The horrendous terror attack in Har Nof is still fresh in our minds. It has left us all reeling from the savagery and the shocking, harrowing images of Kedoshim butchered in their Talesim and Tefillin will stay with us for a long time. I attach a response to this tragedy, by Rabbi Yaakov Hillel Shlita, one of the leading Rabbis of our generation in Jerusalem.
Question to the Rav: I would like to know what Hashem wants from us by sending all of these terrorist attacks.I am afraid to go out onto the street these days. Can the rav please advise me? Thank you, Shulamit
Answer from the Rav:
The Gemara (Talmud) at the end of Sota (49b) says that in the end of days just before Mashiach will come, we will placed in circumstances where we have no option but to recognize that we have nothing to rely on other than Hashem. We are currently experiencing what our Sages described, as we are witnessing all over the world attacks on KlalYisrael (the Jews), specifically through the recent surge in terrorist activity. Our enemies are attacking us by driving cars into crowded places, something we have absolutely no control over.
However at the same time Hashem has recently shown us many open miracles. Thousands of missiles were shot at Israel this summer and many of them landed in empty spaces, which are rare in densely populated Israel. What are we meant to do in these confusing times?
We must use these miracles and tragedies to fortify our emunah (faithfulness/loyalty in Hashem), and recognize that in truth we have absolutely nothing to rely on other than our Father in Heaven. I suggest that we can accomplish this and at the same time merit Hashem’s protection by strengthening ourselves in two areas –constant tefilah (prayer) and transforming everything we do into a mitzvah.
The first area we should work on is constant prayer to Hashem. While people think that tefilah is limited to three times a day, this is an error. Chazal (the great Torah Sages in Talmudic times) say that one should kiss the mezuzah before he leaves his home and daven for Divine assistance and guidance, both when he leaves, and also, when he returns. Whilst it is true that there are many dangers lurking on the streets from our enemies who wish to destroy us, we cannot forget that a person is not free of danger even in his home. One must pray that Hashem should safeguard every step he takes. In addition to asking Hashem to protect us, we must continuously thank Him for all He has given us - health, family, food, and all of our needs.
As bad as the situation is now, there are still more people who die in car accidents than in terrorist attacks. We cannot be fooled into thinking that there are “safe areas”where we are not in need of special Divine protection. At times people are even killed at a street crossing. Whatever Hashem wants is what will happen, and our job is to continue to pray for the best and to do teshuva (return to the pathway of Hashem's Torah).
Chazal offer us further advice as to how we can merit Hashem’s constant protection before leaving our homes. "Sheluchei mitzvah", people who travel to do a mitzvah, are protected from harm (Pesachim 8b). Therefore, we should makes ourselves into sheluchei mitzvah 24/7. For example, if a lady is going to buy food for Shabbos or to buy clothing for her family, she is fulfilling the mitzvos of honoring Shabbos or Yom Tov well as chesed (kindness), and is considered to be a sheliach mitzvah (someone in the process of doing a mitzvah) who merits Divine protection. Before she starts one of these activities, she should verbally express that she is doing it with intent to do a mitzvah, for this strengthens her status as a sheliach mitzvah.
In truth, every step a person takes can be a mitzvah – you can smile at people, say hello, give someone a lift in a car or give him directions. So too, if a women’s husband learns Torah, she is a partner in his Torah study and this protects her. Even one who supports Torah has guaranteed protection.
Chazal warn us from walking in dangerous places, such as walking under a wall that is about to collapse (Berachos 55a). Such activity can bring harsh judgment upon oneself. Therefore, you should avoid entering neighborhoods where our enemies live. If you must be in a crowded place nearby where our enemies are present, you should take precautions. However, if, G-d forbid, attacks take place, this should not weaken our emunah (faithfulness/loyalty in Hashem). Hashem, in His great Wisdom, has His own calculations and knows what is best for us. Even if we do not understand, we must trust that it is all for the ultimate good.
Following these two directives of constant tefilah and making ourselves sheluchei mitzvah at all times, will definitely build our emunah and bitachon (trust in Hashem), and help us recognize that in truth we have absolutely nothing to rely on other than our Father in Heaven. If we fulfill this condition, than hopefully we will merit to see the revelation of Mashiach tzidkeinu speedily in our days.
Postscript
If G-d forbid there is a gezeira (a decree) and Hashem in His infinite wisdom decides that people should be killed, even if a person is involved with mitzvos, even if he is in shul davening neitz or learning Torah, Hashem’s will shall be carried out. No matter which mitzvos we are involved with all of these assurances become irrelevant.
This can even take place with great tzadikim (righteous Jews). The Gemara (Bava Kama 60a) writes that when the midas hadin (Hashem's attribute of Judgement) is unleashed it is because of the sins of the wicked, and yet it attacks first the most righteous. What about the promise to guard sheluchei mitzvah? What about tefilah? What about the fact that Torah protects and saves lives? We see from this Gemara that when there is a gezeira, everything that we advised above does not apply.
When Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses) saw the brutal death of Rebbi Akiva, Moshe asked Hashem how can it be that someone who is the greatest gadol in Torah should be treated like this. Hashem replied, “Be quiet! I know why!” The reason Hashem told Moshe to be quiet was because only Hashem can fathom why these tragic events take place and there is no point in discussing this with even the greatest of human beings, but in truth everything is for the good. There are very deep reasons which the human mind cannot comprehend.
The Navi (the prophets from the bible) asks:
“How can there be good for the rasha (the evil person) and bad for the tzadik (the righteous person)?”
The Ramchal (Rabbi Chaim Luzatto ztl) in his book Derech Hashem ("The Way of G-d)) writes that there are two separate hanhagos (ways) through which Hashem rules over His world. Hanhagas hamishpat, follows the simply understood rules of good and bad and reward and punishment as laid down by the Torah - when a person does good he is rewarded and when he is evil he is punished. Everything make sense.
However when it comes to hanhagos hayichud v’mazal, anything goes; there can be a Holocaust where even young babies and tzadikim are brutally murdered. When Hashem runs the world according to hanhagas hayichud He conducts it in accordance with His final goal. Only He in His infinite greatness knows the reasons behind what’s happening and how it is all for the eventual good.
At this stage human beings cannot understand what is happening. For this reason we see that bad happens to tzadikim and the reshayim (evil people) have it good. The bottom line is that Hashem will relate to the world at any time as He sees fit and for the ultimate good.
The goal of our enemies is to terrorize us, and cause us to live in a constant state of panic. In my opinion, as far as setting up guards in public places, this depends on an evaluation of the police. If they necessitate that every public place of education or prayer where many people congregate need extra security, then we must do so. And after all the precautions all we can do is trust in Hashem and hope that He saves us.
It is also important to take a practical approach to the tragedy by offering financial support. Many of you may well have visited Rabbi Rubin’s Bnei Torah Shul and know its members, quite a few of whom originate from North West London. R’chov Agassi is tragically now home to four bereaved families as well as three families whose fathers lie very seriously injured in hospital. A heroic policeman also tragically lost his life in order to save others. Many of us want to help alleviate the financial hardship now faced by all affected families.
We understand that a formal worldwide appeal has been launched and it is hoped to raise very substantial funds for the families, which include many children. With the approval of Rabbi Rubin in Har Nof, a special fund has been opened by Achisomoch where every penny will go directly to the families.
Donations can be made via Achisomoch – Barclays Bank, Sort Code 20-29-37, Account no. 2033 2003 – from where they will be sent promptly and directly to the Kehilloh in Har Nof. Cheques/vouchers can be sent to 35 Templars Avenue, London NW11 0NU. Do let Achisomoch know that you have made a payment (admin@achisomoch.org) so that they can claim any Gift Aid rebate that may be due, and send you the declaration if required.
May Hashem see our suffering and end all pain and tears. Kind Regards, Rabbi D. Roberts
First published on 24 November
2014, on Jewish P.O.S.T. - the Jewish Voice for the People Of South Tottenham
(this Blog is now defunct).
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