On the holy Sabbath night, Parashat Lech Lecha, after midnight, when sleep had left me, my thoughts began to flow…

And I find myself reflecting on our wartime situation, thinking.

The current war has a name: “Iron Swords.”

I do not know who gave it this name, but God is present everywhere, and it is clear to me that He is present in this name as well.

As I reflect, I ask: why is the name in the plural—swords—whereas in another war the name was given in the singular, Cast Lead?
Why iron? And not steel? Perhaps this is meant to teach us something.

I began calculating the gematria of the word barzel (iron):
ב=2, ר=200, ז=7, ל=30 — total 239.

That same week marked the anniversary of our matriarch Rachel. Much was spoken about her power in prayer and in weeping to plead for mercy for the people of Israel.

(There were also stories of special miracles that occurred in Gaza during a previous incursion, when soldiers reported seeing an extraordinary woman, wrapped in black and radiant with light, who warned them: “Do not enter this house—there is death there. Here, the door is booby-trapped,” and so on. When they asked her name, she answered: Rachel.)

And I calculate further:
Rachel — ר=200, ח=8, ל=30 — total 238.

And I say to myself: the power of the nations lies in iron, but we have only the power of Rachel—the power of prayer and supplication, together with cleaving to the One alone, for there is none besides Him. Together: 239.

I rejoiced in this idea that came to me and continued calculating—perhaps another insight would emerge.

“Swords” (Haravot):
ח=8, ר=200, ב=2, ו=6, ת=400 — total 616.
The power of the wicked is in the sword, but we have only this Torah.

“The Torah”:
ה=5, ת=400, ו=6, ר=200, ה=5 — total 616.

Our Torah has 613 commandments, plus three traits we must strengthen:
A — Emunah (faith)
B — Bitachon (trust)
C — Cancellation of arrogance — nullifying “my strength and the might of my hand.”
Total: 616.

Here, within the seemingly technical name of the war, lies an important reminder.

Our sword is the Torah.
Our strength as Jews lies in complete faith in the Creator, for there is none besides Him.
He alone decides everything, and by leaning on Him—together with prayer and supplication like our mother Rachel—we can annul decrees and bring redemption.

Amen!