Facing the Copper Serpent

Bus stop at the Nir Tzvi Junction

On Sunday, this bus stop was the scene of a car ramming attack, a type of incident all too familiar in Israel. I spent hours waiting for a bus here.

Last Shabbat, in synagogues around the world, we read: “Moses made a serpent of copper and placed it on a pole; if a serpent bit someone, they would look at the copper serpent and live.” This story recounts how the Israelites, during their desert journey after leaving Egypt, complained and were punished with venomous snakes. To be healed, they had only to look at the copper serpent Moshe made.

Rabbi Hirsch explains that the snakes weren’t sent, but always present in the desert; What changed was that G-d stopped protecting the Israelites from them. Rav Hirsch’s point is that by getting used to being secure we rarely see the dangers that constantly surround us. By facing the copper serpent, the Israelites were forced to remember that they are constantly protected from such threats.

We still face the copper serpent today. While it may not heal us anymore, it reminds us of the dangers that surround us. On October 7th, we experienced a major attack, a reminder of the threats and the protection we took for granted. The attack on Sunday at the bus stop was another reminder.

Palestinians are not snakes, but the threat posed by many of them is. Without walls, checkpoints, and military operations, we would see such attacks far more often. Each attack reminds us of the need for security and the protection we receive.

We must never compromise on this protection. Israel is not a desert. Snakes have no place here.