"Gifts, Prayer, and War"

by HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

As of Now, Jacob prepares well for his meeting with Esau. He is set to give gifts, to pray, and to wage war (Genesis 32:9; Rashi).

He is set to bring gifts: Perhaps he will be able to appease Esau in that way. He, therefore, sends a minchah, a tribute (32:14).

He prays: “O G-d of my father Abraham and G-d of my father Isaac... Rescue me, I pray, from the hand of my brother -- from the hand of Esau” (32:10,12).

He is set for war: “The other camp will survive” (32:9). Rashi comments, “The other camp will necessarily survive and be saved, for I will fight over it.”

Jacob is full of faith in Hashem the G-d of Israel and in the eternity of the Jewish People. At the same time, he does not sit idle. When danger looms he takes all the necessary steps to thwart that danger. First, he takes the path of conciliation. Then he prays to G-d to help him. Likewise, he prepares for the worst scenario of all -- war.

Right now the State of Israel is in a situation similar to that of Jacob. Even though now that not all of Israel’s enemies who have attacked her since the State’s establishment, numerous times, with intent to destroy us, are intent on war, there are those implacable enemies that still have the intent to destroy us. They build armies of terrorist soldiers and equip themselves with various types of destructive weaponry. We have tried to appease them through agreements involving handing over portions of our beloved land as a tribute -- G-d forbid, no longer! Simultaneously, many Jews pray and weep many tears before G-d over over the weakness and the social and spiritual difficulties from within, over the dangers and threats of our implacable enemies, and over the current health crisis.

All the same, we must prepare for war by strengthening the Israeli army, and by strengthening the nation’s spirit and its unity -- in order that we should be able to withstand the difficulties of war. All this we do out of faith “that the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake his inheritance” (Psalms 94:14).

Looking forward to salvation and complete redemption,
Shabbat Shalom.