Shoftim: God is on our side
Rav Johnny's original thoughts on the weekly parsha
Parshat Shoftim informs us that before Jewish soldiers would go out to battle the Kohen (priest) would deliver the following stirring words:
“Hear Israel (Shema Yisrael), today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies; do not be fainthearted, don’t be afraid, or tremble, or be scared of them, for the Lord God is the One who goes out with you to fight for you against your enemies in order to save you” (Devarim 20:3-4).
Significantly, though just the two words of ‘Hear Israel’ (Shema Yisrael) are used in this verse, Rashi explains that this alludes to the Shema prayer, and how its recitation by those about to go to battle girds them and strengthens them. But the question is: how?
Maharal answers in his Gur Aryeh commentary that when a Jew recites the Shema, they declare their faith in the Oneness and Unity of God, and through doing so, they attach themselves to something greater than anything else, which overrides everything else. Accordingly, faith in Hashem Echad gives us hope and strength to fight against and hopefully overcome all the challenges we may face.
Interestingly, the Midrash (Midrash Aggada) focusses in on the phrase ‘with your enemies’ on which it notes that though Jews can be unkind to each other, we are not viciously cruel to one another. In contrast, ‘if Jews fall into the hands of our enemies, they will show no mercy.’ As we sadly know from the past 11 months and from the recent sickening murder of six hostages, this lack of mercy is a chillingly accurate description of who our enemy is, and this is why we must continue to fight against them be victorious over them.
Finally, commenting on the words ‘for the Lord God is the One who goes out with you to fight for you’, Rashi explains that while our enemies, ‘are coming as flesh and blood to be victorious, the Jewish people are coming with the support of God to be victorious’, then adding, ‘[this is like the story of] the Philistines who came with Goliath to be victorious. But what was his end? He fell, and they fell with him!’
Taken together, these verses - which speak so deeply to us in these difficult times - serve as a reminder to us that we should continue to have faith in God and each other; that we should be kind to each other not only because it is the right thing to do but also because our enemies are so cruel towards us, and that when we continue to go out to battle, we should know that God is on our side and that we will ultimately overcome our enemies and be victorious.
Shabbat Shalom!
I will be delivering a number of in-person and online shiurim this Ellul. Here are their details:
1. HOW TO DESIGN AND DELIVER A SHIUR @ WebYeshiva.org – While I already delivered the first in my 4-part online interactive course on ‘How to design and deliver a shiur’, you can still sign up for the remaining sessions taking place on September 8, 15 & 22 @ 9pm (Israel time) and watch the recording of our first session. To register, and to find out about the other great courses available for free at WebYeshiva, visit
2. THIRTY YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF THE REBBE @ Melton+ ONLINE LEARNING – This Thursday September 5th is the first in my 4-part online course taking place at 1-2.30pm (EST) or 8-9.30pm (Israel time) on ’30 Years After the Death of the Rebbe’ where I will discuss what makes Chabad unique as a Chassidic movement? What are its goals? How did it survive the death of its leader? And what can we learn about its strengths& weaknesses? To register, visit https://events.meltonschool.org/
3. ELLUL, AYIN TOVA & TORAT CHESSED @ Matan - מתן BET SHEMESH – On the 15th September from 9.00-10.10am I will be exploring the spiritual energy of the month of Ellul and what we are supposed to learn from Ellul about sharing the Torah we’ve learnt. To register for this in-person shiur (which can be joined online), visit https://www.matan.org.il/en
4. THE SHOFAR BLAST OF MILCHAMA & THE SHOFAR BLAST OF TESHUVA @ Matan - מתן JERUALEM – On the 16th September from 11.45am-1.00pm I will be exploring the relationship between the shofar that is blown for battle and the shofar that is blown during Ellul and on Rosh Hashanah. To register for this in-person shiur (which can be joined online), visit https://www.matan.org.il/en/programs/jerusalem-elul-program/
5. THREE-PART SPIRITUAL COACHING WORKSHOP @ Matan - מתן CARMEI GAT (WOMEN ONLY) – In these three in-person spiritual coaching workshops taking place on September 12, 19 & 26 from 9.00-10.15am in Carmei Gat I will be exploring ‘Approaching the past with guilt versus shame’, ‘Forgiving others and forgiving ourselves’ and ‘Our hopes and dreams for the future’. To register, visit https://www.matan.org.il/.../carmei-gat-elul-program-2024/
6. EXPLORING THE BIBLICAL VERSES IN THE ROSH HASHANAH & YOM KIPPUR TEFILLOT (WOMEN ONLY) IN BET SHEMESH – In these two Pre-Yamim Noraim shiurim (taking place on Wednesday 25th September & 9th October from 8.20-9.20am in Bet Shemesh) we will explore the key biblical verses found in the Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur tefillot. To register, call Rivka @ 050-992-1033.
7. TEA & TORAH @ קומקום בית תה Kumkum Tea House TEAHOUSE IN JERUSALEM – Join me each Wednesday in Ellul (September 4, 11, 18 & 25) at 4.30pm for an in-person parsha shiur (and some fabulous British tea!) in the beautiful Kumkum teahouse in Jerusalem.
8. ONLINE SPIRITUAL COACHING & HALACHIC CONSULTATION SESSIONS - Beyond all this, Ellul is the ideal time for a spiritual coaching or halachic consultation session. To book a session with me, visit https://webyeshiva.org/about-virtual-rabbi/