This week’s parsha describes our world: “Perhaps you will say in your heart, ‘These nations are more numerous than I. How will I be able to drive them out?’
We are confronting a world which is united against us. Our few friends are outnumbered and dwindling in the face of worldwide hatred. We seem to be trapped. The nations desire to eat us alive, to swallow up every last Jew, G-d forbid, like Paro in Mitzraim or Haman in the Days of Mordechai and Esther. The world is crawling with our enemies like a swarm of ants.
But Hashem tells us in this week’s parsha:
“Do not fear them! You shall remember what Hashem your G-d did to Paro and to all of Mitzraim, the great test that your eyes saw, and the signs, the wonders, the strong hand and the outstretched arm with which Hashem your G-d took you out. So shall Hashem your G-d do to all the people before whom your fear…. [He] will send among [your enemies] the hornet swarm .… until the survivors and hidden ones perish before you. You shall not be broken before them, for Hashem your G-d is among you, a great and awesome G-d. Hashem will thrust these nations from before you. [He] … will confound them … until their destruction. He will deliver their kings into your hand and … cause their name to perish from under the heaven. No man will stand up against you until you have destroyed them….” (Dvarim 7:17ff)
As great as the threat appears, so much greater is the power of Hashem.
Thousands of years ago, our rabbis predicted that the final – and most difficult – chapter in our long Exile would be “Golus Yishmoel,” in which the Children of Yishmoel would oppress and try to destroy us, G-d forbid. Several years ago, Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg Shlita”h wrote describing this terrible Golus. He quoted Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer (Chapter 32) and the Zohar (end of Parshas Lech Lecha) to the effect that Golus Yishmoel would be the most difficult of all our exiles. (Mishpacha Magazine)
If we look at the world today, especially since October 7, 2023, when nations around the world are condemning us for trying to stay alive, it looks as if these words are indeed coming to pass. Look at the Moslem growth in Europe. Look at the recent New York City Mayoral primary. Look at the powerful nations around the world who oppose us.
The influence of Bnai Yishmoel is sprouting like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
In my book, 2020 Vision, I quote the words of the Malbim: “In the End of Days, after the Children of Israel have returned to their land, the children of Yishmoel and the children of Esav will unite to attack Jerusalem. They will form a world coalition against the tiny nation of Israel. But something will go wrong with their plan. The religious beliefs of the children of Yishmoel and the children of Esav will clash, and the two nations will collide and destroy each other. This is what is referred to as the War of Gog and Magog. Following this cataclysmic conflict, the Final Redemption of the Jewish People will occur with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid.” (Malbim on Yechezkel 32:17)
We see from the Malbim that not only the Children of Yishmoel but the Children of Esav will unite against us. There will be no apparent refuge. We will be isolated, as Bilaam predicted when he said, “Behold, it is a nation that will dwell in solitude and not be counted among the other nations.” (Bamidbar 23:9).
But our Parsha tells us that Hashem will save us with weapons which cannot be overcome. This assurance, however, places a huge responsibility upon us, because if indeed we are not to be “broken before them,” then we must develop reliance upon Hashem at every moment. That means davening with kavana and performing mitzvos in a way which will bring our neshomas into a state of constant dvaikus, in addition to acts of chessed through which our Nation will become united.
“One’s heart must be fully imbued with [the] attitude of bitachon … not only part of the heart, [but our entire heart!] Even if, G-d forbid, a time of destruction were to come upon the world, this would not affect the composure of [a baal bitochan or cause him any anxiety]. He will not fear concerning his personal circumstances, and he will not tremble, due to his bitachon that anything not decreed upon him will be unable to cause him harm [even in times of trouble] ….” (Alter of Novardok, Madreigas Ha Adam, Artscroll/Mesorah)
I used to believe that the words and actions of the Alter of Novardok were extreme, but I now see that they are exactly what we need to survive in the chaotic world which swirls around us. I see that it is possible to remain focused on Hashem even in the midst of a cataclysmic storm. This is our avoda for these incredibly challenging times. We can do it, but we need to focus all our resources on total dvaikus with our Father and King.
May we soon see the day when the “sun of righteousness arises for you who fear My Name, with healing in its rays!” (Malachi 3:20)
Hornet swarm
GLOSSARY
Baal bitachon: a person with bitachon
Bitachon: trust in G-d
Bnai Esav: the Western Nations, the Church of Rome
Bnai Yishmoel: the Moslem nations
Dvaikus: oneness, unity among the Jewish People
Esav: Our primordial enemy, progenitor of the Western nations, son of
Isaac
Golus: Exile
Haman: Legendary enemy of Israel in the Purim story
Kavanah: concentration while doing mitzvos
Mitzraim: Ancient Egypt
Paro: Pharaoh
Parsha: Torah Portion
Yishmoel: Our other primordial enemy, son of Abraham and half-
brother of Isaac, progenitor of the Moslem Nations
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