Ever since Yaakov and Eisav battled it out in the womb, there has been a fight between the forces of good and the forces of evil in this world.
This battle has played itself out in many ways throughout the history of our people.
Currently we are at battle once again with our enemies; may Ha Kodesh Baruch Hu help us achieve victory with as few casualties as possible. But in addition we can see our age-old enemy take the world stage once more - virulent and open anti-Semitism, masquerading as “humanitarian concern.”
While one nation is up the other will be down. This was the blessing given by Yitzchok Avinu. A duality and rivalry that are basic themes throughout the Talmud, hinted at by the symbolism of a twin birth.
Yitzchok prophetically informs Yaakov, presaging today's side-taking; the world will not be fair, even handed or rational. They will choose one nation over the other in the battle for power and in the court of popular opinion. And this choice will be motivated by the hatred that Eisav has for Yaakov.
Eisav will not only be a physical warrior but a tzayid b’fiv, exhibiting an outsized ability to motivate the world with falsehood and misleading interpretations of events, for his own gain.
We have no other alternative but to harness the complete power, the two characteristics that Yitzchok took notice of in Yaakov when he came to receive the blessings - the power of strong arms on the battlefield; yadayim, yedai Eisav, and the ability to storm the heavens with both Torah and Tefillah; hakol kol Yaakov.
We can take solace in the fact that this war, as R’ Shaul Alter Shlita mentioned recently, started on Simchas Torah; a date on the Jewish calendar when everyone is b’simcha, everyone participates in joyous celebration (food, dancing and everyone getting a personal aliya to the Torah). An attack that begins on such a propitious day, a day full of achdus and simcha, is a sign that the war that follows will bring tangible goodness. Our Father in Heaven has not abandoned us, chas veshalom.
May He hear our cries and watch over all of klal Yisroel!
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
