I was in the army base city near the front lines yesterday at the wedding of an officer from Golani Brigade's Unit 51. This brigade has fought in some of the toughest battles the IDF has engaged in over the holiday of Simchat Torah. They paid a very heavy price with the lives of dozens of fighters who fought with utmost dedication to defend the State of Israel.
Yesterday, this brigade rose to celebrate with the groom and bride. The groom, an officer who took the place of another officer who fell in battle, thus postponed his own wedding, which took place in the city near the front lines. He and his wife decided to add love to stop the hatred that the terrorists displayed. To add much life against the lovers of death. To add joy, hope, and faith and to stop the sorrow, despair, and weakness that our enemies want to sow in us.
Now we see these soldiers rising and inflicting a double blow on our enemies. They are crippling their infrastructure. Now these invaders understand that their joy was premature.
All their bravery was over infants in the cradle, women at home, old people with walkers, and tired soldiers. Is it about them prophet said:
"אַל תִּשְׂמְחִי פְלֶשֶׁת כֻּלֵּךְ כִּי נִשְׁבַּר שֵׁבֶט מַכֵּךְ"
("Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, for your rod is broken")
The people of Israel are alive, the people of Israel know how to take revenge like a viper.
"כִּי מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ נָחָשׁ יֵצֵא צֶפַע וּפִרְיוֹ שָׂרָף מְעוֹפֵף". (ישעיה יד כט).
"For a fire will be kindled from the serpent's root, and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent." (Isaiah 14:29)
So it was with Samson, who made a mistake and believed Delilah. She exploited his innocence, faith, and she delivered him into the hands of the Philistines. They gouged out his eyes, tormented him, gathered around him, and mocked him.
Everyone knows that this is the most temporary joy in the world. Samson's hair begins to grow, and his strength returns. With his returning strength, he takes vengeance.
"וַיִּהְיוּ הַמֵּתִים אֲשֶׁר הֵמִית בְּמוֹתוֹ רַבִּים מֵאֲשֶׁר הֵמִית בְּחַיָּיו".
"And the dead, whom he slew at his death, were more than those whom he slew in his life."
Samson avenged only one eye because the people of Israel were not with him, it was a one man war and he paid with his life. We can exact revenge. Take revenge and stay alive. Not an eye for an eye, but seven eyes for an eye. Thus says King David
"וְהָשֵׁב לִשְׁכֵנֵינוּ שִׁבְעָתַיִם אֶל חֵיקָם חֶרְפָּתָם אֲשֶׁר חֵרְפוּךָ ה'"
"And render to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their disgrace wherewith they have reproached Thee, O Lord."
Amen.
