Israel-Gaza War 5784: Re’eh – Charity Begins At Home

This week’s portion, Re’eh, tells how Moses wound up his overview of the years in the wilderness and began speaking about the laws the people were to abide by as they prepared to at last enter the Land of Canaan.

But amidst giving these commandments, Moses said something interesting: “For you have not yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that Hashem your G-d gives you.” (Deuteronomy 12:9)

The medieval commentator Rashi explains that these two words, “rest” and “inheritance,” meant, respectively, the first, temporary site of the Ark in Shiloh and the later Temple in Jerusalem. Evidently, even once in the Land, there would still be a progression. The Ark would have a temporary resting place before being installed in a true home. And like the Ark, so it has been for our people since our exile: we have found rest in many places over the centuries. But this was only part of a progression back to our true home: Israel.

Some of these resting places have truly been restful. Why not stay there? Most Israelites stayed in Babylon. Only a small number took up Persian King Cyrus’ offer to return to their land. America, my country, has been for the most part a very comfortable resting place, both before and after modern Israel came into being.

At least, until recently. From the hate-filled Nazi marchers in 2017 Charlottesville to the equally hate-filled Hamas supporters post October 7th, we American Jews have had a rude awakening. European Jews, of course, have been awake since at least the early 2000s.

While Israel has seen more terrorism and attacks than either Europe or the United States, most Israelis say they feel safer there. In other countries, we rely on non-Jewish governments to protect us. While currently the American and most European governments are fulfilling this obligation to the best of their abilities, the record over the centuries has been erratic, and this could change. As a minority, Jews outside Israel are dependent on the good will of their governments and fellow citizens. In Israel, we know we will never be just tolerated outsiders. There, we are family.

As a small country and the only Jewish one, Israel is a minority among the nations. She, too, depends to some extent on the good will and support of the world community. Now, as she defends herself in the current war, another commandment from this week’s Torah portion about the importance of charity stands out.

“If there will be among you a destitute one from one of your brothers in one of your cities in your land that Hashem your G-d gives you, you shall not harden your heart and you shall not close your hand from your destitute brother.” (Deuteronomy 15:7)

The Torah commentary Sifre derives the order of charity from this verse. “…a destitute person from one of your brothers…” means that one’s first obligation is to one’s brothers, to family. “…in one of your cities…” means that the next priority is the poor of one’s own city. “…in your land…” refers to the poor in your country.

And this order of priorities is understood and followed by most people. We give to our families first, then the people of our town, then of our nation, before other families, towns, and countries. We do not expect someone to ignore their own children’s need for food, shelter, and clothing in favor of someone else’s children. We expect a country to take care of its own citizens before those of other countries. In fact, we would judge those who ignore their kin and countrymen to care for others as immoral.

Yet Israel has been pressured from day one of its defensive, existential war to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gazans who attacked them on October 7th, while so many of its own are in want. 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes in the north for going on 10 months now. In the south, the devastated kibbutzim are empty of people. Residents only just a few days ago returned to Kibbutz Nir Am, attacked that day but, miraculously, successfully defended by its security team. Return to kibbutzim where houses and infrastructure were destroyed will take much longer.

There are October 7th survivors in mental hospitals from the unbearable trauma they experienced. Hostages are still held in captivity under horrendous conditions, if they have not been murdered by their kidnappers. But Israel is told it must make it a priority to care for the enemy, diverting time and energy from its war effort and from caring for its civilians at home to do so.

After October 7th, Israel for a time cut off the water and electricity it had been supplying Gaza and closed crossings from Israel so that Hamas would not benefit from fuel and food. It was roundly condemned by the world for doing so. Never mind that in war it is standard practice to deprive the enemy of infrastructure that can help in its war effort. For example, NATO bombed power stations in the former Yugoslavia deliberately for this purpose.

Then for months we heard nonstop about the imminent famine that never quite seemed to materialize, until both studies and on-the-ground witnesses found that sufficient food was entering the enclave. Have Gazans died of hunger, due to the inevitable disruption of food supplies during war? Yes, they have, as have civilians in all wars for the same reason. Still, Israel was criticized and pressed to ensure that enough food got into Gaza. They did so, dedicating much manpower to the effort. In frustration, some Israelis even attempted to block food trucks, demanding that none go through until the hostages were freed. But aid deliveries have continued up to the present day.

Israel was criticized for attacking hospitals and clinics that hosted Hamas fighters and command centers along with patients, although this is allowable under the laws of war. Additionally, throughout the war, Israel has been told it is killing too many civilians. Its chief arms supplier, the United States, slowed down weapon deliveries and told Israel not to go into Rafah, Hamas’ last redoubt. There is no way of telling exactly how much such international pressure and delayed deliveries of arms slowed down or reduced the effectiveness of military advances. But these restrictions, together with warning civilians in advance and evacuating them from areas before an attack, gave Hamas fighters time to escape as well as adjust to Israeli tactics and kill and injure more Israeli soldiers. It is even possible they have prevented hostage rescues. So far, only eight hostages have been rescued alive, while 30 bodies have been retrieved, and over a hundred hostages still languish in Gaza in horrendous conditions.

It is undeniable that the catastrophe being experienced by the people of Gaza is also horrendous. But that is not the point. Israel was told to put the welfare of enemy civilians ahead of that of its own people, soldiers and civilians alike. This is an obscene inversion of the Torah’s message, accepted by most civilized people in the world, to prioritize taking care of one’s own. Israel’s moral obligation is first to defend and care for its brothers—and sisters—in its own cities, kibbutzim, and land. Only when that is assured may they turn their attention to others.

Someone else’s country, no matter how good a resting place it has been, will never give us the security that family can. To care for our brothers, and be cared for by them, we must have our own heritage land, Israel. But even having our own land will not help us if we cannot practice the universal moral value that charity begins at home.