Israel-Gaza War 5784: Nitzavim-Vayeilech – We’re Still Standing

This week, we read a double portion of the Torah, Nitzavim and Vayeilech. Nitzavim means “standing,” with the meaning of standing erect. Vayeilech means, “and he [Moses] went.” Two opposite states of the people are described. In one, we can visualize them moving forward. In the other, we have an image of a people who are solid, immovable. Today, Israel both stands strong against those who would drive its people from their land and moves forward to take the battle to the enemy.

In our reading, Moses promised the people:

“Hashem your G-d, He will cross before you; He will destroy these nations from before you…Be strong and be courageous, and do not fear and do not be broken before them, for Hashem your G-d, He goes with you; He will not let loose of you and not forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:3, 6)

The phrase “be strong and be courageous” is repeated three times (Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, and Deuteronomy 31:23). All three times, Moses says it regarding the people entering and taking possession of their land.

That the people of Israel are still strong 3,000 years later became clear to me during a press tour of the country last week. (The tour was jointly organized and led by the American Middle East Press Association and the Europe Israel Press Association.) I saw a people who, despite October 7th and its continuing aftermath, has not and will not be broken before its enemies.

The vitality of Tel Aviv’s beaches, shuks (open-air markets), and nightlife, the courageous endurance of the survivors we heard from, the selfless giving of those supporting the families of the hostages, the dedication of the youngsters manning Iron Dome batteries, all testify to this strength.

But it was our visit to an Iron Dome battery that really moved me. Young people 19 and 20 years old carry on their shoulders the heavy responsibility of intercepting rockets fired at Israel. Their confidence in their training and abilities, as well as in their team, were evident. Trying to say something meaningful to a female soldier, I blurted out, “You should be proud of yourself.” She giggled and ducked her head, thanking me, and for a moment the young girl was on display. But this young girl and her teammates intercept deadly missiles fired at civilian centers, sometimes with only seconds to do so. Since Hezbollah escalated its rocket attacks after the pager explosions, she and her comrades have been busy, and they have been doing a superb job.

This kind of strength and resilience is needed now more than ever. Since October 7th, the existence of Jews on the land of Israel has been endangered as never before, not even during the darkest days of the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Israel has been attacked from the south by Hamas, from the north by Hezbollah, and from the east by the terror groups in the West Bank. Joining in have been the Houthis of Yemen and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and, on April 14, Iran. With its north and the Gaza envelope evacuated for the past year, Israel’s territory has effectively shrunk as it fights a multifront, existential war. In the background looms the threat of Iran’s nuclear weapons. If ever there was a time to be strong and courageous and trust that G-d will not forsake His people, this is it

Moses said to Joshua, “Be strong and be courageous, for you shall bring the children of Israel to the land that I swore to them…” (Deuteronomy 31:23) The sage Rashi tells us that this verse implies that G-d would be with Joshua if Joshua took initiative in leading the people.

And Israel is taking the initiative, rather than passively waiting for Hashem to save it. Since October 7th, it has carried the fight to the enemy, creating methods on the fly for dealing with the Gaza tunnel network, and most recently destroying Hezbollah’s communication system with brilliant, targeted precision.

The people Israel will not be broken and G-d will not forsake us. We are strong, courageous, and unbroken, and we’re still standing.