Minister of Defense or Master of Insecurity?

The Israeli public was divided this week in its opinions regarding Lieberman's expected appointment as Israel's Minister of Defense. Will his lack of military experience be a disadvantage ("The only bullet that ever whistled past his ear was a tennis ball...") or will his boldness and self-confidence strengthen deterrence and power... Perhaps this is the one time an opportunity should be given to someone who sees himself as capable of eliminating threats, or will provocations only deteriorate the situation...

We are not engaged in political interpretation nor security analysis, we know what is stated in this week's Torah portion: 'If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them...you will dwell securely in your land. And I will grant peace in the land...' (Leviticus 26).

'Peace in the land' - this is a prayer and wish that the whole world hopes for, but in the land of Israel, the only way to merit this is by fulfilling what is stated at the beginning of the verse - following His statutes and observing His commandments!

Interestingly, in Parashat Behar, which we read last week, we find a different version of instructions for achieving security. There, in chapter 25, verse 18, after the commandments of Sabbatical and Jubilee years, it says: "You shall perform My statutes, and observe My ordinances and perform them, and you will dwell in the land securely." According to our Sages and Rashi, this refers to observing the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. There, Rashi interprets secure dwelling as negating the danger of exile, stating: "You will dwell in the land securely - for the sin of [not observing] the Sabbatical year, Israel is exiled, as it is said (Leviticus 26:34): 'Then shall the land satisfy its sabbaths,' and the seventy years of the Babylonian exile corresponded to the seventy Sabbatical years that were neglected." This means that to be saved from physical exile and removal from the land of Israel, one must observe the Sabbatical year!

Immediately afterward, in verse 19, it states again: "The land will yield its fruit and you will eat to satiety, and you will dwell securely upon it" - here, according to many commentators, this refers to economic security while dwelling in the land (as opposed to what was mentioned above, which is the assurance of dwelling itself). Observing the Sabbatical year also ensures livelihood and agricultural and economic stability.

A Law of Nature - Torah Study!

Later, in Parashat Bechukotai, it speaks of comprehensive security in all aspects, with peace at the forefront. Now let us quote the verses in full: 'If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them: I will give your rains in their time, the land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety, and you will dwell securely in your land. I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down with no one to frighten you; I will remove wild beasts from the land, and no army will pass through your land.'

According to our Sages and Rashi, the meaning of 'if you follow My statutes' as something beyond just observing commandments is interpreted in relation to 'toiling in Torah,' which is the only recipe for all the promises mentioned above, and not only that - its absence endangers our existence. This is not about a law of the kingdom or a divine decree; the law is a 'law of nature,' as our Sages stated in several places regarding the verse: 'If not for My covenant day and night, I would not have established the laws of heaven and earth.' For the laws governing the existence of heaven and earth in a stable and normal form are through 'My covenant day and night' - meaning learning and toiling in Torah day and night (Midrash Tanchuma, Parashat Noach, and more). Hence, 'if you follow My statutes' - following the natural laws of heaven and earth that are maintained through Torah study - 'I will give your rains in their time... the land will yield its produce... and I will grant peace in the land.'

Torah Study - and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

It appears that partnership in the Torah study of the learning community whose Torah is their profession - through public and individual support - is considered a general fulfillment of 'following My statutes.' Everyone who bears the economic burden of supporting the 'tribe of Levi' also bears the security and economic burden and increases the chances - regardless of this minister or that - that Hashem will bestow peace and security upon His people and land.

In the contemporary context of Lag BaOmer, we especially note the opinion of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai - whose hilula (day of passing) we celebrate during these days - regarding the ideal system of life and the required level of Torah study. In Tractate Berachot 35b, Rabbi Ishmael and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai disagree regarding the verse: 'You will gather your grain, your wine, and your oil.' The verses describing the positive state of observing commandments depict economic success against a background of flourishing agricultural life. This is indeed Rabbi Ishmael's view of the ideal life recipe, of course while engaging in Torah study and making Torah primary and work secondary. However, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai argues: 'If a person plows at plowing time, sows at sowing time, harvests at harvest time, threshes at threshing time, etc., what will become of Torah?' Therefore, in his opinion, these activities are ideally performed by foreign workers, while the Jewish people, or at least their elite class, engage purely in Torah study! Toiling in Torah and dedicating all one's strength to its study is, according to Rabbi Shimon, the primary obligation of a complete Jew, and only as a compromise can one integrate practical life as well.

And as mentioned above, even one who follows Rabbi Ishmael's approach can fulfill Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's view by partnering in supporting those whose Torah is their profession, and the merit of Torah and the merit of bar Yochai will stand by him!

Adapted from the words of Rabbi Menachem Jacobson, head of 'Maor Yitzchak' Yeshiva in Moshav Hemed

This column is published in memory of Menachem and Rachel Sharabi, of blessed memory.