Misplaced Compassion

My good friend, Rav Yehuda Richter, pointed out a fascinating Midrash, regarding Cain and Abel.

According to this interpretation, Abel was actually stronger than Cain, and was winning their fight. Cain convinced his brother not to kill him because it would upset their father.in that moment of weakness, he was tricked by his evil brother, who took his life.

The Baal Haturim commented on the last Pasuk of Chayei Sara, that the Mashiach cannot come until Yishmael falls. His commentary is unique as most commentators felt that it was Edom, or Eisav, that needed to fall.

Yishmael is equated with his descendants, the Muslims. The message of the Midrash and Baal Haturim, is that we must recognize our enemy.

Compassion towards an enemy that wishes to destroy us, will come back to harm us dearly. It is a clear message that Israel must not stop until our enemies are destroyed, and can no longer cause us harm.

Whatever is true on a national level, is also true on a personal level. If it is clear to us that there are individuals who have proven over and over again, that they wish us harm, compassion is foolishness.

The correct thing to do is to follow the words of our sages. We must distance ourselves from such people, even if they are related to us. We are struggling to achieve a personal and national redemption. Feeling sorry for our enemies and detractors will not get us there. Look what happened to Abel!