In Parshat Ki Tisa (Shmot 34:23), we read about “Aliya LaRegel,” the mitzvah to go up to Jerusalem on the holidays of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot:

Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Presence of the Master, HaShem, God of Israel.

The next verse (24) states:

For I will drive out the nations before you, and I will expand your boundaries; and no man will covet your land when you go up to appear before HaShem, your God three times a year.

Rav Saadia Gaon explains that when the people leave home to visit Jerusalem, nobody will steal anything while they are gone.

Chizkuni takes it a step further and says that when our borders are expanded and we inherit the other side of the Jordan, when the people cross the Jordan to visit Jerusalem, nobody will try to attack their homes while they are out observing God’s mitzvot.

It would be a great miracle for a vast territory to be left unpopulated and unprotected without anyone taking advantage of the situation.

In the current war that we are fighting against Iran, Operation Lion’s Roar, as well as in the 12 Day War that we fought in June, there sadly have been buildings with homes and storefronts that have been damaged due to incoming rockets. Some have looked at the broken windows as an invitation to help themselves to the merchandise in the stores as well as possessions that were left behind in the apartments that had been evacuated.

It is horrible for an owner to come back to get their things only to find out that they have been looted on top of everything else that they are already dealing with.

May we quickly see an end to this war. May the fulfillment of the promise that nobody should covet our land or our property already come true and may we never be attacked by our enemies especially on our holidays.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)