Remember when Israel dispatched a team of agents to hunt down the terrorists who planned the 1972 Olympics massacre? Golda Meir is reputed to have called the mission "Gideon's Sword." In that vein, our outstanding tour guide, Josh, tells us that the famed IDF Golani Brigade's battle cry is "for G-d and for Gideon." And a quick Google search tells me that late last year, when the IDF unveiled a five-year efficiency plan, they called it the "Gideon Plan."
Who was Gideon, and why does he keep coming up in a military context?
The simple answer is that he was a Biblical figure (Book of Judges 6-8) who did battle to conquer Israel. But there were many such military leaders in our ancient history. What makes Gideon a modern point of reference for a modern-day army so many years later?
Yesterday, standing above the Jezreel Valley, Josh brought it all together for us.
Josh pointed to the east, helping us to envision thousands of invading Midianites as they swarmed in - 3200 years ago - to attack the Jews. As the massive Midianite force camped in the valley, G-d told Gideon to take just 300 men as the Jewish military force. He split them into three platoons, placing each respective group in a different location surrounding the valley.
Each soldier brought a Shofar, a jug and a torch, and waited for darkness to fall. Then, on cue, they simultaneously shouted "for G-d and for Gideon," blew their respective Shofars, smashed their clay pitchers and lifted their torches.
The surround-sound tumult frightened the Midianites into such a panic that they were easily routed by the Jews' small-scale fighting force.
Gideon represents two critical elements of a Torah perspective on armed force (when it's unfortunately necessary):
1. Faith in G-d/legitimacy of the mission.
2. Fighting smart.
And that is the tenor, perhaps sub-conscious at times, of the IDF. A fighting force rooted in our sacred faith, with eyes sharply looking for the most innovative way forward.
Josh also shared with us that the Mossad's motto is a verse in Proverbs (24:6) "for with ingenuity you will pursue war." Where else but Israel do you have a verse from our holy Scripture, catalyzing our soldiers to ever-greater innovation and effectiveness?
The IDF - G-d bless and protect each and every one of them - embodies Gideon in the military sense.
But the lesson goes beyond the IDF. The Torah teaches us Gideon's story as a lesson for our daily lives. Each of us needs to be his/her own Gideon.
Trust in G-d. Absolutely.
And with G-d's wind at your back, dig deep to find the ingenuity you've been granted by G-d.
The Valley of Jezreel is proof that miracles happen.