Beshalach
Exodus 13:17 – 17:15
Judges 4:4 – 5:31
At the beginning of this week’s parashah, the Torah informs us almost parenthetically that the Jewish people were armed when they left slavery in Egypt. At the end of the parashah, we read about the infamous episode of the nation of Amalek’s sneak (terror) attack on the Jewish people. Between this beginning and this end, there is much to be learned.
The great commentator Abarbanel sees the necessity of the Jews being armed as a lesson for all time that we must never rely on miracles. We must be ready to defend ourselves by non-miraculous means. “Have a steed ready for war but salvation is G-d’s” (Proverbs 21:31).
This concept can actually be seen much earlier in the Torah. As our father, Jacob, was returning with his family to Israel he was confronted with an imminent attack by his brother Esau (Amalek’s grandfather), who was approaching with an army of 400 men. Jacob immediately sent presents to try to appease his brother. He prayed for the miracle of Divine intervention and at the same time he prepared for war. (An ancient variation of “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition?”)
From both episodes, that of Jacob and Esau and that of Amalek and Israel, we are taught to have total bitachon, faith in G-d’s help, but at the same time to do all that we can to succeed. This is called hishtadlut, our own personal efforts.
Rabbenu Bachya explains, “the Torah wishes man to do his utmost with the natural means at his disposal and to leave the rest to Heaven. While G-d leads the Jewish people with miracles, they themselves must prepare through non-miraculous means and must realize that salvation will come from G-d.”
This concept is beautifully demonstrated in Parashat Beshalach through the battle with Amalek. The Torah recounts:
“Amalek came and fought Israel in Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose people for us and go do battle with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of G-d in my hand.’ Joshua did as Moses said to him to do battle with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron and Hur ascended to the top of the hill. It happened that when Moses raised his hand, Israel was stronger and when he lowered his hand Amalek was stronger. Moses’ hands grew heavy so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on this side and one on that side and he remained with his hands in faithful prayer. Joshua weakened Amalek with the sword’s blade” (Exodus17:8-13).
So as Moses lifted his hands and prayed on the hill for a miracle, the Jewish people did battle below. Incidentally, the sages ask the obvious question, “Was it Moses’ hands that won or lost the battle?” Rather, the Torah teaches us here that as long as Israel looked heavenward and subjected their heart to their Father in Heaven, they would prevail. When they did not, they would fall” (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:8).
At the parting of the Red Sea, we see clearly that reliance on miracles would not suffice. The Midrash tells us that the waters split only after Nachshon ben Aminadov walked bravely into the water up to his neck. It required this “hishtadlut,” this personal effort to bring the miracle about.
Only last month we celebrated Chanukah, which is a classic example for us of man’s “hishtadlut” and G-d’s miraculous intervention. The dedication and determination of a small band of Macabees fighting against the assimilation of the Hellenists and the power of the Greek Empire enabled them to overcome the enormous armies of Antiochus as well as the Hellenist Jews, and to ensure the perpetuation of the Torah and Judaism. This great effort, of course, merited and resulted in Divine and miraculous intervention.
Today we are again faced with the great threat of assimilation, this time not by force but by choice. Those of us who desperately desire to ensure the perpetuation of the Torah and Judaism must do everything in our power toward that end while we trust that the Almighty will do whatever it takes to make our efforts successful.
Shabbat Shalom.