“And when Avram heard that his kinsman [Lot] was taken captive he armed his students born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.” (Lech Lecha 14:14)
The Gemara explains that the word “vayarek — he armed” means that prior to embarking on their sacred mission to rescue Lot from captivity, Avraham gave each of his students an abundance of gold. Why? “So that they would not be tempted to secure for themselves spoils of war and would be able to concentrate on saving lives.”
This is mystifying. Who were these students? They were gedolei Torah and tzaddikim in their own right and had volunteered to risk their lives l’Sheim Shamayim, for the holy mitzvah of hatzalas nefashos, rescuing Lot from captivity. Is it conceivable that such great and idealistic people would jeopardize their entire mission by stopping to acquire for themselves spoils of war? Why did Avraham Avinu think it was necessary to avoid such temptation? (Rabbi Elyakim Rosenblatt, Yeshiva Kesser Torah.)
I possess an active imagination. Sometimes it’s a blessing. Other times it’s a curse.
The sirens are wailing outside and Shloime is petrified. “Why did we daven for chayim on Rosh Hashanah if chayim just brings wars?” he frets.
How do I answer him?
Holding him tightly against me, I try to diffuse his fears by pouring the strength of my love into his small body.
But there are other small children out there who are living a greater nightmare. My mind cannot wrap itself around a three-year-old being held hostage. A five-year-old in the hands of brutal animals. I don’t need much imagination to be paralyzed with thoughts of panic and trauma.
