Pillar of Cloud Has Begun

Hamas declared war on Israel - again.  This occurred after Israel assassinated Hamas' military commander Ahmed Jaabari in Gaza.

I like the name chosen for the latest IDF operation in Gaza - "Amud He'anan" or "Pillar of Cloud".  Of course, this refers to the daytime pillar that miraculously led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the desert.  I like it because it is a glaring reminder that our strength comes not from how many tanks, planes, and guns we have, but rather from Hashem's mighty hand.  It shows that our protection comes not from Iron Dome, Patriots, or Arrows, but rather from Hashem's force-field.

We know that the Pillar of Cloud along with the Pillar of Fire actually fought the battles against the Egyptians:

וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים, הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיֵּלֶךְ, מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם; וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, מִפְּנֵיהֶם, וַיַּעֲמֹד, מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם

And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them;

וַיָּבֹא בֵּין מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם, וּבֵין מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיְהִי הֶעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ, וַיָּאֶר אֶת-הַלָּיְלָה; וְלֹא-קָרַב זֶה אֶל-זֶה, כָּל-הַלָּיְלָה

and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness here, yet gave it light by night there; and the one came not near the other all the night.

And Haza"l say that the cloud protected against the אבני בליסטראות (ballistic stones) that the Egyptians were throwing.  Also, it darkened the Egyptians way as they were going.

And here:

 וַיְהִי, בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר, וַיַּשְׁקֵף יְהוָה אֶל-מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם, בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ וְעָנָן; וַיָּהָם, אֵת מַחֲנֵה מִצְרָיִם.

And it came to pass in the morning watch, that the LORD looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians.

As Rashi says there, the Pillar of Cloud descended and made the ground wet like mud, while the Pillar of Fire boiled the ground, causing the hooves of the Egyptian horses to slip off.

See the Muqata's live-blogging today's events.

May Hashem protect our soldiers as they fight Hashem's battle against all the enemies of the Jewish people.  May Hashem protect all of Am Yisrael wherever they may be.