Why Peace Is More Than Just the Absence of Conflict: Parashat Naso

In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Naso, the priestly blessing concludes with the words: “May Hashem lift His face to you and grant you peace.”

The Netivot Shalom, in his powerful commentary on the parsha, brings many teachings from Chazal about the greatness of peace and explains that peace is not merely the absence of conflict. Rather, peace is the very force that allows creation itself to exist.

Why Peace Holds Such a Central Place in Judaism

The Midrash teaches:

“Great is peace, for the seal of all prayer is peace, and the seal of the priestly blessing is peace.”

Again and again, Chazal place peace on the very highest spiritual level.

The Torah itself is described as peace, as the verse says:

“Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.”

Prayer concludes with peace: “Who blesses His people Israel with peace.”

The priestly blessing concludes with peace: “And grant you peace.”

The Netivot Shalom also points to an entire chapter in Derech Eretz Zuta devoted completely to peace. Every mishnah there begins with the words “Great is peace.”

The sages even teach:

• The name of Hashem is Peace
• The name of Mashiach is Peace
• Israel itself is called Peace

The Sifrei on Parashat Naso goes even further, teaching:

“Great is peace, for it is equal to all the acts of Creation.”

Peace Is More Than the Absence of Conflict

The Netivot Shalom asks an important question.

How could Chazal place peace on such an exalted level?

Clearly, peace cannot simply mean the absence of fighting.

After all, the verse says: “He makes peace in His heights,” referring to the heavenly realms and the angels above. But in Heaven there is no evil inclination and no ordinary conflict. So what kind of peace exists there?

From here, the Netivot Shalom explains, we see that peace is something much deeper. It is a positive spiritual force that exists both above and below, and the entire world depends upon it.

The Secret of Peace Within Creation

The Netivot Shalom explains this idea through the teachings of the Maggid of Kozhnitz in Avodat Yisrael.

Everything in creation is made from four elements:

• Fire
• Wind
• Water
• Earth

These elements naturally oppose one another. Water extinguishes fire, wind strengthens it, and each force appears to contradict the others.

So how can all of them exist together within one functioning world?

The answer is that Hashem Himself binds them together.

This, explains the Netivot Shalom, is the deeper meaning of peace.

The Force That Holds the World Together

All of creation appears to contain contradictions:

• Summer and winter
• Heat and cold
• Day and night
• Kindness and strength

The same is true among people themselves. Human beings naturally differ from one another in personality, perspective, and temperament.

On the surface, these opposites should pull creation apart.

But Hashem placed within creation a supernatural force called peace, which allows all these opposites to exist together in harmony.

Peace does not erase differences.

Peace blends opposites together so that each part complements and completes the others.

This harmony is what allows creation to endure.

The Netivot Shalom explains that without peace, the contradictions inside creation would overwhelm the world and lead to destruction. Peace is therefore not merely another good character trait. It is the very foundation that sustains existence itself.

That is why Chazal say peace is equal to all of Creation.

“He Makes Peace in His Heights”

This idea also explains the verse: “He makes peace in His heights.”

The ministering angels themselves represent opposing spiritual forces. Michael represents kindness, while Gabriel represents strength and judgment.

Yet despite their differences, they unite completely in serving Hashem.

Why?

Because none of them serves for personal honor or self interest. Their only desire is to fulfill the will of their Creator and bring honor to Heaven.

Because their focus is on a higher purpose, peace exists between them even though they are fundamentally different from one another.

The World Endures Through Peace

The Netivot Shalom concludes with a profound idea: the entire existence of creation depends on peace.

When the Jewish people live in peace, they strengthen not only this world, but the upper worlds as well.

Peace is the force that joins together all the opposing elements within creation and transforms them into one complete whole.

That is why peace occupies such a central place in Judaism.

It is not simply a pleasant ideal.

It is the power through which the world itself continues to exist.