BS"D
Klal Yisroel is in a dire situation and we have no
option other than to rely on Our Father in Heaven and to
scrutinize our conduct. There is no way to know the ways of
Heaven, but certainly every individual can examine his own
conduct.
It may well be that this is a part of Chevlei Moshiach.
As Chazal explain, "What can one do to be spared from
Chevlei Moshiach? Engage in Torah and acts of
chessed." Torah always needs strengthening —
certainly in times like these — and every individual
should be sure to strengthen his own Torah study.
As is written, every effort must be made to ensure that we
do not stumble in the opposite direction of doing acts of
chessed, i.e. causing distress to others or the
public. Chazal explain that during Achov's generation people
worshiped idols, but there was no machlokes. [Am
Yisroel] would head out to war and win, which is not the
case when there is machlokes, Rachmono
litzlan, and one must try very hard to make peace
between man and his fellow.
It is also known that HaKodosh Boruch Hu cherishes
Shabbos observance and despises the opposite. Recently
efforts have been made to avoid activities in places known
to desecrate Shabbos openly. In general this has been
applied to trips and other nonessential activities, yet
nonetheless a segment of the shomer Torah umitzvos
public finds it difficult to forgo this and continue to rent
places that desecrate Shabbos, which demonstrates that the
matter of Shabbos is not of such great importance to them.
Rather they feels that it is enough if they themselves do
not desecrate Shabbos. This is among the matters one should
accept upon himself — not to disgrace the Shabbos.
The matter of modesty also needs to be remedied. It is
written in the absence of tznius, "Veshov mei'acharecho"
(Devorim 23:15). This requires great chizuk.
We do not claim to know the reason why troubles have
befallen us, but certainly any areas we improve can be
effective in removing HaKodosh Boruch Hu's wrath.
20 Tammuz 5766
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv Aharon Y. Leib Shteinman
