MIRACLES IN THE STREETS
By Roy S. Neuberger
We have witnessed tragedy over the past several months.
So many have been taken away! Young people and older people, strong and weak, godolim and family members have been taken from us. We are bereft!
There have also been miraculous escapes. Strong people told of incredible weakness; some did not have the strength to turn from one side of the bed to the other.
My friends, I want to point out a possuk: “Yosef died and all his brothers and that entire generation.” (Shemos 1:6)
Is this amazing! Our ancestors in Mitzraim were also bereft! They lost their Avos, the Shvatim! And yet, Hashem rescued that generation with monumental miracles! This terrible tzar was in fact the prelude to Yetzias Mitzraim.
Clearly today we have to know that our Redeemer is close. We have to know that Hashem will rescue us. And we have to remember that, right after the bracha for Avos in Shemoneh Esreh, comes the bracha “techias hamaisim!”
I am writing from the Holy City of Yerushalayim. Even in the midst of strong prohibitions – fromrabbonim as well as governmental agencies – forbidding public gatherings, our brethren still found ways, within the law, to gather for tefilla b’tzibbur.
Every day we thank Hashem for manifold kindnesses: we thank Him for creating us as Jews, for giving us sight and clothing, for allowing us to walk. We must also be grateful for the ability to say“amein …kaddish … kedusha … Borchu … y’hai shmai rabbo,” for allowing us to be part of aminyan where the Shechina Itself comes to rest!
I want to emphasize the critical importance of obeying rabbinic and governmental cautions, but, during Pesach, we had a permissible minyan on the street, everyone keeping his distance. Neighbors stood on mirpessets or on the sidewalk in front of their homes. I could see one member of our minyan on a rooftop about two hundred feet from the shaliach tzibbur, but he could hear us and we were all visible to a member of the minyan looking down from his balcony.
On Shabbos Chol ha Moed, with the threat of rain (literally) hanging over our heads, a gentleman I hardly knew appeared in his doorway. During chazzaras ha sha’tz, he crossed the street and stood in front of us. Don’t tell me he is a kohain! Yes! He put his tallis over his head (don’t forget: in Israel the kohanim duchen every day) and pronounced Birkas Kohanim! Thank you, Hashem!
Somewhat later, a police car approached, stopped and watched us daven. I imagined the police giving us all heavy fines! But no! After a few minutes, the car backed up, made a u-turn and drove away! They could have driven right through our minyan, but I feel they did not want to invade the area of kedusha. Just as one does not walk in front of someone who is davening Shemoneh Esreh, they had kavod for our tefillos and backed away.
“Mi k’amcha Yisroel … who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth!” (11 Samuel 7:23)May the Master of the World soon answer our tefillos, send our Redeemer and bring healing to us all!
Recent technical difficulties interfered with access to my new website,www.2020vision.co.il. Those difficulties have now been resolved. My new book,
“Hold On: Surviving the Days Before Moshiach,” is now available
through my website, through the distributor, Feldheim.com, or at seforim stores.
Roy Neuberger is an author and public speaker. His new book, “Hold On: Surviving the Days Before Moshiach” (Mosaica Press) is available in Jewish bookstores
and on his new website at www.2020vision.co.il.
© Copyright 2020 by Roy S. Neuberger
- Hagbahah on a mirpesset
- Street Minyan: Eight people are visible in this picture. Others are hidden behind cars and walls.
- “Umbrella” minyan
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