The war of 1948 was a very trying one for the Jewish people in the Land. Jewish settlement was being renewed, partially with Jewish survivors from the European furnaces. Nine excruciating months of fighting took place not only in Jerusalem but also in the center of the country, with shelling from nearby Jaffa. Fear was rampant.
In besieged Jerusalem, people huddled in their homes, fearing to emerge to the arms of Jordanian legionnaires. Halachic questions were dispatched by telegram to the godol hador, the Chazon Ish who sat in his simple apartment in Givat Rokach, Bnei Brak. He replied in terse but reinforcing and supporting words, occasionally adding sentences which offered dewdrops of comfort and reassurance.
He received a letter from a Yerushalmi Jew while Jerusalem was still under siege, with life and death hanging in the balance. It asked if it was recommended to try to leave the beleaguered city. The Chazon Ish hastened to reply that everyone in Yerushalayim was asking the selfsame question.
To another terrified Jew, he answered simply, "Recite repeatedly the perek against attacks." He was referring to Perek 91, which is denoted as thus in Maseches Shevuos (15b) as offering protection against adverse situations.
HaRav Yosef HaKohen Roth (Siach Yosef Vol. III p. 67) notes [lehavdil] that even non-Jews are aware of the power of this chapter. A British engineer testified of a British battalion under the command of Colonel Wittelss that over the period of four years of the First World War, not one soldier of the division was hurt. This was because of the commander's order that the soldiers learn this psalm verbatim and recite it daily. They referred to it as 'The Psalm of Protection'.
Decades later, the directive to say this perek reverberated once more to recite it as protection against a murderous enemy.
To be sure, in the numerous telegrams which the Chazon Ish sent during those days of tribulation, were many other messages of reassurance to Jews secluded in their homes, as this one: "Assuming the premise that the world resembles a narrow bridge, no change has taken place. We take each wave as it comes and become accustomed to them, hoping that refuge is around the corner and not even considering taking impetuous steps. I redouble a wish for peace and blessing awaiting our salvation. [Signed] Avrohom Yeshayohu]
In a reply to a letter from a frightened Diaspora Jew, he wrote: "I would like to reassure you that the situation is exaggerated abroad. We are not expected to take hasty action as an answer to our agitated hearts. Our spirits are more serene and we see the need to pray out of sound mind, with spirits tranquil and calm. We trust that this confusing situation be speedily resolved. Signing with blessings of peace!"
In another cable, he wrote: "We must strengthen ourselves in Torah study in order to increase merit for the Klal and the individual. This is more effective than fasting and the like. Torah study, to be sure, must be accompanied with the intent of practice, namely, with vigil in the prohibitive commandments. Such transgressions are more prevalent and slighted, especially so the mitzvos regarding our fellow man.
"One must be careful not to slight another or cause someone pain even for a moment since it involves a transgression from the Torah, as said in perek Hazahav. On the occasion of some hurt or damage I generally try to strengthen my belief that nothing in the world is happenstance but takes place under His Providence, and I exert myself in prayer to dispel the harsh decree. Therefore I look coldly at hishtadlus, for in most cases, the [proper] effort is unclear."
