Should Your Brothers Go Out to War While You Settle Here?

In Parshat Matot, the tribes of Reuven and Gad ask Moshe (Bamidbar 32:5): “If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land (the east bank of the Jordan) be given to your servants as a possession. Do not bring us over the Jordan(to the Land of Israel proper).”   Moshe answers: “Should your brothers go out to war while you settle here?”   In other words: When the other tribes go out to conquer the rest of the Land of Israel do you expect to sit at home?   Many Israelis have been called up in the past few weeks for Tzav Shmoneh, where they have to report immediately for miluim (army reserves) due to the dangerous situation that we are currently facing.   Those of us who are not fighting in the army do not just sit back and continue on with our regular lives as if nothing is happening. Many people in Israel as well as well as in Chutz La’Aretz (outside of Israel) are going out of the way to do what they can to help.   Over 1000 cookies for our soldiers have been baked and distributed this week. Toys and games have been collected for children in the south of Israel who have been spending most of their time in the miklatim (bomb shelters). Clothing and supplies as well as food and fresh pizza pies have been disturbed to our soldiers who are stationed near the border of Gaza. Families in Jerusalem are hosting children from the south to help give them a vacation from the rockets. The Jerusalem Tennis Center camp is admitting children from the south at no charge and the list goes on…   Doron Hanin z”l, 37, and Israeli father of three was killed on Tuesday evening by Gaza mortar fire at the Erez crossing while delivering food and drinks to the soldiers who were awaiting a possible ground invasion into the Gaza strip.   Doron was a model of what the tribes of Gad and Reuven described in Bamidbar 32:32: “We will cross over Chalutzim (as pioneers) before God.”   May we hear good news in the coming days.