Dear Talmidim, cherished Bnei Torah,
Our situation in Eretz Yisroel is indeed terrible. There is
no day whose curse is less than its predecessor's. Each day
and its deaths, another Jew, another two. Circumstances like
these never existed in the world. It is devastating. A fear
to walk outside.
A Day of Prayer was announced for saying Tehillim by
the Kosel, while those who were able to fast half a day were
urged to do so. To be sure, this is what is expected of us in
times of trouble, to cry out and seek mercy from Hashem, as
is explicitly stated by Chazal and by the Rambam. This is
dealt with in the laws of fasting.
This pertains to the entire nation. But a ben Torah
must understand that this is not sufficient. There is more to
it and it deserves examination.
Hashem promised Avrohom Ovinu that the entire country would
be his someday, even though at the time he was still
wandering from place to place. One condition, however, was
stipulated in the Torah: "For I know him that he commands his
children and his household after him so that they guard the
path of Hashem to do charity and justice."
Hashem declares: "For I know," which is used elsewhere as a
term of love. I love him. Hashem loves Avrohom, and there is
what to love in Avrohom Ovinu.
Avrohom is an old man of one hundred with an only son. All
his life he has sought to love Hashem and endear Him to
mankind, for this is the ultimate purpose of man. And then,
having finally granted Avrohom a son, Hashem goes and
commands him to slaughter that son.
Avrohom does not probe Hashem's purpose or His attributes for
a moment. He asks no questions but goes forward to slaughter
his own son. En route, Yitzchok asks his father, "Where is
the sacrificial lamb?" He soon realizes that he is to be the
sacrifice: Hashem has commanded that he be slaughtered.
Truly, Yitzchok could have died from fright just from that
realization, but when he hears his father insinuate that he
is to be that sacrifice, Yitzchok, already thirty-six years
old, asks no questions, just like his father. He mounts the
altar and allows himself to be bound with acquiescence and
joy, for this is the chinuch he has received from
Avrohom, his/our father, not to ask questions. Hashem said --
so be it, thus shall we obey. "For I know him."
Hashem loves him because he has trained and commanded his
sons and children after him. Hashem loves Avrohom because
after he dies, he will be leaving behind a son, someone to
follow in his ways and carry on his resolute and
unquestioning love for Hashem. This is the attribute required
of mankind.
Let us ask the people of today, "Where are your
children?" If your offspring deny the Shabbos and shun the
commandment of tefillin, can you be said to have
children? Whoever does not study Torah, who does not frequent
the houses of Torah study, does not eat kosher or put on
tefillin, who does not preserve family purity and even
goes so far as to desecrate Yom Kippur, is like a man without
children. He is a solitary entity. He has nothing, and when
he dies, he leaves no trace behind him.
Dear, precious bnei Torah: You, with your blessed
deeds, see to it that your father has a son. For your sake
did Hashem promise the Land of Eretz Yisroel.
If we wish to save and preserve this Land, that it continue
to be the Land of Israel, we must fulfill "because he
commands his sons and his household after him." That they
remain sons, worthy of that title.
Every father who has a son here, has a portion in Eretz
Yisroel. In his merit there are people in Eretz Yisroel. Is
there any institution, any edifice, in Eretz Yisroel as great
as this? You should be happy that you are sons unto your
fathers. And that you, sons, have a father. Because thus,
when a person passes on from this world, he can continue to
live on and be secure and happy that he has left behind a
son.
This is what is required from us at this difficult time, when
we are circumscribed by troubles, to reinforce ourselves with
" . . . because he commands his household after him." Only
thus can we hope for deliverance.
(From "Michtovim uMaamorim, part 6)
