Portion of the Portion

For Your salvation, I do wait

Our sons, grandsons, husbands, brothers, sons-in-laws… are fighting with all their might to protect us. Verses from this week’s portion can have bearing on this state of affairs that the Jewish nation is found in. Among the blessings Yaakov bestows on his sons are a blessing to Dan and one to Gad. In between these two blessings there is a verse (B’reishit 49:18) that puzzles all the commentators.  The verse in Hebrew reads - LISHU-AT’CHA KIVITI HASHEM - meaning - “for Your salvation, I do wait , O G-d. The question is to which blessing does this verse connect and in what way? Is it the conclusion of Dan’s blessing or the introduction to Gad’s blessing? What is the verse coming to teach us?

According to those commentators who say it connects to Dan’s blessing the verse is Yaakov’s response to the prophetic vision he receives concerning Shimshon, a descendant of the tribe of Dan. The Rabbi’s teach that in Yaakov’s blessing to Dan he refers a lot to Shimshon who came from the tribe of Dan.  For example “Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that his rider falls backwards” (49:17). Since a deliverance involving the death of the deliverer is no true salvation, Yaakov addresses HaShem saying that he prefers a salvation from the hands of Hashem - that will be complete.

But the DAAT Z’KEINIM regard’s Shimshon’s actions themselves as pointing to the limitations of man, even the mightiest. Yaakov realized this not only from Shimshon’s tragic end, but even during the height of his strength. When Shimshon himself boasted about his strength with the jawbone of the donkey (Shoftim 15:14-19) he became very thirsty till he was forced to admit to G-d, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant.” He realized that it wasn’t because of his strength, but only because of G-d’s help. That is the blessing to Dan - he will be strong as a serpent, a horned snake, but victory comes because of G-d” - as the verse states right after, “For Your salvation do I hope, O G-d.”

Rashbam doesn’t agree that the blessing is referring just to an episode with one of Dan’s descendants, but to the whole tribe of Dan. They were the last tribe to walk in the lineup when the camp marched. Therefore they were always prone to be attacked by enemies who wanted to hit on the weak Jews at the end. Jacob prayed for them that G-d would save them from the other nations that would constantly attack them.
Our army is fighting for a just cause, is well prepared and trained and is strong - but the key to its success is the knowledge of the troops and the homeguard behind it, that LISHU- AT’CHA KIVITI HASHEM - meaning that we count on G-d’s salvation.

THIS RECIPE that would warm up any cold soldier is called such because of the soldier beans that are used in it - white beans with black dots that look like the eyes of the soldiers.

SOLDIER BEANS
1 lb Soldier beans
1/2 - 1 lb. smoked turkey
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 - 1 cup molasses (maple syrup)
1/2 -2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 onion, quartered
1/4 tsp. ginger (optional)
1 tsp. baking soda
8 hot dogs (if this is being prepared as a main dish.)

Cover beans with water. Soak overnight. Drain and rinse. Cover with fresh water and bring to a boil. Boil until skins split when gently blown on - about 15 minutes. Drain beans, saving the water.
Place turkey and onions in bean pot, cover with beans. Add seasonings and molasses. In separate pot heat bean water to boiling. Pour over beans to cover. Cover pot. Bake at 325F for 4-41/2 hours. Add more water only if beans look dried out. Remove cover last hour.
Shortcut - Start beans in pressure cooker instead of oven. Cook 45 minutes. Put in bean pot and bake 1 hour. Or cook in crockpot on low for 12 to 14 hours or on high for 9 to 10 hours.

• Other Portion of the Portion
• The Hide & Seek of Purim
• SHOV'VIM TAT
• The Women in Sh'mot