Who Does the Torah Command Us to Fight: Hamas or Ourselves? The Answer Might Surprise You

In Parashat Ki Tetze, it is stated, "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and Hashem your God delivers them into your hands and you take them captive" (Deuteronomy 21:10). On the literal level, this refers to a discretionary war against the enemies of Israel, but the sacred Zohar reveals a hidden and spiritual layer to this battle. The Zohar discloses that it's about a war each of us has, not against external enemies, but against the enemy within us — the evil inclination. Here is the Zohar in translation: "When you go out to battle against your enemies – this is the evil inclination" (Zohar, Parashat Ki Tetze).

Although Parashat Ki Tetze, from a literal standpoint, deals with physical war against the external evil — the enemy army, on a deeper level, it speaks about the personal war with the internal evil — the person's evil inclination, which distances one from fulfilling the will of Hashem. And on this, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz writes: "Even though the plain meaning of the section speaks of an actual war, nevertheless it also alludes to a person’s battle with his evil inclination... This is what our sages hinted at (Kiddushin 21b) 'The Torah spoke only against the evil inclination,' meaning it alluded to this war. As it is stated, when you go out to battle in a discretionary warfare, the discretion is given to the person and the choice is in his hands. If the person begins to fight, then Hashem helps him, as our sages said in Berachot (Succah 52b) if not for Hashem helping him, he would not be able to overcome it, that is 'and Hashem your God delivers them into your hands' (Deuteronomy 21:10)... And through the power of the Torah and observance of its commandments, you take its captives” (Shnei Luchot HaBrit, Torah Shebichtav, Ki Tetze, Torah Or).

The Torah reveals that the real battle of our lives is against those temptations lurking and trying to trap us, and they are our true enemies. Every day of our life is a battle, a battle of light versus darkness, good versus evil, to shout or refrain, to see the positives or the negatives, jealousy or admiration, love versus hate, joy versus sadness, to do a mitzvah or a transgression. Life is a battle of the good inclination versus the evil inclination.

How hard do you fight to be a better person? How much do you fight your anger for the sake of peace at home, despite the irritating comment the other made? How much do you fight to observe Shabbat, for modesty? How much do you fight to serve Hashem? Being a warrior isn’t just against Hamas, but also against the evil within us. Hashem commands us – fight! Bring out the warrior within you, and fight.

Within each of us is an inner warrior. There are hidden forces within us, and it’s up to us to decide whether we keep them dormant or bring them into action. A warrior who is out in enemy territory settles for three hours of sleep a day under the cold rain without shelter, and food for the body only to supply energy and strength. His senses sharpen, and his body uses all its resources. He doesn’t say 'it's too hard' or 'it doesn’t suit me,' because he knows that defeat or victory means life or death. So too in the battle to be a better person, to be a better parent/spouse, to be a faithful servant to the Creator and the Torah’s commandments – a true warrior does not say 'it’s too hard,' but brings out all his inner strengths. Until victory.

King David says, "I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I will not return until they are consumed" (Psalms 18:38). Our true enemy is our transgressions, our evil inclination, and against it, we must declare war until it is annihilated. The real terrorist is the one inside us saying 'you can’t do it, it’s too hard,' and against this terrorist, Hashem tells us 'be mighty!' – 'Be as mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven' (Mishnah in Pirkei Avot, Chapter 5, Mishnah 20).

Fight for yourselves, to defeat anger, to be a happy mother, to be a good husband for your wife, to keep your mouth shut when you want to say something about the neighbors, to give up an outfit and choose a more modest garment, to say to friends 'I’m not going out with you on Friday night, I now keep Shabbat.' Hashem believes in you being warriors, you believe in yourselves.

Only when we rise and fight the evil inclination trying to topple us, Hashem will assist us, as it is said "He who comes to purify himself is assisted," meaning one who truly wishes to elevate and overcome his evil inclination is helped from heaven and given strength, and thus it becomes easier to overcome and win the challenge. And then the continuation of the verse is achieved – "and Hashem your God delivers them into your hands and you take their captives," Hashem will deliver into the person’s hands the evil inclination and he will capture what the evil inclination took from him, the holiness it took while distancing him from the will of Hashem.