Parshat Shoftim 5783
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the procedure for when Bnei Yisrael go out to war. The pasuk states (Chapter 20, Pasuk 1), כי תצא למלחמה על איבך וראית סוס ורכב עם רב ממך לא תירא מהם. When you go out to war against your enemy, though you see horses and chariots and a nation greater than you, do not fear them. The pasuk concludes, כי ד' אלוקיך עמך המעלך מארץ מצרים; for Hashem your Gd is with you, the One who took you out of Mitzrayim. Why is it relevant that Hashem, who protects us in war, took us out of Egypt? What does the present war have to do with Geulas Mitzrayim?
The pasukim continue with a speech by the Kohen encouraging those going out to war that Hashem will be with them. Then the Shotrim come forward and list those who are exempt from war. These include one who has just built a new home, one who has just planted a new vineyard, and one who has just betrothed a woman, but hasn’t brought her into his domain yet. The final exemption goes to the (Pasuk 8) איש הירא ורק הלבב; the one who is afraid. Rashi brings a disagreement between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yosse HaGalili. Rabbi Akiva says it is referring to one who is literally afraid of battle. He is exempt in order not to instill fear in the hearts of the others. Rabbi Yosse HaGlili disagrees and says it is referring to one who is ירא מעבירות שבידו; he is afraid that due to his sins he will die in war and this is the reason he returns and doesn’t go out to war.
The Sefarim teach that this war Bnei Yisrael are about to enter is the ongoing war one has with his yetzer hara. The Ohr Hachaim on our parsha teaches this same idea and points out a very important idea. The simple p’shat is, as we explained, Bnei Yisrael are about to enter into battle and are told not to fear, that Hashem will protect them. Similarly, the Ohr Hachaim teaches, one should not fear in his own personal battle. The pasuk states that the enemy is עם רב ממך; the Ohr Hachaim learns that the word ממך is coming to teach that the enemy is from within you. You are the cause of your own battle with desire and temptation. And yet, Hashem is with you; He will help you in your personal struggle and help you overcome your weaknesses.
And Hashem who took us out of Egypt will help us in our struggle. The Sfas Emes teaches that Yetzias Mitzrayim is the basis of all redemption in the world; both national redemption and personal redemption. This is why Yetzias Mitzrayim is invoked when encouraging one in fighting his yetzer hara. And this is why we have a mitzvahof mentioning Yetzias Mitzrayim, זכירת יציאת מצרים, every single day. Constantly repeating this miracle enables us to arouse the power of Hashem as the ultimate source of Geulah, both national and personal.
The Chidushei Harim adds another essential point about one’s personal battle. We said above that according to Rabbi Yosse HaGlili the fearful person exempt from war is the one who is afraid of his sins. And the Mishnah in Sotah 44A brings his position as well. We learn from his words that only one who is afraid of his sins doesn’t go out to battle. But if one is not afraid, he goes to war. It is possible to fight and win, and return victorious. It is only the fear which holds us back. But the one determined to change and do Teshuvah, he goes out to war.
During the month of Elul we begin saying Perek 27 of Tehillim, לדוד ד' אורי וישעי. We say in Pasuk 3, אם תחנה עלי מחנה לא יירא לבי, אם תקום עלי מלחמה בזאת אני בוטח. The Sfas Emes learns from here that we can win the battle! There is nothing to fear, not even our sins, rather we must trust in Hashem and go out to battle. We need to trust that Hashem will help us return and successfully do Teshuvah. And when we trust in Hashem and don’t fear, we are guaranteed to return back safely from the field of war.
Good Shabbos
Print this article
