The events transpiring in the Middle East this week kept many people riveted. Viewing the footage of the violence that greeted Israeli soldiers boarding the Turkish flotilla, I found myself wondering about the soldiers. What thoughts crossed their minds as they slid down the ropes onto the ship? What they originally anticipated would be a peaceful inspection turned into a hailstorm of stones and knives and a very real pre-meditated lynch. I guess if that were me, besides for feeling sheer panic, one thought would be very clear to me— what did I just get myself into here?
Regardless of your political mindset, one fact is indisputable—these soldiers boast a tremendous amount of self sacrifice. They are ordinary people with ordinary lives, and yet somehow, they are larger than life. At just 18 years old, these kids are barely out the classroom and have a family, friends and a life waiting for them back home. Yet despite this, you’ll find them boarding hostile ships, weathering blows in the name of a country and a people they desperately wish to protect. Funny how if you zip across the globe to the Great West, you’ll find kids the same age doing nothing more useful than falling out of bars at 3am and toying with their lives while they experiment with dangerous drugs. Each IDF soldier, in contrast, is a tower of perseverance, conviction and commitment. These men ought to be our role models, for their deeds are testaments to what really counts in life and what it means to fight for something you love. This week they made us proud, for each blow they took to their physical persons was endured on behalf of all of us in our comfortable homes, for all of Am Yisrael.
We are privileged to be greeting ten of these very same heroes this Sunday, G-d willing, as they join us for a vacation in the U.S. Our guests were all severely wounded in battle. They have lost limbs on our behalf. We invite everyone to come and meet these ordinary guys, who have become extraordinary after having chosen to put their lives on the line for the sake of the entire Jewish nation.
This week’s Torah portion describes how the Jewish people sent spies to scout the land of Israel to determine how best to conquer it. Ten of the twelve spies returned with a very unfavourable report about the land. “Eretz ochelet yoshveha,” they claimed. “It is a land that consumes its inhabitants. Giants dwell there. There is no way we will be able to conquer it – we will surely be killed. They are far stronger than us.” Only two of the spies, Yehoshua and Kalev, were convinced the Jews could conquer the land- “aloh naaleh yerashnu otah.”
Would it be difficult? Yes. Would there be obstacles to overcome? Undoubtedly. But Yehoshua and Kalev firmly believed that if G-d stood behind the nation’s decisions, they could completely rely on Him to lead them to victory. Their commitment and faith illuminated their way and eventually led them to triumph. We cannot hope to win our modern day war for our land and our people if we do not stand together, ready to carry out G-d’s plan for the Jewish people. Certainly if we adopt similar tactics, we too will be successful.