In two places, the Torah discusses klal Yisrael going to battle. In Parshas B’Haaloscha, the Torah states, “When war will come to your land against an oppressor who oppresses you, you shall sound t’ruos with trumpets, and you shall be remembered before Hashem, your G-d, and you shall be saved from your enemies” (BaMidbar 10:9).
In Parshas Ki Seitzei, the parshah begins: “When you will go out to war against your enemies, and Hashem, your G-d, will give them over in your hands and you will take captives” (D’varim 20:1).
There is a glaring difference between the two mentions of war. When the Torah writes about war in B’Haaloscha, it speaks of blowing trumpets, and only then states that the nation will be victorious. In Ki Seitzei, however, victory seems quite assured. The Torah is emphatic in saying that when you go out to war, you will be victorious, as if it’s a side point mentioned in passing. Why the difference?
It’s impossible to turn back the clock and reclaim past emotions. That’s especially true if one never actually experienced the emotions at all and is only hearing about an emotional experience.
In May 1967, the Jewish world was seized with terrible fear. It was barely 20 years after the end of World War II and the Jewish world was still reeling from the impossible devastation of the Holocaust. Nasser, the leader of Egypt, was calling for Pan-Arabism, the unification of the Arab world with the express goal of destroying the nascent Jewish state. He openly rallied for the Arabs to push the Jews into the sea.
Israel was surrounded on all sides. Egypt amassed troops in the south, Syria in the North, and Jordan in the east. In fact, Jordan had control over the Old City of Yerushalayim since 1948 and Jordanian snipers were constantly shooting at Jews living near the border within the New City of Yerushalayim.
Other Arab countries sent brigades to fight alongside the Arabs surrounding Israel, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The situation was dire if not hopeless. The world stood by and preached at Israel, but Israel realized that they were isolated and alone.
Israel felt their only chance was to initiate a preemptive strike. It was a daring move. On the morning of June 5, 1967, Israeli military aircraft flew low enough over the Mediterranean to avoid detection by Egyptian radar. Bolstered by a series of extreme coincidences (pronounced miracles), the Israeli Air Force destroyed almost the entire Egyptian fleet of planes. In the first hours of the war, Israel gained air superiority and completely changed the trajectory of the war.
Within six days, the IDF vanquished its enemies, doubling the size of the country and accomplishing a convincing defeat of its foes. In addition, Israel recaptured the Old City of Yerushalayim, Chevron, and Kever Rachel.
Euphoria gripped the country, bringing with it a newfound feeling of Jewish pride. Although there were Israeli casualties, the overwhelming feeling in the country was of excitement and newfound confidence. Many were convinced that Mashiach’s arrival was imminent.
Six years later, on Yom Kippur 1973, Israel was caught off guard in a surprise attack. Again, they were attacked by Syria in the North and Egypt in the south. But this time, woefully unprepared, there were frightening advances by the enemy along both borders. Throughout the day, as Jews stood in shul, draped in their kittels and talisos, sirens sounded, and soldiers were summoned up to the war front.
In the first hours of the war, the road to T’veryah in the north was almost completely breached by the enemy. They were only stopped by the bravery and tenacity of a few tanks and soldiers who held the ill-equipped defenses until reinforcements could arrive. We know, too well, what atrocities our enemies could have committed on civilians had they been able to penetrate those defenses, chas v’shalom. In the south, the Egyptian army penetrated deep into the Sinai Peninsula. They could have proceeded, but they were convinced that it was a trap set for them by the Israelis. The Egyptians couldn’t believe their own success.
In the first hours of the war, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan quipped that the “third temple” – a reference to the State of Israel – was in danger of being destroyed.
By the end of the war, three weeks later, Israel had garnered greater victories than they had in 1967. However, there was no feeling of euphoria in 1973. Instead, the country was enveloped by grief over the heavy casualties and losses they had sustained. There was anger against the leadership who failed to adequately prepare the country for such an event and failed to adhere to the warning signs that the attack was imminent. As a result, the old leadership was voted out of power after the war, and a political revolution occurred, with Menachem Begin becoming Prime Minister.
The Beis Yisroel of Ger noted the vast difference between the outcome of the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. In 1967, Israel attacked first. In 1973, however, Israel was perilously caught by surprise and had to defend their own land and people.
He explains that those two wars represent the two wars that the Torah refers to. In Parshas Ki Seitzei, the Torah speaks of when klal Yisrael goes out to war; in other words, the nation is proactive and initiates the war. In that case, we are assured victory and that there will even be captives. Parshas B’Haaloscha, however, refers to a time when the nation is attacked and has to fight a defensive war. In such a situation, the situation is far more perilous, and the nation will have to employ other means to cry out to Hashem before they can be victorious.
The Beis Yisroel adds that the same holds true in our personal ongoing battle with our evil inclination. If we are proactive, recognize our vulnerabilities, and enact safeguards to protect ourselves from falling prey to it, then victory is far more assured. If, however, one maintains a laissez-faire attitude and feels that he’ll be okay, then he is in far greater danger of falling prey to his evil inclination. He will need far greater effort and prayer, though he, too, can achieve victory.
We are all soldiers fighting an ongoing battle against an implacable foe. “Who is the wise person? One who sees what will be born,” i.e., what will be the likely result in his situation. The wise person fights his evil inclination offensively. He doesn’t wait for the battle to arrive on his home turf. He strikes first, knowing that if he doesn’t, the situation can be that much more perilous.
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, a rebbe at Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck, New Jersey, is a parenting consultant and maintains a private practice for adolescents and adults. He is also a member of the administration of Camp Dora Golding for over two decades. Rabbi Staum was a community rabbi for ten years, and has been involved in education as a principal, guidance counselor, and teacher in various yeshivos. Rabbi Staum is a noted author and sought-after lecturer, with hundreds of lectures posted on torahanytime.com. He has published articles and books about education, parenting, and Torah living in contemporary society. Rabbi Staum can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. His website containing archives of his writings is www.stamTorah.info.
