Israel at war: Standing alone while expecting a miracle

This week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, begins with the story of a man who stood alone, Abram who became Abraham.

It is hard for us moderns to imagine the courage and conviction that Abraham’s journey took. We are accustomed to belonging to faith communities in which we worship together with like-minded others, or to a social network of people who think as we do about politics, society, and values. If we feel isolated, we join support groups. If we don’t feel at home in our religious community, we find another.

Abraham did not have these options. G-d’s first directive to him was to leave his family and community and become a stranger in a strange land. Whenever G-d spoke to him, he was alone. The Torah tells us that he and Sarai acquired souls, meaning they persuaded others to believe, as they did, in one G-d rather than many. But the Torah never describes them worshiping together or even having conversations about their beliefs. And this small group split early when Lot and Abraham went their separate ways, taking their households with them.

Abraham found allies such as Avimelech, but he did not have friends. There is a difference. Allies are allies only as long as interests converge.

Children, with their unconditional love that inspires ours for them in return, can be an antidote to loneliness. Yet in next week’s Torah portion, Abraham will be commanded first to expel Ishmael, his firstborn, and then to sacrifice Isaac, who was to carry on his line. Isaac will survive, but Abraham will return without him. There is no mention in the Torah of either Ishmael or Isaac ever meeting with or speaking to their father again after these events. Then his wife, Sarah’s, death, his solitude will be complete.

Like Abraham, Israel today stands pretty much alone in the world. Individuals scream hatred and call for boycotts. Businesses refuse to serve Israelis. Countries vow to destroy it (Iran), harbor those who would destroy it (Turkey, Qatar, Lebanon), support lawfare against it (South Africa), or criticize it for defending itself or not giving in to every Palestinian demand. The Arab nations of the Abraham Accords are keeping a quiet distance. Even Israel’s allies cry out that she is killing too many civilians and slow-walk promised weapons deliveries. They will support Israel only as long as it is in their interest to do so, with growing Muslim populations in the US and Europe that are swaying politicians to modify pro-Israel positions. Standing alone is, well, lonely. Israel could not be faulted for giving in to bitterness and despair. But she does not.

For Abraham had one true friend and protector: Hashem, magen Avraham. To paraphrase the prayer Brikh shmeh we say on taking out the Torah, “Not in any man do I trust, not on any angel do I rely, only on the G-d of heaven, who is the G-d of truth, Whose Torah is truth…In Him I trust…” While Israel must continue to cultivate alliances and take whatever true help others can offer, all the while striving with its own military, intelligence, and cutting-edge technological prowess to prevail, she cannot rely only on earthly power(s), for alliances can shift and friendships can fade.

It is a miracle that the Jewish people has survived millennia of persecution. It is a miracle that we have regained sovereignty in our homeland and beaten back constant attacks from armies and terror gangs. We would be fools not to acknowledge that, after we have made our best efforts, we ultimately rely on assistance from our Guardian who neither slumbers nor sleeps. While not relying on miracles, we should continue to expect them.