From time to time, even in these times, there arise, to our chagrin, people seeking to uproot Torah from the Jewish people. We all know that the world is governed by Hashem, Who conducts it with compassion, and His creations with mercy. When men come and promulgate decrees, and Hashem allows them in their hearts to be enacted, even such decrees, we must concede, also derive from Hashem, coming to arouse us to what is expected of us in order that those decrees be annulled. Thus it was in the times of Purim when the Jews carried out all that Mordechai required, "...the dictum of fastings and outcries." These provided Esther with success in annulling the decrees.
We have seen this as well in the South when for years we relied on the protection of the border fence, believing that it was indestructible. At yet, within a short time, Hashem showed how it was breached, collapsing like a house of cards. In that decree, to our great pain, people were killed and others taken into captivity, and to this day, we are still in the very throes of this disaster, praying day by day that Hashem deliver us from it very speedily.
"If Hashem does not protect a city, in vain does a guard stand on guard." What truly protect us are the required efforts which we make to have Hashem watch over us. Were it not for this, "in vain does a watchman stand on guard."
"I have placed watchmen on your walls." Who are they? "Those who remind themselves of Hashem by day and night; never are they silent."
We have witnessed with our very eyes that the places where Torah is studied, even in the very areas of attack, remained untouched. When those elements come, seeking to uproot Torah from Jewry, to endanger us in the most susceptible manner, denying that "our people are only a people by the right of Torah", they think that they will succeed. [In such a situation] we advise that we re-assume the yoke of Torah and thereby gain the guarantee that "whoever takes upon himself the yoke of Torah, is freed from the yoke of the government and of personal economic endeavor." Only this way shall we merit that "many are the schemes of man, but the council of Hashem shall prevail."
If, G-d forbid, one lacks fortification in this by shunted off the yoke of Torah, "he will have the yoke of the government and of livelihood cast upon him." This is Divine conduct towards individuals as well as with Jewry as a whole.
In the war against Sancheriv, Chizkiyahu Hamelech said: "I sleep upon my bed." Why? Because he felt that he was inferior to Dovid Hamelech who invested every endeavor and knew that his efforts did not diminish his pure faith.
"But," Chizkiyahu continued, "I cannot do so for fear that I begin to believe that [victory comes] through my efforts." This approach is the most dangerous of all.
Instead, he opted to strengthen Torah study by day and night and thus, indeed, "their army did find their place by night."(All of them perished in one night, as it written in the Haggadah).
We must all try to live in great joy and happiness, and realize our own worth, fully aware of our obligation and role as part of the Torah world. Thus shall we be saved, with Hashem's help, from those decrees designed to decrease Torah from Jewry. May He Who guards a sanctified people, protect the remnant of a sanctified people which sanctifies Hashem [through Kedusha] thrice a day."
