"And I will give peace in the land... and the sword shall not go through your land." [Vayikrah 26.6]

"If there is not peace then there is nothing... peace is balanced against everything. And so it states (Isaiah 45.7): "He makes peace and creates all things."

Who among us does not sincerely desire peace and tranquility in our land? Which among the nations is more in need of peace with her neighbors than the nation living in Zion? We all agree that, "peace is balanced against everything." For this reason we find ourselves making all efforts and taking many risks to achieve the peace for which we long.

Precisely for this reason we would do well to consider the commentary of the great Or Hachayim on the two blessings that appear in our portion, Bechukotai (Vayikrah 26.5-6): "...and you will dwell in safety in your land. And I will give peace in the land." We must understand why it was necessary to say this ('And I will give peace...") after it already said "...and you will dwell in safety." Perhaps it is directed to the nation of the Children of Israel themselves, that they not have among them a division of hearts, that God may plant between them peace and brotherhood."

In order for our lives to be secure we clearly need to find the road to peace with our neighbors, but also, and chiefly, we must find peace and brotherhood among our own people. The Torah offers us the blessing that, "you will dwell in safety in your land." How and when is this blessing attainable? When we create peace among our brothers we will be able to dwell in safety in our land. The Torah's two-part blessing, for peace from within and for safety from without, forms a complete whole, and is founded on the premise that Rashi so lucidly points out: "If there is not peace then there is nothing... peace is balanced against everything."