A ceasefire is a deceptive concept. The head knows that the fighting needs to be renewed, but the emotional experience is one of relaxation. The media world, which is built on imaginations and emotions, broadcasts images of kidnapped children who return home and slowly the thought creeps in: "Perhaps the pastoralism can be extended a little more?" "Perhaps it is possible to be satisfied with what has been achieved so far?", this kind of mentality is the deep root of the disaster of the Black Sabbath. The illusion that silence is the permanent state; The imagination that the monster waiting around the corner can be ignored.
The Jewish expression corresponding to a ceasefire in this context is "to exchange power" - "those who hope in God will exchange power" - to exchange power is the recognition that sometimes there is no escape from stockpiling forces for the next round. Incidentally, this is also true in personal work against the evil instinct or against physical degeneration. The constant state of mind is active alertness and not passive sleepiness. The answer to the old left-wing question "forever we shall be eaten by a sword"? is that in some ways - yes! As long as the world has not reached its full repair - and we are not there yet - we must remain vigilant.
As ordinary citizens we did not decide whether and how the ceasefire would be conducted. What is left for us these days is to pray and train the muscle of vigilance. It is better not to sit too much in front of the screens now and embrace the pictures of the release of the hostages that are accompanied by exciting music. As a family evacuated from the city of Sderot, for example, we do not intend to relax on the sofa in our home these days because we do not have such an option. We will continue to wait actively, each in his place - because with God's help, the fighting will resume after the change of power, and woe betide us if not.
The bad will pass. Good will prevail. With God's help.
