"Showing compassion to the wicked is cruelty."

After a couple of weeks of relative tranquility, we were again bombarded last week by a renewed wave of deadly attacks by our enemies. First there was the tragic strike at Emanuel and then, on Tisha B'Av, a double suicide attack in Tel-Aviv. It is certain that the Parsha of the week, as always, holds relevancy for us. In the beginning of Parshat Ekev, Moshe instructs Am Yisrael, saying: "You will devour all the peoples that HaShem, your G-D, will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them, you shall not worship their gods, for it is a snare for you." In his commentary on this p'suk, the Or HaChaim HaKadosh makes reference to Proverbs 12:10, where King Shlomo says: "Showing compassion to the wicked is cruelty." He comments further by clarifying for us that contrary to common belief, which says that displaying pity is always a positive virtue, the Torah informs us that not only is this statement untrue, but displaying pity can even be a negative trait at times.

Although we know that we are in a state of war and we must defeat our enemies, the question is often put forward: "What can we do? The world wants us to give the Palestinians a state. We cannot fight the whole world!"

This statement displays a lack of Emunah.
Moshe continues in the parsha by saying:
"Perhaps you will say in your heart, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how will I be able to drive them out?' Do not fear them! You shall remember what HaShem, your G-D, did to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt."(Devarim 7:17-18) Moshe is telling Am Yisrael The Nation of Israel that their fearful "logic" is, in truth, not logical at all. Am Yisrael saw the great superpower Egypt brought down by HaShem. It would be logical to assume that G-D would grant the nation victories over their enemies, especially when they are waging a war that is a mitzvah. The Ibn Ezra tells us that fear of the nations should be submerged by fear of G-D. If one truly has Emunah and awe of HaShem, he will, through practical logic, see the nations as insignificant. In Hilchot Melachim 7:15, the Rambam tells us: "Anyone who begins to feel anxious and worried in the midst of battle to the point where he frightens himself violates a negative commandment, as it is written (Devarim 20:3): 'Do not be faint-hearted. Do not be afraid. Do not panic and do not break ranks before them.'

Furthermore, he is responsible for the blood of the entire Jewish nation. If he is not valiant, if he does not wage war with all his heart and soul, it is considered as if he shed the blood of the entire people, as (Devarim 20:8) states: 'Lest he demoralize the hearts of his brethren as his own.' Similarly, the prophetic tradition explicitly states 'Cursed be he who withholds his sword from blood' (Jeremiah 48:10). By contrast, anyone who fights with his entire heart, without fear, with the sole intention of sanctifying G-D's name may be assured that he will come to no harm, nor will evil overtake him. He will be granted a well-rooted family in Israel and gather merit for himself and his children forever. He will also merit eternal life in the World to Come, as (Samuel I 25:28-29) states: 'G-D will certainly make my lord a faithful house, for my lord fights the wars of G-D and evil will not be found with you... and my lord's soul will be bound in a bond of life with G-D.'"

If we truly believe that HaShem is more powerful than the nations of the world, than we should fear Him more than we fear them. If we understand that HaShem commands us to wage war on our enemies and protect Jewish lives, it should not concern us how the nations might react. The nations of the world do not control the destiny of the Jewish people. Only the G-D of Israel controls the destiny of the Jewish People.

We should not fear. It is commanded by G-D that we fight valiantly for our nation and our Homeland. While embarking on a milchemet mitzvah, our foremost concern should be protecting the lives of our people and sanctifying the name of G-D in this world. We have in recent days seen our government take more productive steps in defending Am Yisrael and deterring terror. We should be thankful that HaShem is strengthening the hearts of our leadership so that we may end the spilling of Jewish blood in our holy Land. Shabbat Shalom.

With Love of Israel,
Yehuda HaKohen