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October 26, 2001/Cheshvan 9, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 7
Peace negotiations echo Israel's ancient plight
Torah Study
RABBI SHLOMO RISKIN
Lech Lecha/Genesis 12:1-17:27
This week's portion begins the history of the Jewish people by highlighting the life of the first Jew, Abraham. It opens with the divine command that he "make aliyah" to the land of Israel, and we are told of his exploits as a great military hero.
Indeed, we read of four kings who had placed a stranglehold on the other five nations of Canaan, and Abraham's success in freeing the region from terrorist invasions.
Interestingly enough, the most dangerous historical enemy of the Israelites is not mentioned in this initial regional war - and that is the Philistines. Why not?
I believe the answer is to be found in the origins of this inveterately warring enemy of our people. There is a great deal to be learned from the kind of people with whom we can make treaties and the type of people with whom we cannot.
A study of their origins will tell us precisely why any attempt at signing a peace treaty is a mere act of self-delusion.
Rav David Kimchi, famous medieval grammarian, explains that the Philistines were apparently born to Egypt and tried to establish themselves in nearby Canaan.
Indeed, the very world palash (Plishtim = Philistines) means to invade, to act as an interloper. These Philistines who made an incursion into a land which was not naturally their own.
After this initial battle, however, the more constant enemy of Israel was the Philistines. We first come upon them, when Abraham and Sarah attempt to settle in Gerar, the southern Negev area of Israel; Abraham introduces Sarah as his sister, and the King Avimelech takes her into his harem. Abraham explains that when he saw the lack of divine fear on the part of the Philistine leadership, he felt he had no other recourse. Avimelech returns Sarah to her husband, declaring to Abraham: "Here, my land is before you; settle wherever you please." (Genesis 20:15) Avimelech, the Philistine invader, describes the southern part of Israel as "his land."
The next incident is the most distressing. When Abraham's son Isaac settles in Gerar, he becomes wealthy. The Philistines envied him and they stopped up the wells Abraham had dug. Avimelech, adding further insult to the injury of the stolen wells, orders Isaac to depart because he has become too much of an adversary.
Remember that Avimelech had previously told Abraham that he could live wherever he chose - and certainly could dig wells. Isaac digs more wells and runs into further difficulties with the Philistines. Ultimately, Avimelech comes to Isaac in Beer Sheba and again requests a peace treaty. Isaac agrees to the treaty.
Each time the Philistines make a treaty, it is broken.
Avimelech only asked for a treaty when he became worried lest Abraham - who seemed to have special divine protection - take the land away from him. He was never serious about the treaty and he never kept any aspect of it either in the lifetime of Abraham or Isaac.
The lesson is clear: when an interloper claims ownership over Israel, you cannot weaken your right to the land as the result of a treaty. The invader will only interpret your good will as weakness, will expect you to thank him if he merely banishes you and does not murder you, and he has absolutely no intention of allowing you to live in any part of the land or to develop its resources.
Why do we constantly refuse to learn from history, even from the history of the Bible about which Nachmanides teaches: "The actions of the patriarchs is a foreshadowing of the happenings to their descendants."
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is the spiritual leader of Efrat, Israel.
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