May Israel be Blessed with Peace

Now in our second year of the war, we are still waiting for the peace and tranquility that is described in Vayikra 26:6:

I will grant peace in the land and you shall lie down untroubled by
anyone; I will give the land respite from vicious beasts, and no sword shall cross your land.

Both Ibn Ezra and Ramban comment that “I will grant peace in the land” refers to peace among Am Yisrael, that no man shall fight against his brother.

This is in contrast to Yishayahu 19:2-3 “I shall make Egypt wrestle with Egypt; brother will fight against brother, friend against friend, city against city, realm against realm.”

Today, Israel is under attack from all sides. We really don’t need in-fighting amongst ourselves to make it even worse. There are many nights that we can’t sleep peacefully as there are incoming rocket alerts from the Houtis in Yemen.

In verses 7-8 we read:

You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword. Five of you will pursue one hundred and one hundred will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword.

Why are the words “and your enemies will fall before you by the sword” written twice?

Ibn Ezra answers that this repetition means that the enemies will fall continually, time after time, without regaining their strength.

In the ongoing war in Gaza, our brave soldiers continue to target Hamas leaders, those involved in planning and carrying out the October 7 attacks as well as those who were and are still holding Israelis hostage.

Our soldiers are also working tirelessly to keep the borders of Lebanon and Syria safe as well.

May we see true peace in Israel, may we be able to find a way to get along with one another and may the remaining hostages come home as quickly and safely as possible.