Four In Despair And One God | Rabbi Haggai Lundin | Beit Midrash

Beit Midrash

Torah Portion and Tanach
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Beshalach

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The moment when the people of Israel faced the Red Sea while the Egyptians pursued them, gave rise to a well-known midrash describing four groups within the Jewish people, each of which had a different reaction of despair in the face of the approaching threat:

The first group said "let’s fall into the sea" – we no longer have strength: war in Gaza, threat from the north, hostages. There is no choice but to commit suicide and drown ourselves: let’s make a deal with Hamas, risk 7 million Jews in order to get 136 hostages and buy temporary quiet.

The second group said "let’s return to Egypt" – why are we even in the State of Israel at all? Let's go abroad and there, as we know, life is wonderful. We are also very afraid that the Qataris will be angry with us.

The third group said "let’s make war" – we scare ourselves that in another second the State of Israel will be destroyed and therefore we will fight unrealistically. We will not take security, social and economic conditions into account.

The fourth group said "let’s scream at them" – let's protest and scream at someone: the government, the army, Bibi. We will blame everything that moves, except ourselves, of course.

The response of the Holy One, Blessed Be He, is: "And the Lord said to Moses: For what are you crying out to me? Speak to the children of Israel that they will travel" – enough with the shouting, despair and hysteria. Accurately and realistically assess the risks and do what needs to be done. The journey of the people of Israel did not begin yesterday, it has continued for thousands of years and we have overcome greater difficulties than these. Despite all the domestic weakening and despair within, the IDF is toppling Hamas day after day; an absolute majority of the public is united and full of heroism. The State of Israel is stronger than all its enemies – security, economic and social. This time, too, we will tear up the Red Sea that stands before us.

Shabbat Shalom!

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