So what is my opinion on the hostage deal??
Tens of millions of people are weighing in on this all over the world so I will spare you my opinion [although as hard as I try not to - I can't help but have one].
Just two thoughts I haven't seen elsewhere:
There is a lot behind the scenes that none of us know about so we all have opinions based on partial facts w/o knowing the whole story. So people shouldn't be so absolutist either way. That is actually a good mussar haskel for life. People often jump to conclusions w/o knowing the whole story. Like .... opinions we have of others which are ALWAYS based only on partial facts because NOBODY knows the whole story. [Including the other guy himself *]. How many of the tens of thousands of thoughts that he has a week are you aware of?? Like - less than a minute fraction. No matter WHO it is.
Case closed.
Point two is that Hashem runs the world. Whether this is the right thing or wrong thing to do we have to have trust in Hashem that He is leading this in the direction it has to go in.
Hashem KNEW that when the Israelis made that incredible trade of over a thousand wild jungle beasts in exchange for one Gilad Shalit it would ultimately lead to the killing of many Jews by these beasts yet He let it happen. That doesn't mean you do stupid things and then blame G-d. אולת אדם תסלף דרכו ועל השם יזעף לבו but if something is out of your control you have to believe Hashem will make sure that ultimately things will turn out as He wills.
Mussar Haskels:
1] Reserve judgment. We don't know the whole story.
2] Hashem runs the world no matter. In the END - everything will turn out as he wants in His great love for us.
-------
* "את האופי העצמי אי אפשר לשום אדם לדעת, אפילו של עצמו, וקל וחומר של זולתו, לא של יחיד, וקל וחומר של אומה... מוכרחים אנו להחליט, שידיעתנו בזה תלויה היא על בלימה, והמשפט לאלהים הוא." (ש"ק, ג, שנב)
