D’var Torah – November 8
I hope this finds you all well.
In this week’s parsha of Lekh Lekha* we read of some of the earliest heroes in the Bible. When Abram’s (soon to be Abraham) nephew Lot is kidnapped by the armies of the “Four Kings,” Abram assembles 318 of his servants and pursues the kidnappers, catching up with them at night, soundly defeats them, and most importantly, rescues Lot.[1] We can call them servants and retainers, but who are they really? Soldiers, warriors!
If it had not been for these brave fighters and their heroic deeds in combat, Lot would have remained a hostage, and perhaps could have even ended up as a slave, a prisoner, or even a dead man.
On Monday, we will celebrate Veterans Day and honor all those men and women who have put on the sacred cloth that is our nation’s uniform, and defended us and our inalienable rights l’dor va’dor – in every generation. At places like Belleau Wood and the Meuse-Argonne; Tarawa, Midway, and Iwo Jima; Salerno, Anzio, Normandy, and Bastogne; Inchon and Mig Alley; Khe Sahn and Dak To; Fallujah, Baghdad, Ramadi, and Mosul; and from Marjah, Tora Bora, to Robert’s Ridge they ensured we would continue to live and breathe those famous words: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is thus fitting that on the weekend before Veterans Day we recall Abram’s servants who took up arms and went forth into battle in order to free someone who was being held hostage. The parallels between them, the Soldiers of our forefather, and our own country’s heroes are both striking and a true inspiration.
So, to all our women and men who have ever worn the uniform, our retainers of liberty, our servants of American freedom, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Marines, and Space Guardians, our fighters and warriors, our Veterans – a grateful nation thanks you and May God Bless you, your families, and this beloved nation that you have so nobly and honorably protected.
Wishing you a Good Shabbos and a great weekend.
Bivrakha,
From the desk of: Rabbi Aaron Stucker-Rozovsky
Beth El Congregation | 520 Fairmont Ave, Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 667-1889 (office)