This week’s Torah portion is a double one. The portions called Mattos and Masei conclude the book of Bamidbar, the Book of Numbers. One incident which is recorded in Mattos is the retaliatory war the Jewish people launched against their enemy, the people of Midian. The Midianites had launched an offensive against the Jewish nation, luring the people to sin in idolatry and immorality. Now Gd commanded the Jewish people to go to war to exact vengeance. 

Gd commanded Moses to prepare for war. 

Moses is told to conscript 

“ a 1000 from each tribe, a 1000 from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel you shall send into the army”. 

The commentaries question the double language, why not just say 2,000 people were to be conscripted from each tribe?

The Midrash explains that the command is given in this manner to indicate that each tribe was to send 1000 soldiers to go to war and an additional 1000 who were to accompany the soldiers to war in order to pray for their success. 

Rabbi Chatzkel Levenstein, 20th century master Torah teacher explains this concept. 

He teaches that the impending battle was no small matter. It was to be 24,000 troops against a mighty army. Gd commanded this unique pairing of physical soldier and spiritual soldier to make each warrior aware that his success was not due to his own might alone. Rather, it was the heavenly assistance that was assuring victory.

Operation Protective Edge was a military operation launched by Israel in 2014 subsequent to the horrific kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens. 

A year after the Operation, an American couple from Los Angeles, traveled to Israel on vacation. They were staying in Herzlia and decided to visit a restaurant that was situated near the water. It was a two story establishment and they were shown to a table on the first floor by a friendly waiter. Betsy and Simon made a request to be seated on the second floor so they could enjoy the view. The request was accommodated and a second waiter welcomed them to their new spot. In a friendly and chatty manner he apprised them of the specials and prepared to walk away to give them some time to make their dinner choices. As he moved away from the table he told them his name was Barak and he looked forward to being their server that evening.

Betsy got the chills when she heard the waiter’s name. 

She told her husband that during the Protective Edge operation she heard of a program that gave people the names of the soldiers who were going to war in order to pray for their safety. 

She had been praying daily for the safety of a soldier whose name was Barak Ben Orna, Barak the son of Orna. 

Betsy wondered if it could be possible that their waiter was also her warrior. 

When he returned to the table she asked him if by any chance his mom’s name was Orna. 

He was very surprised by her good guess. 

Then she asked him if he had served in Protective Edge. 

Again he replied in the affirmative. 

Betsy, from Los Angeles, emotionally informed her waiter, that she had been praying for his safety all year.

Barak was blown away. 

He couldn’t believe this nice American lady (think Momentum Mom type) had committed herself to praying for his success and safety in the war and beyond. 

And just as the Biblical pairing successfully brought home each soldier safely, so too did Barak come home alive and whole. 

The two have stayed in touch. 

How could they not. 

Barak told Betsy that he started putting on Tefillin  after this discovery. 

He felt Gd’s presence so much he needed to acknowledge it with an action. 

This story was publicized by Betsy’s nephew, Rabbi Yoel Gold. 

This is a modern illustration of a  Biblical event.  

The power of a heartfelt prayer is not to be underestimated. 

It is as important as the physical effort. 

We all know many warriors. 

We are surrounded by people who are going on daily sorties in the battle of life. 

They need all the physical tools to win those wars, but the whispered prayers we utter on their behalf will also provide a protective shield that will create the best kind of defense possible. 

Prayer is the power of a Protective Edge. 

Shabbat Shalom and so much love.