I’d like you to see this special photo of Israeli soldiers setting up a huge Menorah in the middle of the battlefields of Gaza during the temporary lull in fighting this week. The fact that this symbolic act was approved and endorsed by every level of the Israeli military and was welcomed and appreciated by the wider Israeli public is another indication of what this terrible war is really about. War is ugly, but the fact of the matter is that Jews have been forced to engage in war since the very beginning of our existence. The story of this week's parsha is the standard for how Jews should deal with armed conflict and mortal enemies. After 20 years away from home hiding from his murderous brother Eisav’s wrath, Yaakov traveled back to the Land of Israel with a large family and a considerable fortune. He sent angels with a message seeking peaceful rapprochement and was distressed upon hearing that Eisav spurned his overtures and was marching toward him and his vulnerable camp with 400 warriors. In response, Yaakov prepared for war by splitting his camp into two to ensure at least some survived the impending attack. He then sent a large gift to appease his brother as a diplomatic gesture to avoid the conflict altogether. And finally, he prayed to G-d for protection and salvation. For thousands of years, Jews have been inspired by Yaakov’s three-pronged approach to his rendezvous with Eisav. Although we try to avoid armed conflict through diplomacy, we must never do so at the cost of Jewish lives and be prepared to defend ourselves in every way possible. Most importantly, we must always remember that our victories and long-term security arrangements depend on G-d alone, and we must verbally acknowledge that through prayer as well. The heroes of the Chanukah story are called Macabbess which is an acronym of the Biblical verse “Who is like You O G-d among the mighty!” which was their battle cry for the duration of their war. Even when they attacked their enemies with weapons and guerilla tactics, their confidence in their cause and readiness to enter battle stemmed exclusively from their faith in G-d. The huge Menorah in Gaza reflects the same ideal. When we are fighting for survival and the ability of seven million Jews to live in peace and tranquility in every inch of the Holy Land, we must always remember that our presence there is a Divine mandate, and the war we are now waging is a Divine obligation. This awareness will surely bring with it miraculous success. As the fighting resumes in Gaza we continue to pray for the safety of our soldiers, for the immediate return of ALL the hostages and the wellbeing of all the inhabitants of Israel and the flames of the Menorah remind us that light will always overcome darkness and good will always overcome evil despite the overwhelming odds.