10 Sep FLICK THE SWITCH

This week’s parsha, Ki Seitzei, opens with
the pasuk, “Ki Seitzei la’milchama al
oy’vecha, When you go out to war against
your enemies…” (Devarim 21:10). The
Torah acknowledges that war happens, at
times inevitable.
I recently saw a clip from British author and
journalist Douglas Murray, who tells of
being asked by one of the Nova survivors,
what would he have done if October 7
happened in his country.
Murray responded that it did happen in
Europe, it happened in the West, albeit on a
different scale. It happened in Paris,
Toulouse, Mumbai, Manchester,
Copenhagen and Orlando. Murray
powerfully stated, “Too many mistake the
victim for people who can’t restrain
themselves from targeting Jews. They
confuse those who fight terrorism, with
those who dream it and bring up their
children to love it from the cradle. It was
Hamas who started the war, but the world
has forgotten. They have been fooled by

Hamas propaganda to imagining that Israel
is the aggressor.”
Ki seitzei la’milchama. However painful
war is, at times we must take a stand for the
security and safety of our nation. Murray
spoke of the Jewish people, a nation to
whom Europe is indebted. Not just for all
the bloodshed upon its earth, but for what
the Jewish people have contributed to
civilization. “… For the richness of culture,
learning, and faith that the Jews have
brought to our civilization.”
As we approach the one-year mark since the
start of the war, Douglas Murray’s words
need to be heard.
While the parsha addresses the perils of
physical war, the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh,
Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, teaches that the
pasuk also addresses a different battle. A
battle each of us face every day in varying
degrees. The battle against the yetzer hara,
the evil inclination, the urge to get us off the
path.
The Ohr HaChaim notes that the Torah
doesn’t state l’milchama, to war, but instead
uses the word “la’milchama”, meaning “the

war”. For the war is the well-known
battle of inner forces.
At times, it is a battle against the inner
voice that says “I can’t”. A voice that
comes to bother us time and time
again. From I can’t stick to a healthy
diet, I can’t keep up with an exercise
program, or I can’t get into a good
sleep routine. A voice that says I can’t
commit to daily davening, to making
time for Torah study, to keeping
Shabbos properly. I can’t control my
temper, I can’t deal with the kids, I
can’t handle life. We tell ourselves,
it’s not my problem, let someone else
worry about it, I’m too tired, too busy,
too old, too young, I’ve done mine.
The yetzer hara is relentless. It doesn’t give
up, but keeps on coming up with new
excuses. Excuses that may make sense, but
are excuses nonetheless.
Waging war against that inner voice is a
tough battle – but it is doable. The pasuk
continues, “U’nesano HaShem E’lokecha
b’yadecha, And HaShem will deliver (the
enemy) into your hands”. HaShem doesn’t
abandon us, we only have to take that first
step and turn to Him.
The Talmud teaches “Haba l’taheir
mesayin oso, One who desires to purify
and elevate himself will be given Divine
assistance”.
But how do we get started? How does one
flick the switch from can’t to can? Here,
too, we turn to the Talmud for sage advice.
The Talmud suggests a strategy to combat
the yetzer hara. Although “Yitzro shel
adam misgaber olov b’chol yom, A man’s
yetzer hara attempts to overpower him
each and every day… moshcheihu l’beis
hamedrash, drag him (the yetzer hara) to
the bais medrash…” Join a Torah class.
Study with a Torah partner. As the learning
penetrates our hearts, and we are enveloped
in a Torah environment, we become
empowered to make the switch.
The Midrash to Shir HaShirim teaches,
that HaShem turns to Am Yisroel and
says, “Pischu li pesach k’chudo shel
machat, v’Eftach lachem pesach k’pischo
shel ulam, Give me a small opening, like
the eye of a needle, and I will extend it
wide open.” One only has to take the
initiative, to take the first step, and HaShem
is there is help us.
The parshiyos read during the month of
Elul, give us a timely message. A message
that helps prepare us for Rosh HaShana.
Elul is a time to believe in yourself. To
make the switch. To say I can. To battle

with the yetzer hara and win.
I think of the legacy my mother, Rebbetzin
Esther Jungreis a”h, left behind. No matter
where life took her, no matter how difficult
the circumstances, she always said “I can”.

From her days as young girl in Bergen-
Belsen, she was on a mission. My zeide zt”l

gave her a job – to smile. Perhaps, a little
girl with a smile on her face, will bring hope
to someone. It will brighten the life of a
person who may feel lost, alone, struggling,
not seeing a path forward in life.
When my mother arrived as an immigrant,
not knowing the language and not being
familiar with the culture, once again she
said “I can”. She began first grade at twelve
years old, but learned quickly, and soon
joined girls her own age.
While the years ahead came with many
blessings, my mother also had her share of
hardship, yet always forged ahead. In her
later years, even though she suffered from
illness, my mother continued her writing,
lecturing and teaching. In her last months,
she even undertook to write a book. Can’t
wasn’t part of her vocabulary. I never heard
my mother say I’m too tired, weak or sick. I
already did mine, taught classes, and
authored books. It was always, what more
can I do to serve HaShem and be there for
His people.
This is the lesson of Elul. HaShem is giving
us a month to flick the switch. To go from I
can’t to I can. To win the battle with our
inner voice.
The coming year, 5785, in the Hebrew
language is ת-tuf, ש-shin, פ-pei, ה-hei.
Perhaps it can be an acronym for ת-tehei
ש-shenat פה-peh, let it be a year of peh,
meaning mouth. A year of us using our
power of speech, our sincere and heartfelt
prayer to turn to HaShem and say, “I can”.
Let’s take the first step, and in that merit,
HaShem will surely do the rest.