This week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, famously begins with God calling out to Abraham & Sarah to move themselves forward, and simultaneously to journey inward, towards the land that they had not yet seen…but would eventually be shown. Israel.
The journey from Haran (Syria) to Canaan (Israel) for this Jewish family was not quick, or straight, or easy. Even after they arrived, there were times that they were forced to leave due to famine and had to sojourn down to Egypt (foreshadowing the Joseph narrative).
While en route, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family are caught up in a war raid, and taken capture behind enemy lines. For most of human history, this would be ‘the end’, for those who would risk lives in further war to save those innocents who were held hostage.
Do you see where I am going with this?
Abraham refuses to abandon his family, and he gathers his own men from his household. In a daring night-time raid, Abraham himself leads the attack to free Lot and the other captives. They are successful. And in doing so, began the long Jewish tradition of prioritizing redeeming captives, sometimes with tremendous cost, and even risk of other lives.
We do not abandon our captives. We do not leave them to the fate of those who would stoop to this level of depravity.
We all know that there are over 200 captives from the Hamas October 7th pogrom being held behind enemy lines in Gaza. They are on our minds all of the time. We must keep them on the forefront of our thoughts, and not abandon them to the black hole of Hamas abuse.
This week, all over the world, Jews are reading Lech Lecha, and re-committing ourselves to bringing them home.
When you see people, or groups, or organizations condemning Israel, or demanding a cease-fire, be sure to notice (or point out to them if you have the option) that they are not demanding for release of our captives. They will not. We will never stop.
Hear us Oh God, may our hostages be protected, and come back to us with their health and sanity, speedily in the coming days. Amen.
Am Yisrael Chai
Rabbi Spike
