Once Were Sons and Daughters
The Talmud in Megilla[1] (the biblical narrative of the Book of Esther) makes a very interesting point. “As the Egyptians were drowning in the sea, the ministering angels wished to utter song before the Holy One, but He rebuked them, saying, ‘The works of My hands are drowning in the sea, and you would utter song in My presence!’”[2]
Certainly, it was necessary for the Egyptians to die, for if they had not, they would have slaughtered the Israelites, but God told the angels, “You may not sing.” They — the Israelites — can sing. They were the ones who were enslaved, they were the ones who were beaten, they saw their infants murdered, and they suffered at the hands of those very Egyptians. But you may not sing — the death of any of My creatures is not an occasion for rejoicing.
There are times when there is no choice but to fight and to kill our enemies. As the Talmud puts it quite succinctly — if someone is coming to kill you, rise up and kill him first. However, it should never be done gleefully. Later, in Devarim, the Torah commands, “When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.” War is a last resort, when there is no alternative, when enemies refuse to make peace. Still, it is always sad, even when it is necessary.
All human beings are God’s creatures — even if they choose not to behave as if they are. Every human being was once loved by his or her mother. War and killing may be necessary, but they are not sources of happiness — even for the victors. In the words of Israel’s most quotable Prime Minister, Golda Meir, “The only thing I cannot forgive the Arabs for is that they forced our sons to kill their sons.”[3]
As is says in Proverbs, “If your enemy falls, do not exult; if he trips, let your heart not rejoice, lest the Lord see it and be displeased.”
So you see, we really do have a reason to make the world a better place. There is a plan and a purpose and there is a way. 143.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megillah_(Talmud)
2. http://www.torahleadership.org/categories/beshalach.pdf p.4
3. 1969 press conference in London – http://www.mscd.edu/golda/golda/quotes.shtml
