By Liraz Ohayon, Arielle Bouhadana
Managing Editor & VP Marketing, Censorship Editor
Several weeks ago, we commenced the reading of Sefer Shmot, a narrative chronicling the genesis of our nation - our odyssey from the shackles of slavery to prospering as a liberated people in our promised land under the rule of Hashem.
As the weeks went by and we progressed through the different Parashas, it became clear that each contained lessons and narratives intertwined with contemporary parallels to Israel’s present circumstances. Particularly noteworthy were the similarities found in the story of the nation of Israel’s war against Amalek. This was a war waged by the Pelishtim (Amalek), a people who, after the Jews were exiled from their homeland to Egypt, had settled down in what would now be modern-day Gaza. The Pelishtim were nervous that Israel would grow too powerful and return to reclaim their land with the help of Hashem, so they attacked them at a moment of great vulnerability.
During the battle, Hashem instructed Moshe to raise his arms in the air, which he did with the help of his brother Aaron, and his nephew, Hur. As long as he did so, Israel would win the war. Despite their victory against Amalek, it is known that the idea of Amalek – a nation acting as the antithesis to the Jewish people – would persist throughout history. Therefore, at the end of this Parasha, it is said “Hashem will be at war with Amalek throughout the ages!” (Shmot 17:16). Reflecting on this, I could not help but be filled with a sense of hope, having remembered that Hamas is our present-day Amalek and that Hashem will help us defeat them just as He has done for us in all previous generations.
The story continues with the reception of the Torah at Mount Sinai where the Jewish people proclaimed “נעשה ונשמע”, “We will do and we will listen”, thus solidifying our covenant with Hashem and acknowledging him as our protector (Shmot 19:8). These words also proved our loyalty to Hashem and his commandments above all else, establishing our status as the chosen people.
This week’s Parasha is Mishpatim; the Parasha in which we receive divine guidelines from Hashem on how to conduct our lives. Adhering to these regulations as a newly born nation was a formidable task, yet it was through this adherence that we expressed our profound devotion to Hashem, embracing these directives with love, akin to our unanimous declaration of “נעשה ונשמע”.
While this Parasha might seem tame and not as action-packed as its predecessors, I believe it holds paramount significance. Prior Parashas recounted Hashem’s continuous acts on our behalf, whereas Mishpatim is where the tone shifts from what Hashem does for us, to what we can do for him. We must recognize that while Hashem loves to give to us, to do for us and to care for us, we too must reciprocate in our own capacity. This mirrors the manner in which we overcame Amalek in the war – through Moshe’s enormous personal physical effort, a testament to his unwavering devotion to Hashem. It was only once Hashem saw his effort (in lifting his arms for an extended period of time) that He enacted His miracles leading to victory.
With that being said, I implore each of you to take a moment to think about what you can do for Hashem, regardless of the scale of the action. Take something upon yourself to demonstrate your care, and in turn, Hashem will continue to care for us. May our Mitzvot help bring the hostages home, end this war, and bring peace to Israel. Shabbat Shalom <3
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