Commemorating the
Yahrzeit of Harry V. (Tzvi) DuBrow
In Parshat Vayishlach, when Yaaakov heard that Esav was
approaching him with four hundred men (Breisheet 32:8-9) “Yaakov was frightened
and distressed. He divided the people that were with him along with the sheep,
cattle and camels into two camps. He said ‘If Esav comes to one camp and
attacks it, the remaining camp will survive.’”
God already promised Yaakov that he had nothing to worry
about so why was he distressed and afraid?
According to Rashi Yaakov feared that he may be killed and
he was distressed that he might kill others.
Those who are living in
understand where Yaakov was coming from when he was afraid. When you have male
and female terrorists as young as eleven years old attempting to stab innocent
people with knives and scissors on the street, on the train or on a bus, the
situation can be frightening. When you have drivers purposely trying to run
over innocent people who are waiting at a bus stop it is not a surprise that
people worry every time they need to take a bus. When rocks as big as cinder
blocks are thrown at cars for no reason other than the fact that the kids
throwing the rocks want to see Israelis dead it can make people nervous to
drive on certain roads.
The Israeli soldiers, police and others who carry a weapon
also understand where Yaakov was coming from when he was distressed. Israeli
security personnel and those who carry weapons don’t want to have to use them.
They are distressed about the fact that if a terrorist approaches them they may
have to kill them. However, they know that Jewish law teaches us self defense, if
someone comes to kill you, you need to kill them first.
Yaakov was afraid and distressed but he didn’t just worry.
He was proactive. He divided the group in half to make sure that at least some,
if not all of his family would be saved. He offered gifts to Esav, prayed and
prepared for war.
is concerned about the current situation just as Yaakov was. Just as Yaakov was
proactive, so are we. Security has been tightened and many attacks have been
thwarted. Israelis are still going on with their daily routines, just with a
little more caution. Just as Yaakov prayed, we are praying for peace and for a
full recovery for those who have been injured. And
prepared for war if the need arises.
May we have peace in the State of
