Parsha Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18- 21:9

There are laws that cannot be followed by the majority of Jews and ten tribers when they do not live in Israel. Much of what is written in this Parsha is for when ancient Israel entered the land of Canaan. However, there are principles given which ideally should be followed in any country. What are these principles? People need to study and think deeply. Maybe make plans to return to the land?

What about cutting down fruit trees? (Deut. 20:19,20) This was forbidden during a siege against an enemy city. But what happens in the case of modern warfare when bombs are used rather than personal weapons? Should bombs be outlawed to protect Israel’s trees? A bomb can burn a lot of fields, as we see every time we drive even a few kilometers from our home. 

This is an especially significant problem now when the enemy has attacked Israel on seven different fronts. Many of the descendants of Esau and Ismael have organized to wipe Israel off the map. Daily bombardment, suicide bombs, knifings, car ramming, all of these threaten the lives of Israelis, let alone the land where we live and the desire to live a life of peace. In fact, the main greeting in every conversation is, “Shalom” which means not just “Hello”, but “Peace.” 

In last week’s Hebrew class, we discussed how to answer: “How are you?”, in the state of anxiety that we all find ourselves. We learned answers to this question. Answers such as: “not so good,” “I am sad when I hear the news,” “It is difficult for me.” And the one asking would then say: “Everything will be good by the will of God.” (Be-Ezrat Hashem, YiYay Tov). 

As we study the Parsha, it seems the laws for Israel at the moment cannot be applied, at least in the light of the current situation. Would things be different if Israel had followed the Torah during the past 2000 years?  And what if Israel truly followed Torah today, rather than all the superfluous laws that are now recognized by most Jews as Torah? So, since our modern situation has changed, are we somehow able to apply the principles indicated by Torah? The law about not destroying fruit trees was for the purpose of preserving the food supply. How can we guarantee the preservation of the food supply today? 

What about magistrates deciding on a case where 2 or 3 witnesses report a crime? Do we have this system set up today? Can it even work without a Beit Din or hall of judgement in every locality in Israel? 

What about destroying those who worship false gods in the land? According to this Parsha (Deut. 20:16-18). We have other religions that live in Israel. Some of these are peaceful and support the war effort. At this point, it is not feasible to destroy them all. It seems that the focus today is to decide who will help us and who is our enemy. 

So, yes, we are fighting for our very existence. And the question is: Why? Where is the God of Heaven? Does He hear our prayers? I believe He does and yes, there are miracles happening. There are hundreds of Jews worshiping every week on the Temple Mount now!  Full prostration while begging the Almighty God of Heaven to give us back this Holy Place that was so wickedly bartered away in 1994 to allow Jordan to control worship there.  (https://jcpa.org/article/jordan-and-the-temple-mount/). But the fact that Jews are worshiping there is, no doubt, a miracle and a step forward. Will it last? 

When will we be able to return to the true principles of the Torah? I believe things are moving in that direction. Most Israelis support the stand against giving away any more land. We have yet to see the conquest of the original borders of the land of Israel and their extension to the Biblically promised allotment to Israel which included all the land from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean Sea, from the Red Sea upwards into part of Lebanon. 

Let us all pray that YHWH will go out with Israel’s armies in an even more significant way. We do not have a high priest to go out ahead of the Army yet, but we have people everywhere praying for the success of Israel’s efforts to gain control of our own land.

B’Shalom

Ariella