(Hakhel) As the days pass by with hundreds of terrorists arrested–but with no apparent clue of the whereabouts of the bachurim, despite thousands upon thousands of the most highly trained soldiers being involved in the search, we all once again realize and internalize the absolute truth that “Ahl Mi Lanu Lehishaein Ahl Avinu Shebashomayim” (Sotah 49A)–we have no one to look to except to our Father in Heaven.” Thankfully, Hashem is not simply our King, our Creator, our Life-Giver–but He is also Avinu–our Father in Heaven–as the Pasuk explicitly teaches: “Banim Atem Lashem Elokeichem”–we are Hashem’s children, and He treats us as such.
One of the most well-known ma’asim involving HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz, Z’tl, was when the Mirrer Yeshiva was about to recite Tehillim for the Jews kidnapped in Entebbe. Before the Yeshiva began, HaRav Shmuelevitz urged everyone gathered to view the hostages as his own close family members–and to recite Tehillim with this view.
In yesterday’s Emuna Daily phone message regarding our current matzav, Rabbi David Ashear, Shlita, provided a similar message–how would we react c’v if it really was our immediate family relative? While we may not be physically or mentally capable of thinking this way for an entire day, or even for an entire hour, what we most definitely could do is to recite one or more chapters of Tehillim today and every day until the bachurim come home–with this feeling of complete closeness and oneness. It is not a fallacy at all–not only because it is the world against us, but because the Torah states that we all are Hashem’s children–and accordingly we all are brothers. What we are each asking Hashem to do is, as our Father, is to have mercy–the mercy of a Father–on His sons, who are our brothers.
In addition to having this feeling when reciting the one or more Chapters that we recite on the boys’ behalves, we should try to make the effort to learn a little bit more of the meaning of the Tehillim Chapter(s) being recited. Most may be reciting Tehillim Chapters 121, 130 and 142. Others, perhaps Chapters 79, 83 and 120. To whatever Chapters one’s Rav or Posek guides him, perhaps he should take a few moments to study Rashi, the Metzudos, the Radak or other meforshim. The Artscroll translation and commentary by Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer, Shlita, would also be an outstanding place to start.
Finally, we have unquestionably been strengthened in our Achdus during this trying period. It is now the time to go beyond our past accomplishments in Emunah and Bitachon. We once again make available by the following link— a list of Pesukei Bitachon. One can choose several of these Pesukim to reflect upon, look further into, or simply have available on his lips as he goes through the week.
In this vein, let us continue our focus on Rachamim–for the bachurim–and for K’lal Yisrael–as we emphasize to Hashem and to ourselves that it is only from Him that the Yeshua can and will come!
Please click here for the Hebrew names of the boys.
Julie Orelowitz says
Rav Chaim Brisker & The Chofetz Chaim – In Times of Trouble Where Do “Gedolim” Sleep?
Rashi says (Shemos 2:11) that when the Torah says that Moshe Rabbeinu went out to his brothers and saw their trouble “Vayar BiSivlosum” it means he put his eyes and his heart into feeling their pain. What is Rashi telling us here?
Maybe we could explain with the following examples of the behavior of modern day Gedolim in times of trouble for Am Yisroel. It is known that during World War I, the talmidim would find the Chofetz Chaim sleeping on a bench with his hands under his head in place of a pillow. His family would ask him why he did this. He said that when many Jewish soldier are fighting under cold and harsh conditions and being killed on the front, how can he sleep in a comfortable bed with a warm blanket? Similarly after a fire ravage the city of Brisk and many homes were completely destroyed, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik did not sleep in his undamaged home. He slept in the Bais Medrash until all the homes were rebuilt.
There are times that we cannot actually help the plight of our suffering brethren. Does that give us permission to continue our comfortable lives since nothing we can do will help anyway? The Gedolim said, no! Moshe Rabbeinu, says Rashi, aside from helping their suffering in whatever any way he could, did more. “He put his eyes and his heart into feeling their pain” regardless of the fact that it may not help them one iota. Am Yisroel is one. When a Yid suffers, even halfway around the world, we need to feel their pain even if it means sleeping on the floor to drive the message home.
The above is excerpt from an article posted on Reavach L’Neshama. My personal position is that saying Tehillim is too easy. We have to do something more “to drive the message home” in Shamayim. How can we continue our comfortable lives while 3 mothers are suffering, possibly not sleeping or eating, because of the anguish they feel. We cannot imagine. But we can send a message to HaShem that we are one with those mothers in their pain. We can commit to making our lives a little less comfortable whether by sleeping on the floor or forgoing that extra treat or by saying “al naharos bavel” every time before we bentch and not just during the 3 weeks or whatever UNTIL Eyal, Gilad and Yaakov are back home SAFE and SOUND. R’ Chaim Volozhin wrote:” Let no one say, ‘Who am I and what effect can my insignificant deeds possibly have?’ Instead, each person must constantly be aware that no single detail of his actions, words and thoughts is ever lost and that at every given moment these are causing great effects on the upper worlds.”
Please think about what you can do to “drive the message home” in Shamayim.
Ivan Horgenborgen says
long article, here is my opposing view. you should view the kidnapped teens as your self.
CT says
Thank you, Julie. Excellent comments.
CT says
Perhaps we should make another Machsom l’Fi in the merit of which the boys will be returned.
Julie Orelowitz says
That would be great. How would we organize that?