Our granddaughter, Tehilla, is a nurse and a mother. She lives in Israel, not far from Gaza. One of her specialties is treating burns, a technique she learned from the famous “burn lady” in Yerushalayim. Last Sunday evening, she received a call from a mother whose baby had been burned. She and her husband, a Hatzalah medic, raced off into the night and took care of the baby. On their way back, they stopped in Netivot, where the legendary Baba Sali zt”l had lived. It happened to have been the Baba Sali’s yahrzeit that night. As they drove home from Netivot, another car crossed the center divider and crashed head-on into them.
Both cars were destroyed, but nothing happened to Tehilla and her husband.
Nothing! Not a scratch!
“Hodu l”Hashem ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo … Give thanks to Hashem, for He is good. His kindness endures forever.” May Hashem watch over all of us. There is no protection but Hashem’s protection. “Shomer Yisroel …. Guardian of Israel, protect the remnant of Israel. Let not Israel be destroyed, those who proclaim ‘Shema Yisroel….’” (Tachanun)
Last week, President Trump announced an audacious plan to transform Gaza. As usual, the world was astounded by the scale of his thinking. President Trump has already shown himself on numerous occasions to be a friend of Am Yisroel. The list of his kindnesses is long. In a world filled with cruel enemies, he stands out. How can we fail to be grateful that someone in a position of such power harbors such feelings of friendship to us, the “lone sheep” among seventy wolves!
And yet, I feel compelled to express my strong feelings about this plan.
Gaza is part of Biblical Eretz Yisroel, which was given to us only on condition that we keep the Torah. “When [the Children of Israel] will comply with the covenant and take possession of the land, then they will merit [that I will be their G-d].” (Malbim, quoted in Artscroll Bereishis)
Only when we comply with the covenant! That is the condition!
We stand on the threshold of Moshiach; the world is in turmoil. The buttons controlling nuclear weapons and long-range missiles are in the hands of madmen. President Trump is not the only person in charge of vast armies. And within our own nation – nebach! – there are many who are steeped in hatred against the Holy Torah and those who uphold it.
Rav Dov Landau Shlita”h was quoted recently: “The only reason the Arabs don’t flood the world and kill us all, rachmana litzlan, is because of Lomdei Torah.” The holy Jews learning Torah day and night are holding back the tidal wave of hatred against us, just as the waters of the Yam Suf were held back by the holy Bnai Yisroel who left Mitzraim under the leadership of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Eretz Yisroel was given to us by the Master of the Universe as the bastion of Torah. The Land itself is so sensitive that it literally regurgitates its inhabitants if they stray into rejecting the Torah, G-d forbid! The Land is nauseated by sin, as it says, “You shall observe all My decrees and all My ordinances and perform them. Then the Land to which I bring you will not disgorge you.” (Vayikra 20:22)
Every day we say, “Beware lest your heart be seduced and you turn astray and serve gods of others and bow to them. Then the wrath of Hashem will blaze again you [and] … you will swiftly be banished from the goodly land which Hashem gives you.” (Shema)
Gaza is within the Biblical boundaries of the Holy Land. It was once a thriving Jewish community. Do you know that the zemer “Ka Ribon” was composed in Gaza during the 16th Century by Rav Yisroel ben Moshe of Najara, who was a student of the Arizal and later became rabbi of Gaza!
If Gaza were to become the “Riviera of the Middle East,” can you imagine what would go on there? It is unthinkable! Our entire existence depends not only upon maintaining but strengthening the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel.
There is a famous passage which says, “Esav ran toward [Yaakov], embraced him, fell upon his neck and kissed him ….” (Beraishis 33:4) “Rabbi Yanai said … [Esav] did not intend to kiss [Yaakov] but rather to bite him.” (Midrash Rabbah Beraishis 78:9) My friends, we express deep hakoras ha tov to President Trump, but we must beware of anything which will diminish – G-d forbid – the sanctity of Eretz Yisroel!
“Aitz chaim hi … it is a tree of life to those who grasp it ….” (Mishlei 3:18) We have to hold fast to the Tree of Life. We must beware the kiss of Esav! We are being tested these days by exquisitely complicated challenges; we have to keep asking ourselves, “What does Hashem want me to do?” His Torah is our only salvation.
“Hashem, nechaini … Guide me in Your righteousness, because of my watchful enemies, and make Your way straight before me.” (Tehillim 5:9)
GLOSSARY
Bnai Yisroel: Children of Israel
Eretz Yisroel: The Land of Israel
Hakoras ha Tov: Gratitude
Kedusha: Sanctity
Lomdei Torah: Torah scholars
Mitzraim: Ancient Egypt
Rachmana litzlan: G-d forbid
Yam Suf: The Red Sea
Zemer: Ancient song sung at the Shabbos table
