Divine Right  

B

efore-and-after pictures are meant to be studies in contrast — and indeed, one cannot imagine a greater contrast than that of the images we saw of Israel before the Gaza invasion with those we have seen since. The “before” images were of a country torn asunder, of a nation at the brink of civil war. But the “after” images have been of heartwarming unity, of chareidim hugging chilonim, of secular soldiers singing Torah-based songs, and of unified prayers for the safety the hostages, and for all of Klal Yisrael.

But the lesson here is not just about unity. I think it’s really about something much deeper.

Rav Eliyahu Boruch Shulman makes a fascinating point on the very first Rashi of the Torah. Rashi cites a Midrash that asks why the Creation account was needed. Why not begin immediately with the laws in parshas Bo? The Midrash answers that the Torah begins with Creation to provide an answer to the nations of the world who claim, “Listim atem,” the Jews are bandits for stealing the land from the Seven Nations. In response, we can point to the Torah and say that Hashem created the world and He gives to whom He wishes.

At first glance, the objection of the nations is nonsensical. The Canaanites were not the first possessors of Eretz Yisrael. Rashi (in Lech Lecha) writes that they conquered it from the descendants of Shem. So how can they object to our conquering it from them? And anyway, isn’t it the way of the world for stronger nations to conquer the lands of weaker ones? It’s difficult to find too many nations that have lived in their land from time immemorial. Why must the Jews be forced to defend themselves for living in Eretz Yisrael?