight the Greeks. The ancient historian Yosifun (ch. 19, the end of the Geonic period, about 1,100 years ago, according to most editions), claims that Matityahu (or Yehuda HaMaccabee) actually copied Moshe’s words precisely. Either way, whoever celebrates Chanukah should also learn and emulate from the clear words of Matityahu and the Maccabees.

Moreover, Moshe Rabbenu (rebuking Reuven and Gad, “Shall your brothers go to war while you stay here?!”, Bamidbar 32, 6), Deborah the prophetess (Shoftim 5, 16 and 23) and Rambam harshly rebuke those who don’t come to help Israel during war, ‘Cursed be he who does G-d’s work deceitfully, cursed be he who withholds his sword from blood’ (Rambam, Hil. M’lachim u’Milchamoteihem 7, 15, based upon Yirmiyahu 48, 10– it should be noted that he is even referring there to a Milchemet R’shut, an “optional war”). Regarding those who don’t help during war, Rav Soloveichik even applies the very severe castigation of the Rambam elsewhere to one who doesn’t participate with Israel in her time of trouble (Community, Covenant and Commitment [Hebrew], 2011, 68, 244, based upon Rambam Hil. Teshuva, 3, 11.).

As regarding the issue of energetic action without delay, here too the advice and obligation of the Torah mindset, concept and wording are clear as can be: whoever is loyal to G-d, comes to fight His and His nation’s enemies, with that same zeal. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

The 1,800 year old Midrashim on Esther, could actually have been written today! Our sages teach that King Achashverosh hated Israel more than Haman did (Yalkut Shimoni, 1054), but they had a difference of opinion: Achashverosh said to Haman that all the many who tried killing Israel never succeed, for the G-d of Israel is always on our side. Haman and Zeresh answered with 2 creative theories:

1. Theologically: G-d USED to choose the Jews, until we sinned, upon which He abandoned us. He thought to prove from Nevuchadnetzar’s destroying the Temple in Jerusalam (ibid). [In reality, it was a threat that wasn’t meant to be carried out. Only after hundreds of prophetic threats, we left Him no choice but He had to TEMPORARILY send us to Bavel. In Persia, G-d PRETENDed to ALMOST DESTROY US- one of the reasons for costumes on Purim, see 1053, and Megilla 12a). Similarly, the Christians claim that G-d changed His mind and left us to chose them.

2. Also, G-d saved Jews from furnaces, lion-dens, jails, deserts but nobody ever tried hanging us (ibid, 1057)! Similarly, Iran thought that nobody ever tried NUKING Israel!

Here’s an unbelievable Midrash which is worthwhile to publicize to all of these and future anti-Semites: G-d said to Haman “You are the biggest FOOL! Even I TRIED and DIDN’T SUCCEED (as if it were!) to wipe out Israel after the Golden Calf sin! And YOU think that you will succeed in your “wish(ed) to obliterate, kill and do away with all the Jews”?!, ibid 1054). Our sages are teaching that the MOST IMPOSSIBLE thing in the world is to wipe out Israel! Also, “if there is no Israel, what use is Torah?!” (ibid, 1056)

How much more so TODAY when G-d is in the process of redeeming Israel forever, ” ‘He [Bil’am] gave a parable [=prophesizing about the end of days] and said: OY! Who can survive when He does this? (Bamidbar 24, 23), OY to the nation who tries hindering when the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeems His children (Israel). Who (What FOOL) dares place his garment to separate between a lion and his female lioness when they wish to mate? [Woe to him, for he who does so will certainly not “survive”]” (Sanhedrin 106a). Put in the names of the fools: Hamas, Hizballah, Syria, Iran…

Many don’t note the exact “dotting” in Shoshanat Ya’akov, NOT “תשועתם היְתה לנצח” )=their victory was forever- which it wasn’t!), but rather “תשועתם היִית לנצח”, =YOU have been their eternal salvation. Our salvation is the salvation of the G-d of Israel, as we saw just yesterday once again in Persia!

After the Six Day War, the famed R. Menachem Kasher (intr. to his edition, Kol HaTor) suggested adopting the reading in Al HaNissim, adding the letter vav, that G-d miraculously saves Israel בימים ההם וּ- בזמן הזה= “in those days AND today, but from now on, on Purim we can have that in mind without needing to change any wording, for He saves us “בימים ההם בזמן הזה” “in those days at this time (Adar) AND in our time!”

Surprisingly, the Rambam allows teaching Torah to Christians (despite his considering the trinity as idolatry) for they accept the Bible, but writes it’s a waste of time to try teaching Muslims (despite that they are monotheists like us), for they say that Israel “warped” the Bible! (Maimonides’ Letters, Blau edition, 148)

Pres. Trump and many Christians know Megillat Esther, but the Islamic world doesn’t, that’s why the Persians keep uselessly trying and getting walloped. Many Christians have already learned not to FOOL with the G-d of Israel. That He obviously doesn’t make “mistakes”, will never abandon His Chosen People, and that they should even help us! But many Islamic religious leaders would be wise for their own sake, to objectively recheck and revise their clear and proven folly and immorality. Only then can there be world peace.

If Moslems aren’t interested in learning Bible, at least we should teach them Pete Seeger’s classic song against violence, “Where have all the flowers gone?… When will they ever learn?!” It’s surely better for us and better for them and their people as well!

In the meantime we must all celebrate and thank Hashem, the IDF (especially our Intelligence and Air Force: taking out their ruthless leader+ 40 (=most) of their military heads within 1 minute in 3 simultaneous strikes, probably a world record!), and Trump! He may be flawed (as was Achashverosh), but they understand something that Haman and Iran do not! Purim Same’ach! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

The ingenious and rational Rambam (hil. M’lachim 5, 5) adds several surprising words in defining the Torah mitzva to remember what Amalek did to us: “to constantly (!) remember their evil deeds and their ambush of Israel TO AROUSE OUR HATRED of them”. We usually relate to hatred as something we are meant to overcome, and surely not consciously or even artificially “arouse”! And why does the Rambam add that this obligation is “constant”?

Another obvious question is: if there is no longer any biological Amalek in the world, why must we stubbornly “remember what Amalek did to us”? We Jews have a long memory, but when an historic issue seems no longer relevant, the Talmud asks: “מאי דהוה הוה!”, “What was, was”- so who cares? (e.g. Yoma 5b), so what’s the “nafka mina” (practical application)?! Any way you look at it, it’s been 2500 years since there was a practical mitzvah to fight Amalek!

I think this mitzvah can be likened to the classic advice of many a father to their teenage daughter: “BH you have grown up to be a very sweet and beautiful young lady, and we love you that way, but don’t be naïve. Just know that there are some evil people out in the world. Don’t let them take advantage of you!”

We Israeli citizens who comprise the IDF are normal peace-loving people who are not naturally “tough”, and would prefer spending our time on creative pursuits. This is exactly the problem which enabled the Hamas to surprise us on that fateful Simchat Torah. Many Israelis, especially those enveloping Gaza, lived in a naïve dream-world, thinking that if we just pull out of Gush Katif, if we just treat the Arabs nicely, there will be peace. We mistakenly PROJECTED our own mindset onto our enemy. Didn’t our parents teach us: “it take two to tangle”? So if we are adamant to be friendly with them, rationally that’s what we should get in return (see Mishlei 20, 17).

Unfortunately, the past year two years with Hamas and Iran have proven to anyone objective that the lack of peace in the Middle-East is a direct outcome of their understanding of Islam. What does murdering the helpless, rape and mutilation have to do with their “freedom”?

Accordingly, our self-defense, retaliation and deterring the enemies of peace is LIFE-GIVING and moral, and the exact opposite (!) of Islamic terror which brags about how many innocent citizens they killed, and even name their streets after those evil “heroes” of terrorism. The world has difficulty understanding why the Arabs in Gaza could be the aggressors, if they consistently suffer more casualties, because thank G-d, the world doesn’t understand the mindset (and illogic) of religious Jihad!

I admit that I don’t know much about their religion, and I hope that there may be other, more peaceful interpretations to Islam, but as long as Hamas, ISIS and Iran interpret it the way they do, we cannot put our heads in the sand and deny reality. Yes, Am Yisrael yearns for peace, but in our eternal role as a Light to the Nations, our loving Father teaches us this Shabbat, that it’s irresponsible to be naïve and let evil people take advantage of us. The Rambam stresses this is a CONSTANT mitzvah that must sometimes even be consciously or artificially “aroused”, just in case we sometimes may want to forget the irrationality of anti-Semitism… Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Q. I am learning sefer Tehillim and see many references to tzadikim and resha’im (perfectly good people and evil people). Of course, most people are somewhere in the middle. Still, David HaMelech speaks about evil people as those who ignore Hashem’s mitzvot, and who are more concerned about people not catching them at doing bad things than about what Hashem sees and knows.

This got me thinking. For the vast majority of Jewish history, virtually all Jews learned and tried to follow the Torah. Those who rebelled against the Torah left the fold completely. But nowadays, particularly in Israel, the situation is different. Many people believe in G-d and follow some of the traditions (since the beginning of the current war, these numbers are BH rising). Most “secular” Jews are good people who do not wish any harm on our nation. Rather, they love our people and our land. So many non-religious Jews do so much chessed and risk their lives in the IDF, etc. These people know about Torah laws, but do not consider themselves “religious,” therefore choose which mitzvot to follow and which not to. I would like to think that these are not resha’im. I would like to hope that these Jews are considered “somewhere in the middle.” But according to what I have learned in sefer Tehillim, people who choose not to follow the Torah are seen as evil. I would appreciate your perspective on this issue.

A. Regarding the definition of “resha’im” in both Tehilim and today, it all depends why those people chose not to follow the Torah. It’s true that there were almost no atheists in the time of King David, and most of the “evil” in Tehilim are referring to pagan gentiles, who really were evil both spiritually and morally. Over the last several generations already, it’s unanimous, spanning from Rav Kook (Igrot 555) to the Chazon Ish (Y.D. 2, 6-16) to Rav Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia, Kaddesh), that there are almost not such people in Am Yisrael (unfortunately, although many of the gentiles have matured, we see throughout the world and especially in the Middle East, that there still are evil gentiles).

The 2 most common reasons there are no Jewish “resha’im” today are as follows: With so many anti-religious influences around us (e.g. social media, relatively anti-religious press…), most non-believers are considered Tinok Shenishba (like a child who was kidnapped and raised by gentiles) and is not responsible for his own lack of proper Jewish education and surroundings (Rambam Mamrim 3, 3, “whom we should try returning through ways of shalom”). Alternatively, the Ramban (Bamidbar 15, 22 · chumash) regarding the accidental sin offering of the nation (chatat shogeg tzibbur), gives the example of a society who thinks that the Torah’s time has passed, but not applicable for all [modern] generations (which could have been written today!).

Rav Kook (“HaDor”) goes further that, as you inferred, the secular Jews today, surely those in Israel, are particularly idealistic, and their ideals are truly Torah ones, but they are often “turned off” by certain old-fashion and Galuti elements that they see among the religious. Their love of Israel, the Land, the Nation, and their desire to be part of Jewish destiny has been demonstrated every day of the past two years, since the Hamas attack, often more than among those considered “religious”. Similarly the statistically proven national reawakening which you mentioned, to be that much more traditional as expressed in prayer, tefillin, tzitzit, song (the official Song of the Year on Galei Tzahal was: “Hashem Yitbarach always loves me!”), Shabbat candles, and taking Challah, is just an expression of the latent Emuna (belief) that’s ALWAYS THERE but is just waiting to be awakened and “by-pass” the distractions and anti-religious element around!

All Jews have the same G-dly soul, “This nation I CREATED for Me, they will tell of My praise” (Yeshaya 43, 21). We must “seize the moment”, and not let the politicians and media ruin the present national natural unity and Emuna. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Q. After dedicating 35 years and so much time and effort in raising and educating our children, how can I deal with the frustration of some of my kids who “left the Derech” of Torah, which is so dear to me? I feel such a failure!

A. Regarding those who received good education in good families, it hurts to say it, but they are also, to a certain extent, victims of other outside factors, as well. It’s not just up to us! The super-strong world-wide allurements of smart-phones (whether it be non-stop sports, social media, movies, music, various levels of porn or anything and everything each individual likes), not to mention cannabis, travels to India and South America, and 2 years of war and unprecedented traumas, can and often do distract a person today 24/7 from life and its deeper meaning for years.

The distractions (most of them can be really good mixed together with the problematic!) and temptations are much stronger than ever before, simply because we are in the process of ge’ula, and we must clarify and purify all topics which have yet to “finish” their “tikkun” (“fixing”). The galuti “black and white” simplistic way of protecting children from “outside” factors, doesn’t work any more, because BH the world is not where it used to be. The “stakes’ today are higher than ever before, but so is the Torah more alive, appealing and truer than ever before, in the various yeshivot, midrashot and mechinot, which can (together with the miracles and anti-Semitism of the last 2 years), and often do equalize the stiffest of competitions and distractions. Those who meet and overcome those challenges, rise to unprecedented levels, but that doesn’t mean that all of our children will pass the mark before age 35 (many need even more time).

We must also get used to a broader definition, where in Eretz Yisrael, Torah is not just defined by observing Shabbat, but also through the very serving of Am Yisrael in this long war. Yes, while in battle many of the laws of Shabbat are superseded (and are not considered Chilul Shabbat at all), but one can understand that over 2 years one gets “out of the habit” of observing a beautiful and regular Shabbat. Despite the army getting more religious all the time, it’s still a challenge, and the best solution is to build their own home of Torah to where the soldiers return to their wife and kids, when on leave or when finishing their turn in milu’im.

Accordingly, the “Derech” must include a wide 12 lane highway in order that even our own children not “leave the Derech”, and also getting used to not all of our children getting married in their young 20’s, where it’s easiest to build “regular” families of Torah. Those 2 examples of necessary tolerance (both open-mindedness and patience) are actually an essential part of the historical clarification of one of the 13 G-DLY TRAITS: Erech Appayim (literally: patience)!

Hashem also does us a favor- that we also did for ourselves (through increasing care in our health)- that life-expectancy is getting longer, which also contributes to acquiring that G-dly mind-set of patience. In addition, BH in most of our families, we idealistically raised many children, so there are still ENOUGH children who relatively do follow the ways of their parents, to keep us sane and not blame ourselves too much!

Keep on praying, thanking and seeing the good (“Ayin Tova”) in each and every child, not just in order to keep your sanity, but because these are really true and positive ways of seeing things and acquiring the G-dly ERECH APAYIM. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari

We find that Yitro was convinced to follow the G-d of Israel for “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the deities, for (precisely) with the thing that they plotted, [G-d brought] upon them(selves) (18, 11).” Rashi explains that the Egyptians drowned the boys of Israel, so in the end, G-d drowned their men as well (his source in Yalkut Shimoni, Yirmiyahu 319, cites many other examples from Tanach, that G-d punished our enemies precisely with that which they did to Israel).

Why was this “Midah k’negged mida” (literally: “a measure for a measure)- so convincing for Yitro, even convincing him to actually change his life and join Israel? Similarly, this can help us understand why this theme of “V’Nahafoch hu…” (literally: “it was reversed”, that the Megila flips everything Haman planned to do Israel, 180 degrees and brings upon Haman himself (Esther 9, 1 and 22) is so central also to Megilat Esther and the forthcoming holiday of Purim? (see Maharal, Or Chadash, p. 196)

The obvious answer is that this way of JUSTICE is clearly SELF-EVIDENT and FAIR. One cannot claim that it’s immoral to drown Pharoh and the Egyptians who drowned our male babies, or that it’s wrong to do to Haman and his henchman, exactly what they planned to do to Mordechai and Israel. Not only did we have no choice, but no one can come and complain of the “immorality” of the retribution of G-d and Israel, which is not ironic but totally JUSTLY DESERVED.

Even anti-Semites can’t argue the point for what they actually did to us, is in fact much worse than what they received in return. Anti-Israel accusers have been faulting us for “over-reacting”, but check the facts: how many Gazan children did Israel behead, how many of their women did we rape, and how many of their civilians have we kidnapped, starved and tortured?

We cannot speak to them in western English, when they only understand eastern “Arabic”. In the entire Middle-East, and even in Israel, Arabs often avenge their own family’s blood by spilling blood from the rival Hamula clan.

This is precisely how Rav Kook (Ma’amarei HaReiya, p. 507) explains some of the more “immoral” sounding wars of King David, and Amalek, that one has no choice but to deter the enemy in the “language” which he seems to understand in each respective generation. For every act of terror, we should build a new Jewish yishuv on that spot.

Similarly, Rav Kook explained that Jewish law punishes a thief precisely in the field which he wanted to gain. For the thief, money is more dear than his life, for he’s willing to risk his life by breaking into the home of his victims who may kill him in self-defense, but by paying double (=keffel, 200%), he loses out in the topic he most cares about.

Not only in this part of the world, but even in Europe, the naive democracies are exploited by the Moslems because of their wishful thinking. We don’t “stoop down to their level”, but justly and realistically fight fire with even more fire. If they threaten to nuke us, the only way to deter them is by instilling fear that we can nuke them even more. That’s “where they’re at”, and Judaism believes in being morally realistic, and not being naïve at the expense of our children. The innocent side’s children should not have to live in fear or sleep in shelters, just because our enemies wish to take that initiative.

The Rambam (hil. Chovel u’Mazik 1, 3) explains why the Torah writes an “Eye for an eye” (Shmot 21, 24), despite the fact that the Oral Law teaches the punishment is monetary, because the Torah wants to clarify, that’s what the aggressor really deserves. Adds the Shadal, that if there is a sadistic millionaire who isn’t deterred by monetary payment, the Beit Din would actually take an “eye for an eye”. The main point is to deter in their own language, or in the words of Samson: “As they did to me, I did to them” (Shoftim 15, 11).

I don’t think that speaking such logic to anti-Semites would help, if they would side with the Arabs even on the question of “is the world is flat”. If in every war in modern history, the democracies side with the victims except here where they anti-Semetically side with the totalitarian aggressors and terrorists, there’s nothing we can do,

But hopefully at least Jewish students who side with our enemies or are in doubt, should be objectively open to that which convinced the gentile Yitro, and surely convinced Haman and his cronies. Don’t do X to us, and we won’t do it to you. Worded simply: if the Arabs lay down their guns everybody knows there will be peace, but if Israel lays down ours, everybody knows we won’t be around to check the outcome! Our enemies say so explicitly, so why should Jewish students not believe them?! Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

The parsha teaches “and Bnei Yisrael left with a RAISED HAND” (14, 8). The Ramban (ibid, 5) explains that “they made and held up a national FLAG, leaving Egypt with joy and song, like those redeemed from slavery to freedom, and not as slaves who will return to slavery”. Similar to modern national flags, this original flag of Israel is a legitimate and religious sign of national pride and INDEPENDENCE, with the blessings of the Torah!

In addition, the Israeli flag serves like the US placing its flag on the moon in 1969/תשכ”ט; as a symbolic, even legal gesture of ownership. Similarly, the Israeli flag is a symbol of the Jews returning to our ancient homeland – and settling there in OWNERSHIP of our land, thus fulfilling the mitzvah of “and you shall CONQUER the Land and settle in her” (Bamidbar 33, 35).

In a 7 page sermon written and read by Rav Kook at the Flag Ceremony inducting the (what was thought was identical to the Israeli flag!) flag of the Jewish Brigade into the Hurvat R. Yehuda HaChasid synagogue (Jerusalem, 1925/תרכ”ו), Rav Kook expresses several additional points of importance of our national flag (I found and published it in Otzrot HaReiya vi, pp. 262-270, found also on the website of Asif, just Google: אסיף קוק דגל ארי שבט ).

Rav Kook cites there an important midrash that it was Israel who initiated the flags in the desert, and G-d out of love, accommodated that wish (Tanchuma Bamidbar 14). G-d even goes so far as to say that the nations have flags, but He only loves the flags of Israel (Bamidbar Rabba 2, 3). In addition, G-d loves our flag which differentiates Israel from the nations (ibid), precisely another role of the Israeli flag. Another midrash claims that we actually invented the concept of national flags, afterwards COPIED by gentile nations (ibid, 2, 7). If flags bring out national pride for other nations, how much more so G-d’s Chosen Nation should be proud of our flag and role as the “Light for the Nations”.

How can many not notice that we actually pray 3 times a day that G-d should please “raise the flag to gather our exiles” (“”ושא נס לקבץ גלויותנו), which is precisely the expression of our flag of the Jewish State, dedicated from the outset to gather the exiles.

It’s interesting to note, the predecessor of the modern Israeli flag was given as a gift from the King to the Prague Jewish community over 650 years ago, in recognition of the Jews who helped fight off a Dutch invasion. The flag features a Jewish star surrounding the Dutch hat, as a symbol of military victory. All of the great rabbis of Prague, including the Maharal, the Shela, R. Yonatan Eibshitz and the Noda B’Yehuda, prayed under that flag in that synagogue, and how much more so they would be proud of a Jewish flag, based on the blue-and white TALLIT, representing the Jewish State fighting off, with the help of the G-d of Israel, an Arab invasion in the Holy Land.

Rav Kook actually mentions there an idea later publicized by Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (Nefesh HaRav, p. 99 ), who deemed the Israeli flag as a symbol of the Kiddush Hashem, which adorns military caskets and military ceremonies, the sanctifying G-d’s name, which the IDF does on a daily basis.

Also de-facto, over the past century, respecting the Israeli flag has become a custom of Am Yisrael and a universal symbol of the Jews, and like all minhagim and symbols, should be respected. That Star of David which was once a badge of shame in the Holocaust, has turned into a badge of pride as a symbol of Judaism, and that G-d has redeemed His nation. We are proud as Jews to stand out with our Magen David Adom, as unique and different from the Red Cross and Red Crescent. How much more so when the Israeli flag adorns our victorious fighter planes, reminding our Jihad-minded enemies that the G-d of Israel is the One and Only.

All this and much more (found in my Hebrew sefer, “להרים את הדגל”) serve as an important alternative view to that raised by R. Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe Or.Ch. 46) who saw the Israeli flag as secular and preferred not to bring it into a shul. One can only guess whether R. Moshe Feinstein would have changed his opinion, were he to have known the Israeli flag is precisely designed to be like the tallit (which surely has a place in shul), and seen the aforementioned ideas (especially the Ramban, the Maharal’s precedent, and the previously unpublished Rav Kook extensive article on the flag), just as he changed his opinion over time, to be much more pro-Israel over the years (as seen in my sefer, most of which can be found in 4 articles by Googling: אסיף דגל ישראל ארי שבט). In fact, over time, the Israeli flag WAS featured IN THE BEIT MIDRASH at ceremonies at R. Moshe’s own yeshiva high school MTJ. Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

The exodus from Egypt towards national independence which we read about in Parshat Bo, fills us with pride and expectation, but should also fill us with immense responsibility for the forthcoming Parshat Mishpatim: how to run an ideal nation, with a fair, moral and G-dly economy, rules and regulations.

Like as slaves in Egypt, for two thousand years in exile, Jews became experts in navigating bad systems. When the law belonged to hostile rulers, you survived by finding loopholes, intermediaries, and quiet understandings. Chazal themselves recognize this reality: “Dina d’Malchuta Dina” (obligation to follow the law of the land) only applies when the law is applied fairly and serves the public good (Ran, Nedarim 28a). When it doesn’t, Jews learned how to live around the law, not through it. This wasn’t corruption — it was self-defense. In galut, the tax collector and regulations were anti-Semitic, and the army was often a weapon pointed straight at you.

Now that we have a State, we must change our mindset, and run it as an Or LaGoyim, with rules and regulations, and no longer as a shtetl. We have recently seen the price of not instituting legal guidelines at day “care” centers in Haredi and Arab neighborhoods, or if people think that for “my cause” it’s legit to stop-up highways and lie down before buses. If building permits are not necessary in Haredi and Arab neighborhoods, and taxes are not collected there (just as they don’t get an equal share of the tax budget), than we shouldn’t be surprised that Arabs are allowed to kill each other on a daily basis, as if we were a Banana Republic. Refusing to obey orders in the IDF cannot be seen forgivingly if it comes from the “correct” side, and the Supreme Court and legal advisors can’t change their mind to apply different laws of protests, depending upon whose ox is being gored – one law for leftists, a different one for rightists, a third for Haredim and a 4th law for Arabs.

If political leaders liken a law for equal army service to Hitler and Yellow badges, and accordingly, demonstrations yell “we’ll die rather than serve”, we shouldn’t be surprised if 14 year olds demonstrate with no guidelines from their rabbis, and think it’s an ideal to actually give their lives, like in their slogan, NOT to serve in the army, rather than the mitzvah of serving.

Shtetl logic ends the moment we Jews have sovereignty. The Torah repeats “משפט אחד יהיה לכם” — there must be one just law for all (Vayikra 24, 21). The Rambam rules (M’lachim 4, 10): “The role of the king is to fill the WORLD with justice”, an exemplary government as an example for all countries. A system based on PROTEKTZIA, winks, and “don’t worry, it’ll be fine” is not Jewish leadership; it is exactly what the Torah warns against when it forbids “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show favoritism” (Devarim 16, 19), even toward righteous people (see Hil. De’ot 2, 6). A state that enforces law selectively is not compassionate; it is lawless. This is the same irresponsibility that caused 45 fatalities and 102 wounded in the trampling 5 years ago in Meiron on Lag BaOmer.

Chazal put it bluntly: “אלמלא מוראה של מלכות, איש את רעהו חיים בלעו” (אבות ג, ב). Without fear of the law, society collapses. In exile, we feared the government; in Israel, the government is ours, and must see the ideal in implementing equal and fair laws for everyone. Otherwise, we haven’t ended galut — we’ve just translated it into Hebrew. Haredim who don’t want a Jewish State before Mashiach, perhaps want this galut-type of shtetl to continue, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for them, or for anyone. A Jewish state cannot be built on clever loopholes or tricky coalition agreements; it must be built on what the Torah demands from judges, leaders, and citizens alike: דין אמת לאמיתו — real justice, applied equally, even when it’s inconvenient (Tosafot, Shabbat 10a), even when it applies to me

Christianity teaches “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to G-d that which is His”. Rav Kook stresses that Torah contrarily says that EVERY TOPIC, including GOVERNING, belongs to G-d and His Torah, which is precisely a Kiddush Hashem. “And David reigned over ALL Israel; and David administered JUSTICE AND CHARITY for ALL his people” (Shmuel ii 8, 15). David Melech Yisrael is meant to run an ideal Jewish State (Orot HaKodesh, p. 488), not an outdated Jewish shtetl. Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)