This evening, we usher in the new month of Elul, the month of teshuva and the last month of the Jewish New Year. This was the day that Moses began his 40-day prayer stint atop Mount Sinai, begging Hashem to forgive the Children of Israel for the golden calf fiasco. The forty days ended on Yom Kippur, when Hashem told Moses, salachti kidvarecha - "I have forgiven as you have requested."
Today, I met with one of Israel's leading rabbis. I asked him, "Honorable Rabbi, why are all our spiritual leaders silent in the face of everything our people are facing now? Why don't they get up and speak? Why are you silent?"
The Rabbi answered me, "Our people are broken. They can't stomach any chastising now. We shouldn't speak if they won't listen. Besides, it will only make things worse."
I humbly disagreed. I told the Rabbi that in the army, the only way to bring a shell-shocked soldier out of his stupor is to slap him in the face. I also told him that in my humble opinion, all our troubles are the result of continued intramural hatred. Sure, there are so many wonderful things about our people - their Torah, the thousands of new BTs, mutual aid societies of every shape and form. But, the petty jealousies and the stupid infighting are still there - both of which are manifestations of lack of emuna. The Rabbi shrugged, indicating that the discussion was over.
Business as usual? Yesterday, we lost another magnificent tzaddik, Rabbi Moshe Yosef Reichenberg of Monsey, of blessed memory. Rabbi Reichenberg gave his life trying to save a child who in all likelihood he didn't even know. This was an act of the greatest form of ahavat Yisrael that can be. I have no doubt that Rabbi Reichenberg has already been ushered in the highest portals of Gan Eden.
Leiby Kletzky, Baba Elazar, and now Rabbi Moshe Yosef Reichenberg, all of saintly and blessed memory. Who needs more martyrs? Sorry Rabbi, I'm tired of funerals and Katyusha rockets. And what about Syria's doomsday arsenal of the most unthinkable deadly chemical warheads, all aimed at us? And what about a whole new stream of weapons pouring into Gaza from Libya? And what about the new wave of terror from Egypt and from the so-called Palestinian Authority? And what about the continued bombing of Israel's south? And what about Egypt's new regime that also wants to destroy us, starting with Eilat? And what about the back-to-back earthquake and hurricane in the USA? Is Hashem not raising the volume to make us listen? In 3 short weeks, the nations of the world will try to delegitimize our country by recognizing our enemy's so-called right to a homeland on our tiny piece of G-d given real estate. Do you know what that means? How can you be quiet?
Honorable Rabbi, with such a stormy start of Elul, you - who so many people look up to - can no longer be quiet. As a leader of our people, it's your task to raise your voice even if it's not the most popular thing to do right now. Now is a time for action. Being frum doesn't help much if you turn your nose up at a dark-skinned Jew. When Rabbi Moshe Yosef Reichenberg jumped out of his car in the middle of a hurricane to save a little boy, he didn't ask the injured lad what shtiebel his father davened in. Rabbi Moshe Yosef acted like Hashem's bravest commando. That's how we all must act - with dedication and willingness to risk everything for a fellow Jew, no matter who he or she is.
I'm sorry, Rabbi. You have forgotten more Torah than I have learned. I am dust at your shoes. But I'm sick of the sacrifices and sick of seeing my neighbors wince every time they hear a siren. Hashem expects us to cry out in behalf of our people and to repair what we need to repair. That's exactly what Moshe Rabbenu did for the 40 days that begin today. Please forgive my insolence, Honorable Rabbi, but this is not the time for silence.
North Carolina's Jonah
The Gemara says that sailors are mostly pious people. Why? Sailors see all types of life-threatening tempests and squalls at sea, so not only do they have the fear of The Almighty in their hearts, but they're always calling His Name to save them.
Scripture tells us that sailors have a sharp sense of spiritual awareness as well. When Jonah tried to run away from Hashem, he boarded a ship at the Jaffa port. At sea, the ship was tossed and turned by monstrous waves. The sailors drew lots, and the short straw fell on Jonah. They realized that Jonah was the reason for the impending catastrophe, for the ship was about to splinter, so they threw him overboard. The sea subsided and the sailors and their ship were saved.
and decent folks of North Carolina? It's simple - North Carolina has its own Jonah: Jonathan Pollard, rotting away in a cell in Butner for the last 26 years when his crime should have incurred no more than an 8-year sentence. Words can't describe the cruel utterly inhuman way that Pollard has been treated, not being allowed to see his dying father or even attend his funeral.
The USA could save itself billions of impending damage and lives as well by freeing Pollard right now. There's no doubt in my mind or heart that Irene will just disappear if Pollard walks out of Butner. There's proof to what I'm saying in the Gemara - see tractate Brachot 59a: When Hashem sees that his children in exile are in anguish, He sheds two tears in the sea. Hashem's two tears because of Pollard could be what's causing Hurricane Irene to be such a threat right now.
What can you do to help? Phone, fax, or email the White House right now. For the safety of America, demand the immediate release of Jonathan Pollard.
Cherished friends and family on the US East Coast, you have our incessant prayers for your wellbeing.
Posted at 12:34 PM in Biblical commentary and interpretation, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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