Peace With UAE: So What?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

Some people have seen the recent news of an announcement of a peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel and are ambivalent about it.  “Big deal.  Who cares?” – has been some of the typical reactions.

This article will argue that this is not the reaction we should be having.  Rather, there are, at least 7 good things that can come about from the agreement.  It is wrong to receive a favor from Hashem and let it go without appreciation.

Showing appreciation and recognizing the good that Hashem does for us is a key aspect of Torah and Avodas Hashem.  It goes back to the very beginning of human history.  The Midrash tells us that Odom HaRishon consuming from the Aitz HaDaas was not his fault.  Chava essentially forced his hand to do so.  That being the case, why was he punished?

The Midrash, as understood by the Alter of Slabodka (See Ohr HaTzafun p. 21), answers that it was because of the lack of appreciation that Odom HaRishon had expressed to Hashem – when he answered Him.  He said (Bereishis 3:12), “The woman that YOU GAVE ME, fed me to eat of the fruit.” The Gemorah in Avodah Zarah 5b states that it was a grave error.  Really?  That woman was a gift to you for you to improve yourself.  Where is the appreciation?  The Alter explains that this fatal lack of appreciation was what caused man’s descent.  It changed the Divine Plan for humanity.

In the Dayeinu section of the hagaddah, there is a question that many people ask.  The words state, “Had You just brought us to the foot of Mount Sinai and not have given us the Torah – it would have been enough.”  How could we say such words?  Life without the Torah is like a fish without water!

The answer that the Baalei Mussar give is that the Dayeinu is designed to engrain within us a sense of appreciation for each and every step that Hashem has given us.  Things do not just happen.  If someone throws you a party – there is a lot that goes into it.  There is the planning, the food purchasing, the venue, the work that goes into the presentation that was made, the cooking, etc.  The Dayeinu helps us get into the frame of mind of appreciation.

Let us remember that each day, we daven for shalom.  We daven for it in every Shmoneh Esreh and in every Kaddish.  Peace is a remarkable gift.  It is a gift that should be appreciated.

• This agreement can pave the way for other countries to recognize Israel, such as Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, which will help its economy. If Israel’s economy is strong – it can help all of its citizens. This is proper hishtadlus.
• This agreement can help counterbalance the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is proper hishtadlus.
• This agreement can make Israel safer from Iran. This is proper hishtadlus.
• This agreement has helped push off the idea of “annex and sell the farm” which has worried a significant percentage of Israeli residents.
• This agreement has not taken the notion of “Annexation for a Safe Israel” completely off the table – it has just pushed it off for a few years.
• The deal with UAE as it stands now has been a relief for those within Eretz Yisroel arguing among themselves.
• The deal undermines the position of those putting pressure on Israel saying that Israel cannot achieve peace with other Arab countries unless they give in substantially to Palestinian demands.

These seven things are very positive developments and we should express our deep hakaras hatov to Hakadosh Boruch Hu for what He has done for us here.  It should uplift both us and our davening.

Let us recognize the significance of this – it is only the third time that an Arab nation has signed or agreed to sign a peace agreement that recognized Israel and developed relations with it.

The first time was on March 26^th, 1979.  That was when Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in Washington DC.  Those that signed the treaty were Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.  It benefited Israel’s safety and that of its citizens tremendously as well as its economy.  It was nudged along by President Jimmy Carter.

The second time was on October 26^th, 1994.  That was when Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in a ceremony held in the Aravah Valley of Israel, north of Eilat and near the Jordanian border. Those that signed the treaty were Prime Minister Rabin and Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali.  Those that shook hands were President Ezer Weizman and King Hussein. It was nudged along by President Bill Clinton.

The third time was agreed to be signed on August 13^th, 2020.  It was negotiated by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed.  It was nudged along by President Donald Trump.

Both of the previous agreements have, by and large, worked.  Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that this is the most significant development for peace in two decades.  In one sense, it may be even more significant than the developments with Egypt and Jordan.  While the governments of both of these countries recognize Israel and encourage ties, the peoples of the two countries still hate Israel.  In the UAE – the people welcome it – like their government does.  This is also something that we should express Hakaras HaTovv to HaKadosh Boruch Hu for.  Let’s also remember there are two shuls in Dubai as we speak.

Let us remember, Israel has 6,806,000 Jews living in it. This is 45.3% of the world’s Jewish population more so than any other country in the world.  The United States has 5,700,000 Jews living in it.  This is 38.8% of the world’s Jewish population.  We must continuously be concerned for and daven for shalom throughout the world, and have special kavana when we say, “Vetov b’ainecha levarech as amo Yisroel, bechol ais, uvechol sha’ah bishlomecha and oseh shalom bimromav hu yaaseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisroel – v’imru amain.

The author can be reached at [email protected]