From Strength to Strength on Israel’s “Oz” Birthday
BY RABBI REUVEN TARAGIN
Physical and military strength deters adversaries and allows for fearless living, yet even the strongest have vulnerabilities – a reminder of our dependency on Hashem. As Jews meant to feel especially close to Hashem, we’ve experienced heightened vulnerability throughout history: from Egyptian threats at Yam Suf and Amalek’s attacks after leaving Egypt, to continued dangers in the Land of Israel, culminating in two exiles.
Over our many centuries in exile, we constantly lived in fear. Even in peaceful times, we feared that trouble could be right around the corner. The Golden Age in Spain ended with the Inquisition and expulsion. Later, centuries of thriving Jewish life across Europe ended abruptly with the Holocaust.
The Zionist movement hoped that returning the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael would finally put an end to our persecution. Getting us out of “the hair” of the European and Arab nations and relocating us to a desolate land of sand dunes would finally bring us peace.
The history of the State of Israel has, of course, been very different. In addition to the many bloody existential wars we were forced to fight, the recent Hamas genocidal massacre, followed by the attack and demonization of the State of Israel and Jewish people worldwide, have reminded us once again of our vulnerability. The State of Israel has built a powerful army, but we are still attacked. No Jew feels safe in Israel or around the world.
As we approach Israel’s 77th birthday, a number associated with the word oz (strength), feeling unsafe and vulnerable, we wonder how we and the state can achieve the strength we have found so elusive.
The Gemara offers an interesting answer: tefillin. The Gemara teaches that “tefillin are strength” for the Jewish people (Berachot 6a). Indeed, proper fulfillment of the mitzvah of tefillin is a condition for going out to war (Sotah 44b), and the sight of us wearing tefillin is meant to instill fear in the hearts of other nations.
Moshe Rabbeinu explained in Parashat Bo that tefillin remind us of the “strong arm” Hashem used to take us out of Egypt and serve as an “ot” (sign) of our relationship with Hashem. Our commitment to Hashem as the source of our strength merits His care and empowerment.
We wear tefillin on our weaker arm to remind us that our strength comes from Hashem, not ourselves. Remembering this not only merits us Hashem’s support but also inspires confidence. One who believes their strength comes from Hashem knows they have no reason to fear, as David HaMelech expressed: “Even when I walk through the valley of death, I will not fear because You are with me” (Tehillim 23:4).
The next parasha, Beshalach, reinforces Parashat Bo’s tefillin message. The Jews left Egypt “b’yad ramah,” feeling confident after vanquishing the Egyptians, only to have their confidence shattered when threatened again at Yam Suf. They needed Hashem’s “arm” to save them.
Of course, Hashem wants us to fight for ourselves and blesses us with the physical strength and the heavenly assistance needed. We see this at the end of Parashat Beshalach in the wake of Amalek’s attack.
Moshe responded to the attack by having Yehoshua organize an army while he climbed a hill with the heavenly staff. When Moshe raised his arms heavenward, the Jews prevailed; when he lowered them, Amalek gained the advantage.
The Mishnah asks: “Do Moshe’s hands make or break a war?” It answers: “When the Jewish people directed their sight heavenward and committed their hearts to their Father in heaven, they were victorious” (Rosh Hashanah 3:8). Ultimately, Hashem intends for us to fight for ourselves and strengthens our efforts, but only if we recognize that our strength comes from Him.
By raising his arms heavenward during war, Moshe followed Avraham Avinu’s example. When offered spoils of war by the king of Sedom, Avraham raised his arms, refusing to credit the king or himself for the victory that was truly Hashem’s (Bereishit 14:22). Chazal teach that Avraham’s acknowledgment of Hashem as the source of his victory earned the Jewish people the mitzvah of tefillin. Like our ancestor Avraham, we, too, are blessed with divine empowerment when we recognize Hashem as the true source of our strength.
The State of Israel has developed magnificently over seventy-seven years, blessed with millions of religious Jews living Torah-rich lives alongside material and military strength. However, the religious and material sectors often remain disconnected. Our true strength lies in appreciating their connection.
In recent decades, Religious Zionists have sought leadership in the army and economy. We must strengthen this effort, recognizing that only when success in these spheres is seen as heaven-inspired will they afford us their full strength and security.
May fighting our wars and living our lives with this “tefillin mentality” merit us Hashem’s empowerment and the associated strength and success.
Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the Yeshivat HaKotel Overseas Program. His new book, “Essentials of Judaism” can be purchased at rabbireuventaragin.com.