WE NEED A KING
“In those days there was no king in Israel and a man would do whatever seemed proper in his eyes.” (Shoftim 17:16 & other places)
This possuk describes a tekufa when chaos reigned in Israel. We had no leader. Our enemies were free to harm us because we were too divided either to protect ourselves or merit the protection of Hashem.
We are now in the midst of two of the most painful parshios in the Torah, Shelach and Korach. In these frightening chapters, the consequences of divisiveness and rebellion are laid out for us. And this occurred when we had a king, the greatest man in history, Moshe Rabbeinu!
As the Chofetz Chaim says, “A person must … be careful not to be among those who support a machlokes, so that he will not be punished” like the followers of Korach, who were swallowed by the earth and fell into eternal punishment.
Do you think Shelach Lecha and Korach are yesterday?
Oh no! They are today!
As I write, massive demonstrations are taking place in Israel. Roads and railways are blocked. Thousands of Yidden are filled with anger, at each other. I am not going to discuss the cause or justification. The point is that, whenever machlokes and bitterness arise in Am Yisroel, the results are catastrophic.
We have to get hold of ourselves … not because I say so, but if we want to survive! “Shomer Yisroel … Oh Guardian of Israel, protect the remnant of Israel. Let Israel not be destroyed, those who proclaim, ‘Shema Yisroel.’” (Tachanun)
Last week I recalled October 7, 2023. Do you remember? Of course you do! We all do! But do you remember what preceded October 7? Demonstrations tied up the Land and embarrassed us in the eyes of the world. They broadcast to our enemies that we are divided, and that is when we were almost destroyed!
That year Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbos and this coming year Rosh Hashanah will fall on Shabbos. When Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, no shofar is blown that day and we can lose our Heavenly protection, G-d forbid. I recalled last week how, historically, such years have been either catastrophic or triumphant. The outcome depended on how we were keeping Shabbos, because it is the observance of Shabbos which halachically prevents us from blowing shofar when Rosh Hashana falls out on that Holy Day.
Parshas Shelach tells the story of a nation which had just experienced the greatest miracles in history and which then forgot the Master of the World, through Whom those miracles came about. We forgot about Hashem! Thus, we lost our faith that He would bring us into Eretz Canaan, even though it was inhabited by giants.
We lost our faith in our Tatty, the Master of the World!
And then Parshas Korach! My friends, there is such a thing as being “sameach b’chelko … happy with our lot.” OK, I am not Moshe Rabbeinu. OK, I am not Aharon ha Kohain! OK, I am not the Chofetz Chaim! OK, I am not Rav Chaim Kanievsky!
I am who I am! Me! Let me live up to my potential. Hashem put me here to perform a unique avoda in this world, to elevate it through Torah in my own way.
There is the famous story of Reb Zusha, who was crying before his death. “They won’t ask me in Shomayim why I wasn’t like Moshe Rabbeinu! They won’t ask me why I wasn’t like Aharon ha Kohain! What am I afraid of? When they will ask me why I wasn’t the way Reb Zusha was supposed to be!”
We are now living in a period of extreme danger and extreme opportunity. I see division among our People; I see a world which hates us; I see a world in which the shofar will not be blown on Rosh Hashanah; I see a world which has forgotten October 7.
But I also see a world of Jews who are hungering and thirsting for Moshiach.
Here is the danger: can it get worse than October 7? A few weeks ago we read, “If despite this, you do not heed Me, then I shall punish you further, seven ways for your sins!” (Vayikra 26:18)
Oy! Is this what we want!
But here is the opportunity: if we see the danger clearly, we can use it to save ourselves. Our Tatty will protect us, but we must become a loving family!
“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov. Hashem became King over Yeshurun when the members of the nation gathered, the tribes of Israel in unity.” (Dvarim 33:4-5)
Is it so hard to act like loving friends? Let’s try to save ourselves!
We need a King!
GLOSSARY
Avoda: a spiritual task
Machlokes: fight, argument, disagreement
Tekufa: historical time period
Yeshurun: affectionate name for the Children of Israel, implying total integrity
