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Sunday, February 9, 2025

BISHALACH AMALEK AND THE WAR OF TORAH

 

BISHALACH AMALEK AND THE WAR OF TORAH

Amalek attacked in רפידים and, as is well known, Chazal tell us that it was due to a weakening of the hands in divrei Torah. R' Nosson Tzvi Finkel zatzal stresses that specifically a strong level of engagement in necessary to avoid attacks from Amalek and the like. Only the מלחמתה של תורה can prevent Amalek. "Light learning" won't achieve success in this matter.

I was bothered though, by what we find in numerous instances of people who staved off the Angel of death with "לא פסק פומיה מגירסא"- by incessantly speaking words of Torah. This refers to a constatnt verbal recitation of Torah and although not limited to simple words, it certainly connotates a light level of mental engagement while the words of the Torah themselves provide protection from the מלאך המת.

 

I would like to suggest a possible answer. The Malach Hamaves represents absolute "din". When one's time is up, Hashem's Judgement demands its fulfilment of strict justice. Torah is complete Ahavah. One who is attached to Torah is enveloped in the loving embrace of Hashem and all is Chessed. So the Malach Hamaves cannot approach one who is in Chessed's embrace.

However, when a good person is destined to have trouble in his life, that comes from CHESSED! Hashem is either lovingly setting him up for more rewarding challenges or cleansing him from sins here to avoid real din and punishment in the afterlife. Or Hashem may be kindly sending him an awakening call to improve in some manner to correct or perfect himself.  While we don't enjoy these troubles, and perhaps they are not all on the level of yissurim shel ahavah, we can understand that any difficulty experienced by a tzaddik is truthfully coming not from "din" but either from complete Chessed and love or at least a blend of din and chessed to prod one on to greatness. These expressions of Hashem's kindness can't be avoided with "Toras chessed al lishono" - because chessed is actually what is calling for these troubles! In this case only a demanding, rigorous effort in Torah can fulfill the need for the person to be challenged or troubled to offer the atonement or opportunity Hashem wants for him that should have been through other problems. Additionally, perhaps the unique blend of joy and difficulty that are both present in  מלחמתה של תורה offer the most powerful combination of both Din & Chessed. A perfect מיזוג of the two to thwart any other unpleasant event that may have been coming to one's day.

I must add that this may have been the tremendous z'chus that was needed recently to bring about the very favorable meetings between Israel's prime minister and the President. Specifically the מלחמתה של תורה that has been raging just recently amongst the bnei Torah in Eretz Yisrael to avoid the draft with mesirus nefesh has perhaps been the catalyst of such wonderful negotiations for Eretz Yisrael.