I raise my eyes and sense the power of Hashem

The concluding section of our parasha, Beshalach, contains the account of our ancestors’ mortal combat with Amalek, the marauding desert tribe that sought to destroy us following our departure from Egypt.

The narrative begins with a pasuk that reverberates until our own historical moment: “Amalek came and fought with Yisrael in Rephidim” (Shemot 17:8). Moshe immediately recognized the gravity of the situation, and quickly responded to this existential threat against our fledgling nation: “So, Moshe said to Yehoshua, ‘Pick men for us, and go out and fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of G-d in my hand;’ Yehoshua did as Moshe had told him, to fight against Amalek; and Moshe, Aharon, and Chur ascended to the top of the hill” (17:9-10).

Moshe’s reaction is swift and easily understandable. The next verse, however, is difficult to comprehend: “It came to pass that when Moshe would raise his hand, Yisrael would prevail, and when he would lay down his hand, Amalek would prevail.” The question is clear, “Why would Moshe raising or lowering his hand have anything to do with our people’s success or failure in their battle against Amalek?”

Not too surprisingly, parallel versions of this question have been asked by Chazal (our Sages of blessed memory) in both Mechilta d’Rabbi Yishmael and Mishnah Rosh Hashanah III:8. The answer given by the Mechilta is particularly pertinent to our discussion:

“And is it possible that Moshe’s hands could make the Jewish people victorious, or could they destroy Amalek? Rather [this is what the raising of Moshe’s hands actually means]: Whenever Moshe would raise them toward Heaven, the Jewish people would look upon him, and believe (u’ma’aminim) in the One who designated Moshe to act in this manner. For at those times, the Holy One blessed be He would perform miracles and mighty deeds for them.”

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The Mechilta is teaching us that Moshe’s hands pointing heavenward were heuristic devices to teach our ancestors to believe in Hashem and internalize the message, “Not by military force and not by physical strength, but by My spirit, says the L-rd of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

After all, there appeared to be no way an untrained and inexperienced band of Jewish guerrilla fighters could possibly win a pitched battle against Amalek’s impeccably skilled soldiers — whose stock-in-trade was murder and mayhem. Yet, when they looked toward Shamayim and focused upon the immanent presence of the Almighty in their lives, they won! Moshe passionately wanted the Jewish people to realize that there is one place, and one place only, from which authentic salvation will come.

As Dovid HaMelech proclaimed: “I shall raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help is from the L-rd, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to falter; Your Guardian will not slumber. Behold the Guardian of Yisrael will neither slumber nor sleep. The L-rd is your Guardian; the L-rd is your shadow; [He is] by your right hand” (Tehillim 121:1-6).

Although the actual tribe of Amalek no longer exists, its successors continue to infect humanity with their vitriolic hatred. This idea was given powerful voice by the Rav in his synopsis of the dark forces that continue to drive the Amalek way of life:

At a Mizrachi convention I cited the view expressed by my father [Rav Moshe Soloveitchik zatzal] and master of blessed memory, that the proclamation, “The L-rd will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:16) does not only translate into the communal exercise of waging obligatory war against a specific race but includes as well the obligation to rise up as a community against any people or group that, filled with maniacal hatred, directs its enmity against Kenesset Israel [the Jewish people].

When a people emblazons on its banner, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation: that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psalms 83:5) it becomes, thereby, Amalek. In the 1930’s and 1940’s the Nazis, with Hitler at their head, filled this role. They were the Amalekites, the standard-bearers of insane hatred and enmity during the era just past.”

We must never forget that antisemitism, and the denial of the existence of Hashem, are the principles by which and for which Amalek lives. Moreover, as we have seen in our own time, Amalek has one undeniable goal: to destroy each and every one of the Jewish people so that G-d’s name, chas v’shalom, would be obliterated from the world.

Therefore, we must ever be vigilant, and stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure the physical and spiritual safety of our fellow Jews, wherever they may be. Perhaps, then, no truer expression was ever spoken by Chazal than kol Yisrael arevim zeh l’zeh (all of the Jewish people are responsible for one another).

May the time come soon when these words will serve as a beacon of light as we join together and witness the fulfillment of Dovid HaMelech’s stirring words: “This was from the L-rd; it is wondrous in our eyes” (Tehillim 118:23).

V’chane yihi ratzon.