1. The Plishtim as a Persistent Challenge
By divine providence, we find ourselves learning the parsha, specifically the portion of Revi’i, the fourth section in Parshas Toldos. This section discusses once again the plishtim—the Philistines. While it is not clear if they are exactly the same as those referred to today, geographically and by name, they are in the same region in southern Eretz Yisrael. Throughout Tanach, from the days of Shimshon through Shmuel and all the kings, the Jewish people have continually faced trouble from the plishtim. This has been an ongoing challenge for generations.
2. Responding to Tragedy: Feeling and Sharing Pain
Before delving further into the parsha, I want to address something that weighs heavily on us. When we recite Tachanun, we say ashamnu, bagadnu—I have sinned, I have betrayed. These words reflect our acknowledgment of mistakes and shortcomings. Whenever something happens in the world, especially tragedies affecting our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael or Yerushalayim, it is essential that we participate emotionally and feel their pain deeply. We cannot simply move on with our day or change the channel to avoid discomfort; these events must truly affect us.
We are all in this together—like the story of a man who bought a seat on a boat and wanted to drill a hole beneath himself. When others protested, he claimed it was his seat and his right, but they reminded him that everyone would suffer if water flooded in. Similarly, when tragedy strikes another Jew—especially in Eretz Yisrael or Yerushalayim, particularly to rabbanim or during holy moments like Shacharis—we cannot just move on. We must dwell on it and let it motivate us.
3. The Proper Approach: Self-Reflection Instead of Blame
These events should not depress us or shake our emunah—our faith—but rather inspire us to ask how we can do better and strengthen ourselves. How can we merit more protection from Hashem so that such tragedies never happen again? Unfortunately, some people quickly jump to explanations or blame others for these events, claiming to know why things happened or playing G-d by assigning reasons for suffering.
Instead of pointing fingers at others or saying someone else needs to do teshuvah—repentance—we must look inward. When someone is hurting or suffers a loss, it is not our place to tell them it is because of their sins. Rather, every event is a message from Hashem for each of us to search our own ways and improve ourselves.
There are times when there are simply no words—a gaping hole has been created among our people that can only be healed through mutual support and encouragement.
4. Lessons from Avimelech’s Interactions with Avraham and Yitzchak
Returning to the parsha: We encounter Avimelech, king of the plishtim. He consistently does wrong yet always claims innocence: first taking Sarah from Avraham (claiming he didn’t know she was Avraham’s wife), then later approaching Avraham after seeing his success and proposing a peace treaty while ignoring his servants’ theft of Avraham’s wells.
Avimelech’s pattern continues with Yitzchak: he takes Rivkah (again pleading ignorance), then seeks another covenant after witnessing Yitzchak’s prosperity. The Gemara in Sotah teaches that although covenants were made for three generations between Avraham/Yitzchak and Avimelech, the plishtim never kept their word nor honored these agreements.
The Torah describes how even after agreements were made, Avimelech’s servants continued their hostilities against Yitzchak by stopping up wells and causing strife.
5. Seeking Protection Through Unity and Love
May Hashem help us so that we never again experience such gruesome tragedies—lo sokum pa’amayim tzarah (Nachum 1:9), may distress not arise twice. The cruelty displayed by our enemies goes beyond what even animals would do; this is pure retzicha—murder for its own sake—v’hayodayim y’dei Eisov (Bereishis 27:22), “the hands are the hands of Esav.”
Our response cannot be violence here but must be an increase in ahavas Yisrael—love for fellow Jews—and extending friendship within our communities. By strengthening unity among ourselves, perhaps Hashem will listen to our prayers and send only blessings: peace in Eretz Yisrael for Am Yisrael, culminating in being zocheh—meriting—the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.