Summary

We are going through some very challenging times. The Israeli government has finally decided to take action against the Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Our strength as a people does not depend on the power of the Israeli army, but upon us finding favour in the eyes of G'd. Only with Divine assistance can we hope to find a solution to end the conflict. Just one strike of a tiny match will create enough light to dispel the darkness. The Vilna Gaon's wife received additional merit when she raised and pointed her finger. If pointing their fingers was sufficient to save the Canaanites from their punishment, how much more does the Jewish people, who performs acts of lovingkindness with both their hands and feet, deserves to be saved. Especially in these difficult times, we must all be aware that each of us can help and make a difference.

Challenging times

We are going through some very challenging times. Over the past few months, we have experienced a global recession that has greatly affected many individuals and institutions. Just over a month ago, the world witnessed in horror as a group of terrorists attacked innocent people in Mumbai and killed in cold-blood any non-Muslims that they could find. It is no secret that one of their main targets was the local Chabad House that was the gathering place for Jewish visitors to the Mumbai region.

Gaza terrorists

Over the past two weeks, the Israeli government has finally decided to take action against the Hamas terrorists in Gaza in order to put a stop to the barrage of rockets raining down upon the cities of Southern Israel. Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters who have for years been living in fear of when the siren would warn of another impending rocket attack. And our thoughts are constantly with the young Israeli soldiers who put their lives at risk to protect the southern region.

Ability to make a difference

At the same time we wish we could do something to assist them. The truth is that we have the ability to help them and we can all make a difference. Every prayer we say and every word of Torah we study accumulates the national merits of the Jewish people. In addition, every act of lovingkindness we perform as well as any improvement in our observance of the Torah commandments adds weight on our communal scale. Our strength as a people does not depend on the power of the Israeli army, but upon us finding favour in the eyes of G'd. As we quote from Tehillim (20:8) in our daily prayers: "These with chariots and those with horses, and we call upon the name of HASHEM our G'd."

Power of prayer and deeds

We are dealing with an enemy that has neither interest in truces nor in a lasting peace. King David already describes this in Tehillim (120:5-7): "Woe unto me for my drawn out sojourn, for my dwelling with the tents of Keidar. My soul has dwelt for a long time with those who hate peace. I want peace, but when I speak about it, they want war." The Radak and Ibn Ezra explain that Keidar is referring to the Arabs, who we have suffered from throughout our long and bitter exile. Only with Divine assistance can we hope to find a solution to end our conflict with them. This Divine assistance depends on our prayers and deeds. We must realize the power of every word we utter and every deed we perform. Every minute detail makes a difference.

Small light in darkness

Rabbi Chaim Vital (Shaar Hagilgulim 62b) quotes his master, the great Kabbalist known as the Arizal, who explains that in ancient times, a lot of effort was needed to make a difference. But in our days, since we live in a time contaminated with impurity, every minor good deed has a tremendous impact. This can be compared to a small light. In daytime, when everything is clear, a small light does not make much difference. As the Talmud (Shabbos 63a) says: "What difference does a candle make at the middle of the day?" But when everything is shrouded in darkness, even the minutest light makes a huge difference. As the Chofetz Chaim used to say, the mightiest army cannot dispel the darkness, but just one strike of a tiny match will bring about light.

Vilna Gaon's wife

The venerable Rosh Yeshiva from Ponievitch, Rabbi Eleazar Schach once spoke at a meeting he attended with members of the Joint (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee). He concluded his speech relating that once when he visited Vilna he was shown a record of the local Jewish community. A large portion of these records dealt with the life of the Vilna Gaon. But one of the stories mentioned concerned the wife of the Vilna Gaon. She used to go around with another lady every Friday to collect funds to support the needy and supply them with their Shabbat requirements. The two ladies became very close friends and made a pact between them that the first one who would pass away would appear in a dream for the surviving friend to give over what takes place at the Heavenly Court. The wife of the Vilna Gaon survived her friend and true to her word, her friend came to visit her in a dream not long after her demise. She told her that she was not at liberty to disclose the details of the Heavenly Court (see Pesachim 54b). But since she had made a vow to come and tell her what was going on, she received special permission to reveal one detail. She reminded her about one of their weekly collection tours when they had gone to visit a certain lady to solicit some funds. The lady had not been home and they had continued on their mission. A little while later, they saw her coming towards them on the other side of the street. The friend went on: "At that point you raised your finger and said, 'Let's go over and speak to her.' We crossed the street and managed to obtain a donation. You should know that the funds collected are recorded as a merit for both of us. Every step of our walk is also recorded as a merit for both of us. However, there is one additional merit that only appears in your records. That is when you raised and pointed with your finger that this lady was coming towards us." Said Rav Schach, "Nothing is lost. Every word that we utter, and everything that we do is recorded above and has an impact for eternity." As King Solomon (Koheles 12:14) says: "For G'd will bring every deed to judgment."

Pointed fingers

We find a similar idea in this week's Parasha. Towards the end of the Parasha, we read about the demise of our patriarch Jacob. All twelve sons escorted their father back to the land of Israel with a large entourage of the elders of Egypt. On route to bury him in the Cave of Machpeilah, they stopped at Goren Ha'atad. The Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 100:6) points out that there is no such place mentioned anywhere else in the Torah. The Midrash continues that the literal meaning of Goren Ha'atad, "a field of thorns", does not make any sense either. For no one would plant a field just of thorn bushes. The Midrash goes on to explain that Goren Ha'atad is referring to the Canaanites who deserved to be cut down like thorns, but were saved due to their act of lovingkindness. The Midrash discusses what act of lovingkindness they performed. The Midrash quotes Rabbi Yehuda Bar Shalom who said that they pointed with their fingers and said, "This is a major mourning for Egypt" (see Bereishis 50:11). Concludes the Midrash: "These people did not go anywhere and did not move their feet and hands. All they did was to raise one finger. If that was sufficient to save them from their punishment, how much more does the Jewish people, who performs acts of lovingkindness with both their hands and feet, deserves to be saved.

Everyone can make a difference

No word and no act is too small to go unnoticed by the Heavenly Court. Every effort we make to do what is right and get closer to G'd adds to the merits of that individual as well as to the whole community. Especially in these difficult times, we must all be aware that each of us can help and make a difference. The Talmud (Kiddushin 40b) teaches that a person should always look upon his situation and the situation of the world and realize that his actions can tip the scale and make all the difference. It is up to us to rise to our challenge and utilize our power and ability to make a real difference. If we do what we can, then we may trust that our Merciful Father in Heaven will accept our efforts and put an end to our suffering and bring the final redemption with the coming of Mashiach. Amen.

These words were based on a talk given by Rabbi Avraham Kahn, the Rosh Yeshiva and Founder of Yeshivas Keser Torah in Toronto.

Shalom. Michael Deverett