Israel At War 5785: Vayeira – When Strength Is Not Enough

Why did a Philistine king ask Abraham for a peace treaty? And why did Abraham consent to sacrifice his son, Isaac? These are the riddles in this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira. And the answers suggest a path for today’s Israel to victory and peace. But the path will not be easy.

Abraham had come from Ur with a small group of family and followers and not much else. Yet now Avimelech sought a treaty. Even more puzzling, he brought not skilled negotiators but the general of his army.

“G-d is with you in all that you do,” Avimelech said to Abraham. “And now, swear to me by G-d here that you will not deal falsely with me and my descendant and my grandchild…” (Genesis 22:21, 23)

Abraham may have arrived a humble nomad, but he acquired flocks and herds, gold and silver. He pursued and defeated in battle four allied kings who had kidnapped his nephew, Lot. And he fathered two sons, both of whom, Hashem promised, would be founders of nations.

Is it any wonder that Avimelech sought an alliance with this man who had become wealthy, powerful, and blessed by G-d? He hastened to make a peace before Abraham became strong enough to be a potential threat. And he brought his general to emphasize that he, too, was strong, somebody not to be trifled with.

Interestingly, Avimelech dwelt in the land of the Philistines. Ancient Gaza was settled by the Philistines. And after making a treaty with Avimelech, Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines (Gaza) for many days. The Torah does not tell us why, but this was not the act of a vassal. Whether Abraham stayed at Avimelech’s invitation or decided to do so independently, his stay showed strength. Increasingly, it appears that Israel will need to have a presence in Gaza even after hostilities are over, to make sure an alternative to Hamas governs the Strip—and that peace will hold.

What was true yesterday holds true today. Only a strong nation can expect peaceful relations with its neighbors. This is particularly true in the Middle East.

Israel has only ever made peace with its neighbors when it was strong. Strength and military victory produced peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. The Gulf states entered the Abraham Accords because Israel was the only country in the region strong enough to counterbalance Shiite Iran, a threat to the Sunni states. But when Israel tried to win the Palestinians over by giving them greenhouses, money, and jobs, it did not result in love and gratitude. Rather, the Palestinians took this as a sign of weakness. If Israel was strong, they reasoned, it would not need to bribe them. Perceiving Israel as weak, Gaza attacked.

October 7th was about proving to those Arab countries lining up with Israel—most importantly, Saudi Arabia, which was on the verge of doing so—that the Palestinians were strong and Israel was weak. Israel has the greater military and technological power. But perceptions are important in the Middle East. And Hamas sees Israel’s concern for its people as a weakness to be exploited. It knew that taking hostages was a powerful counterbalance to Israel’s military supremacy. Now, Israel has to establish deterrence by showing strength.

Peace through strength is a well-known phrase, used from ancient Rome to modern America. But strength is not always enough. Abraham’s power was no help to him when Hashem commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. His beloved son represented his future and Hashem’s promise, yet he hastened to obey G-d’s command. This passage, one of the best known in our Torah, is horrifying and difficult to read. Yet it is part of the daily morning liturgy in some synagogues, and read every Rosh Hashanah. It is compelling and, evidently, important. What is Torah teaching us?

Sometimes we sacrifice something precious to preserve something else that is greater than our own concerns. While Abraham loved Isaac and longed for a line through him, something more was at stake: his covenant with Hashem and his mission to bring belief in Him to others. Not only Abraham and Isaac would be affected, but all humanity.

Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Meisels relates the following story : in Auschwitz, the Nazis rounded up 1400 boys to be gassed. A father told the rabbi that he could bribe a guard to release his son, but another would be taken in his place. He asked what the halacha directed. When the rabbi could not give him an answer, the father realized that if Jewish law permitted him to save his son’s life at the expense of another’s, the rabbi would have told him so. He compared his situation to that of Abraham’s and did not bribe the guard. For whatever reason, Hashem required his son. But faith in Him and His laws that had kept the Jewish people for millennia was so important, this father accepted losing his son.

The Torah says nothing about Isaac protesting his fate, either. It seems that he left himself in G-d’s hands. In the Torah’s telling, both Isaac and his father demonstrated courage—and great faith that ultimately, things would work out for good. Isaac was not, in the end sacrificed, a ram replacing him, and he went on to continue the line that became the Jewish nation.

Sometimes, we can see no good choices, only bad and worse, and we must make the best decision we can, relying on received, time-tested wisdom. Not being able to foretell future results, faith must support us.

A similar dilemma informs current Israeli decision making. While a few hostages have been freed in daring Israeli raids, the majority that have come home were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners with Israeli blood on their hands, who may now kill more Israelis. One of them, Tarek Daoud, shot and seriously wounded an Israeli in August. And Yahyah Sinwar, the architect of October 7th, was released, along with more than 1,000 others, in exchange for the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The potential consequences of releasing more terrorists for hostages is a real concern for Israel’s leadership. And, as at Auschwitz, there are no good choices. As with Abraham, material strength is not the answer for every life challenge.

It has become increasingly evident that Israel’s double goal of defeating Hamas and bringing the hostages home may not be achievable. Sadly, it may be the case that Israel can defeat Hamas OR cut a deal and bring the hostages home…but not both.

This is a bitter pill to swallow, and there is debate within Israeli government and society as to which goal has priority. Save hostages now, but risk more murdered and kidnapped in the future? Or risk sacrificing these sons and daughters in the hope that it will prevent many others from suffering death or captivity? Sooner or later, if he has not already done so, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may have to decide between the two. And he will not know whether his decision will end well, as with Abraham and Isaac, or not, as in Auschwitz. It will take faith and courage equal to that of Abraham to choose, and pursue, a course. Sometimes, strength alone is not enough.