By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
I was recently asked for my thoughts on recent developments that have taken place in the Gaza war, and the frightening increase in antisemitism worldwide. I take this opportunity to share my thoughts with readers of this newsletter.
Looking through Tanach, we can get a glimpse of, at least, what our first response should be. Achav, king of the Ten Tribes, was among the worst of its kings—he was married to a non-Jewish princess from Lebanon, Izevel, and worshipped her god with a passion. He had many encounters with Eliyahu Hanavi and other prophets, but never took their warnings seriously.
Achav owned a vineyard, which was adjacent to another vineyard belonging to a man named Navos. Wanting to expand his property, Achav offered to buy Navos’s land. Navos refused to sell; the vineyard had been an inheritance from his father. Achav was upset. Izevel told him not to worry, that she would make sure that he got the vineyard. She arranged for a beis din in Navos’s city to accuse him of a crime deserving of the death penalty and hired false witnesses to testify against him. Navos’s properties were then confiscated by the king’s estate. When Achav heard the news, he gleefully removed the fence between the two vineyards and claimed Navos’s land as his own.
Hashem sent Eliyahu Hanavi with a harsh message: In the same place where the dogs had lapped up Navos’s flowing blood, they would one day lap on his. In addition, his family would be wiped out. This time, Achav got the message. He put on sackcloth and fasted. It was far from full teshuvah, but it was enough to stave off the decree. “Have you seen that Achav was humbled?” Hashem told Eliyahu. “I will not bring the evil in his days, but in the days of his son.”
Achav’s story echoes an earlier episode in the days of Rechavam ben Shlomo, who had become more and more arrogant the stronger his rule became. He began to flout the Torah, and the people followed his lead. In response, the king of Egypt attacked, threatening the kingdom with annihilation. A navi came to the king and delivered a message, castigating him in the name of Hashem. Here, too, the king was humbled. “Hashem is right,” he said. In response, Hashem said, “I will not destroy them...they will merely be servants to Egypt.”
When Hashem speaks, the first thing we need to do is humble ourselves before Him. This in itself is a zechus for us. When we realize that times are not normal, we can begin to figure out what we need to do to improve. Today’s events are a clear message from Heaven that Hashem wants more from us. Our daily lives must reflect this. If we recognize that life cannot continue as usual, if we remove ourselves from frivolous pursuits and indulgences, we will have have acquired a great zechus before Hashem.
