03 Sep BRAVE HEARTS: SOLDIERS STANDING STRONG AGAINST FEAR

Being Jewish, it’s
natural to feel a
sense of fear when
considering our
small numbers
among a vast
quantity of enemies. The large
demonstrations we’ve witnessed recently
against the Jewish people abroad
demonstrated significant power. The
thought of where things are heading,
especially as our enemies continue to
multiply consistently and rapidly, sends
chills down our spines.
The Torah provides guidance on how to
overcome the fear instilled by many
enemies, advising us not to fear their large
numbers. The Pasuk says: “When you see
a nation much larger than yours, do not
fear.” The reason behind this instruction
is that they are considered insignificant in
the eyes of Hashem, who does not get
impressed by large numbers, and since He
leads our warfare, we need not worry.
Rashi tells us that all the horses and
chariots are considered as one in Hashem’s

eyes. This means that not only is the
enormous number of enemies not
impressive, but even their many weapons
and ammunition are nothing in Hashem’s
eyes.
The Torah reiterates the idea that we
should not fear a large quantity of
enemies, emphasizing that Hashem is
infinitely greater than them, stating(דברים
כד-יז ,ז (:” Should you say to yourselves,
These nations are more numerous than
we; how can we dispossess them?
You need have no fear of them. You have
but to bear in mind what Hashem did to
Pharaoh and all the Egyptians: Do not
stand in dread of them, for your Hashem
is in your midst, a great and awesome
G-d.”
The Torah also instructs us not to fear
their great and fortified cities, which may
seem impossible for us to conquer.
Sometimes, the people inhabiting those
cities may appear great and lofty.
However, the same idea applies: in
Hashem’s eyes, they are worthless. The
:(דברים ט א-ג) says pasuk

“Hear, O Israel! You are about to
cross the Jordan to go in and
dispossess nations greater and
more populous than you: great
cities with walls sky-high;
people great and tall, the
Anakites, of whom you have
knowledge; for you have heard it
said, “Who can stand up to the
children of Anak?”
Know then this day that none
other than Hashem is crossing at
your head, a devouring fire; it is
[Hashem] who will wipe them
out—subduing them before you, that you
may quickly dispossess and destroy them,
as Hashem promised you.”
Chazal(ה תולדות תנחומא (‘also address this
fear, comparing our nation to a sheep
among 70 wolves.
They tell us of an exchange that Andrianos
had with Rabbi Yehoshua concerning the
miracle of how Am Yisrael survives
despite the dangers they face from the
entire world trying to annihilate them.
Adrianus said to Rabbi Yehoshua, “How
great is the sheep that stands among
seventy wolves!”- comparing us to sheep
and the seventy nations of the world to
wolves. He replied to him, “Great is the
shepherd who rescues her, guards her, and
breaks them before her. Be confident, for
no vessel formed against you shall
succeed.”
Rabbi Yehoshua referred to Hashem as
the shepherd who saves the sheep, as
King David said (Tehilim 23): “Hashem
is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
Some explain that the way Hashem saves
the sheep from all the wolves is by
inciting one wolf against another. While
they fight among themselves, the sheep
can escape. This parable seems to align
with the explanation of the Kli Yakar in
. (דברים כ, א)parasha our
The Kli Yakar poses several questions
regarding the following pasuk(א ,כ דברים (
: “When you go out to battle against your
enemy and you see a horse and chariot
and a nation more numerous than you –
you shall not fear them.” The Kli Yakar
questions why the Torah changes from
singular to plural in this sentence. It starts
with one horse and chariot but continues
in the plural form. This pattern repeats
itself more than once. The Kli Yakar
offers a profound insight that can instill
hope within us. The reason the pasuk
begins in the singular form is because
when enemies rise against us, they often

unite with other nations to form a unified
front against us. Just as we witnessed
many countries in the Middle East region,
though historical adversaries, unite to
declare war against the Jewish nation.
However, Hashem intervenes by inciting
these nations against each other, causing
them to lose strength and a common goal.
As a result, Israel is spared from their
combined onslaught.
This sends a profound message to us as
well: when we are united, we can
overcome very hard challenges and
enemies. However, when we aren’t
united, we stumble at every turn and are
likely to be defeated in battle.
Because of the reasons mentioned above,
before the soldiers went into battle, the
Kohen would address them to encourage
and strengthen their resolve. He would
say: “Hear, O Israel! You are about to join
battle with your enemy. Let not your
courage falter. Do not fear, panic, or dread
them. For it is Hashem who marches with
you to do battle for you against your
enemy, to bring you victory.”
The Abarbanel explains that the Kohen
offered the soldiers three levels of
encouragement:
• a. They should recognize that they
are fighting a war for the honor of the
nation and must fight bravely, not
retreat as cowards, as this would
diminish the nation’s honor.
• b. They should understand that it was
their nation that initiated the war, and
once they have committed to the
battle, they must pursue their mission
without backing down.
• c. Lastly, they should realize that
they are facing a brutal and evil
enemy who will not hesitate to be
cruel to those who fall into their
hands. Therefore, they must fight
with all their might, knowing they
have no other choice.