We will continue the story of Gideon our hero.
(Shoftim/Judges Perek 6). The Jewish people had strayed from G-d and so Midyan had been ravaging the Jews for seven years, stealing their produce to the extent that tunnels and caves were needed to protect their resources. Economic sanctions and attacks took place and the Midyanites were marauding everything to the point that וידל ישראל מאד
The Jewish people became impoverished and famine set in and the Jewish people cried out to G-d.
Hashem sent in a Navi (Rashi says it was Pinhas, also known as Eliyahu Hanavi) to tell Bnei Yisrael that Hashem said:
“I took you out of Egypt, I saved you from the Egyptians, I sent everyone out of the land for you. I told you I’m your G-d. Why are you following other gods?”
This speech seemingly had no impact.
Then an angel of G-d came and lingered under an elm tree in the town of Ofra. The elderly Yoash’s son Gideon was there threshing wheat in a wine press, which was a sheltered area enabling him to press the wheat out of sight of the Midyanites. The Angel told him,
“G-d is with you”
Gideon asked, “Is G-d really with us? Why is this all happening to us? Where are all G-d’s wonders? Is he really with us? G-d has deserted us.”
Then, as we said yesterday Gideon got upgraded and Hashem Himself came to him and said,
“Go with the strength you have.”
What is this strength?
Rashi says this strength was the power of defending “My children” Hashem calls us בני בכרי ישראל- my son the firstborn, Israel. We are G-d’s children.
As we discussed yesterday, Gideon had mentioned specifically that his father had read the Hallel to him, and said Hashem took them out. He said, “If our forefathers were righteous, let us benefit from their merit. And if they we wicked, then they got miracles for free- so give us too.” Gideon was defending the Jewish people.
As we know, people tend to favor the ones that praise his child, like parents that prefer the teacher who sees the good qualities of their child, as opposed to the teacher who finds fault. Likewise, Hashem liked what Gideon had answered the angel.
He was like a defense attorney sticking up for klal yisrael. Hashem wanted this trait.
The Pele Yoetz discusses this trait: סניגוריא- the defense of Bnei yisrael, and says that Eliyahu Hanavi lost his position over it, because he was too zealous. Zealousness is necessary at times, but can’t be a constant approach. Although Eliyahu had come to speak to Bnei Yisrael, it didn’t work. Due to his zealotry, he had no impact.
And as we suggested yesterday, Gideon’s feelings for the zechut of klal Yisrael came specifically from the Seder.
We know that in the Haggadah it says “here the son asks, why is this night different, why is this Galut different?” We are all the “son” we are G-d’s children.
Furthermore... at Ha Lachma Anya- We invite the guests. This is showing that the Seder is not just about us - it’s about klal Yisroel. Gideon was inspired by the Hallel and equally impressed with the zechut of klal yisrael. He worried about klal yisrael- בני בכרי ישראל- “. My son the bechor” was his take away from the Seder. He found a need to speak positively about the Jewish people.
The Pele Yoetz says speaking positively about the Jewish People makes an impact in Heaven.
We are all brothers and we have to take care of each other. As an example we could use the topic of people traveling for Pesach. One could say, “Look how much money is being wasted, we could solve the whole tuition crisis if they stayed home etc.”
Or, we could say, “It’s so nice how the people are able to travel- look how beautiful it is that they spend their money on nice things- to spend the holiday together. G-d should bless them that they can continue till 120.”
This is how Hashem wants us to speak about our people- with a positive outlook.
Hashem told Gideon to take that power, his ability to defend them, and save the Jewish people.