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have taken captive with your own sword and bow you shall smite. Put
bread and water before them so they can eat and drink and go to their
master.’ He prepared a great meal for them and they ate and drank
and he sent them off and they went to their master and the Aramean
bands came no more to Eretz Yisrael.” [The Malbim writes that kings
were only allowed to kill their enemies in battle. ISomething similar
is written in Toras Moshe, by the Chasam Sofer on parshas Balak.]

Chazal wrote (in Yalkut Shimoni, Melachim II,
31): “It says, ‘Wisdom is more effective than weaponry’ (Koheles 9:
18). Elisha’s enactments achieved more than all the weapons of the
wars waged by Yoram ben Achav.” In other words, that which Yor-
am and Achav were unable to achieve in twenty two years of war,
Elisha accomplished with one meal that he prepared, as it says, “The
Aramean band came no more to Eretz Yisrael.” We can learn from
Elisha’s deeds that sometimes when one benefits an enemy, one can
achieve more than one can by fighting.

Although in regard to the terrorists who say “Go and let us wipe
them out as a nation, so that Yisrael’s name be mentioned no more”
(Tehillim 83: 5), about whom David Hamelech prayed,“G-d, don’t be
unmoved, don’t remain silent, don’t remain quiet” (ibid. passuk 1) –
to such enemies it is highly doubtful whether there are any halachic
grounds for extending help. However, since there is concern that they
will behave in a similar manner to the Jews whom they hold captive,
they should certainly only be treated in a beneficial manner and we
should not be swayed by emotion.

It is well known that several generations ago, the nations granted
the Jews permission to offer the korban Pesach at the site of the Beis
Hamikdash. When the proposal was put to the Torah leaders of the
time, they considered the halachic questions involved in offering the
korban Pesach nowadays, such as ascertaining the precise location of
the mizbe’ach, finding a Kohen with faultless pedigree and obtaining
priestly garments. It is said that the Beis Halevi said,“I can find solu-
tions to all of these problems and permit offering the korban Pesach,
but I don’t know to permit risking the life of a single Jew who might
be killed by the Moslems because of the korban Pesach.”

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