CHOCHMAS NASHIM: TZAV: BIDEN AD NAUSEUM
By: Suri Davis
THANK YOU MR. BIDEN, the word went out when he sent aid to Israel, at a time, and still the time when American hostages are being held by Arabs who call themselves Palestinians. I was nauseated when I saw, wave after wave of syrupy praise for the American president. In short, Americans are being held hostage, and it is an election year.
There is a magnificent public relations group which pays people to organize with their hate from city to city, and they are quite good. Too bad, Israel’s PR isn’t quite on par. I was waiting to see how long it would take for Biden to turn. I am surprised in two ways, one that it took this long for him to reveal, but also that he has turned while Americans are still held hostage. The hostage situation is a personal affront to America, for if it wasn’t, they would have freed the Americans by now. Also surprised at Biden’s turn as his soldiers were being targeted in the Middle East.
THANK YOU MR. BIDEN FOR TEACHING US THE LESSON WE HAVE NOT LEARNED SINCE THE DAYS OF EGYPT AND ASHUR, when Israel partnered with these countries in ancient years wishing, hoping, that if there was war with Israel, that Egypt and Ashur would save them. PURE FOLLY.
I was nauseated by the kowtowing to Biden, not that we shouldn’t be grateful, b’derech hatevah, that the United States sent weapons to help, but the “blessing” was that Americans were taken hostages as well, so the United States was pressed to do so.
YISRAEL B’TACH B’HASHEM, let me repeat, YISRAEL B’TACH B’HASHEM, EZRAM UMAGINAM HU/ISRAEL TRUSTS IN G-D, HE IS THEIR SALVATION AND SHIELD.
Rabbeynu Bachya Ibn Pekuda in his Shaar Habitachon, fourth chapter states:
“One of the pious said: ‘I am amazed at the person who gives his friend that which G-d has already deemed for him (as a salary) and subsequently reminds the recipient of his kindness performed for him and asks to be thanked for it. I am even more amazed at the person who receives his sustenance through another person, who was forced to give it to him, and then he humbles himself in front of him, compliments him and praises him.”
In other words, when an employer hires an employee it is a shidduch made by G-d who ensures that the employer makes money so that he can pay the employee who G-d has determined will receive money from G-d through this employer. Again, expressive gratitude is lovely, but internally one must know that this exchange was all G-d driven.
So too, in this week’s Haftorah on parshat Tzav:
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחׇכְמָת֔וֹ וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל הַגִּבּ֖וֹר בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעׇשְׁרֽוֹ׃
Thus said GOD:
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom;
Let not the strong glory in their strength;
Let not the rich glory in their riches.
כִּ֣י אִם־בְּזֹ֞את יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל הַשְׂכֵּל֮ וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עֹ֥שֶׂה חֶ֛סֶד מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בְאֵ֥לֶּה חָפַ֖צְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
But only in this should one glory:
In being earnestly devoted to Me.
For I GOD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
—declares GOD.
I am tired of seeing Prime minister Netanyahu groveling at the White House door, and justifying to the world court, who hates the Jews, why we need to destroy Amalek, Hamas and reclaim our hostages, when clearly Biden has abandoned them.
Thank you President Biden for reminding us of the lesson we haven’t learned from the moment we were created, our Father and King is G-d alone. We are mandated to do our hishtadlut/our natural efforts in the world, but ultimately it is G-d who gives and takes, and it is to him our duty of loyalty and dedication.
Good Shabbos
-Suri