The name of the Israeli army, the IDF, Israeli Defence Forces, is something that is usually lost on political commentators. Despite what the hostile media would like to have the world believe, Israel has no interest in being an aggressive of “occupying” force.

In football terminology, you hear of teams "parking the bus" and playing defence. But even the most defensive teams will have a plan for a counterattack. The best teams are the ones who have a good attack, as is the well known saying goes, "the best form of offense is the attack." But is this a Jewish view? When Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, he said "the voice is the voice of Jacob and the hands are the hands of Esau, [Genesis 27:22]" a common expression used when Jewish parents are trying to stop their children fighting. 

At the end of last week's parshah, after Bilaam had failed miserably to curse the Jews, he resorted to a more practical way of turning G-d’s wrath against them – have them sin. Bilaam advised the Midyanite leaders to prostitute their daughters in the hope of leading the Jewish men astray. The women cooperated and after ensnaring the men, at a critical moment they would demand allegiance to the Baal Poer idol, so the Jews transgressed two of the three cardinal sins: adultery and idol worship.

The tribe of Simeon had been the worst miscreants. Their chieftain, Zimri took one of the Midyanite princesses and openly challenged Moses before retreating to his tent with her.

When Aaron's grandson Pinchas slew Zimri and brought an end to the plague, there were those who criticised his actions, suggesting they stemmed from the genes of his maternal grandfather Jethro who used to cruelly fatten livestock for slaughter.

At the beginning of this week's parshah we read how G-d put an end to the mutterings, rewarding Pinchas with the priesthood and announcing that "I hereby give him My covenant of peace." Although Pinchas' act had been a violent one, it had been with peaceful intentions and had brought peace to the nation.

How instructive to see the contrast between the way that the inhabitants of Jenin celebrate the news a terrorist attack and the videos of the Israeli's singing "ose shalom" while in the air raid shelters.

The material world mirrors the spiritual. We can help Israel by playing spiritual offense. Come to shul this Shabbat, put on tefillin today, drop some coins in a charity box, light Shabbat candles, go to a Torah class. All these acts will help us protect Israel.

While not diminishing the psychological damage, the Israeli casualty count from the latest operation has been mercifully low. The G-d of our forefathers has saved us and protected us for the last 5000 years, and we know that he is protecting us right now!

"Hinei lo yanum velo yishan shomer yisrael!"- The guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers.