Reb Neuberger: Ki Savo

 

BUILDING OUR BITACHON

Continuing our three-part series leading into Rosh Hashanah ….

I feel that this year we need even more strength than usual during Chodesh Elul, because world events are so challenging. Reaching the level of bitachon necessary to prepare for this coming year is a great avoda. Of course it is possible to achieve it! Hashem wants us to strive for it. 

It just seems impossible, but we are the Nation which lives the impossible!

Hashem is orchestrating world events to induce us to elevate our level of bitachon. Since the world is so volatile, it behooves us to find the strength which will enable us to endure the challenges ahead.

Following is an amazing explanation clarifying current events. My book, “2020 Vision,” opens with this passage, which was written by the Malbim as a commentary on the prophesy of Yechezkel ha Novi. 

“In the End of Days, after the Children of Israel have returned to their land, the children of Yishmoel and the children of Esav will unite to attack Jerusalem. They will form a world coalition against the tiny nation of Israel. But something will go wrong with their plan. The religious beliefs of the children of Yishmoel and the children of Esav will clash, and the two nations will collide and destroy each other. This is what is referred to as Milchemes Gog Umagog. Following this cataclysmic conflict, the Final Redemption of the Jewish People will occur with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid.” (Malbim on Sefer Yechezkel 32:17)

These words -- written over one hundred fifty years ago and based on the words of the Novi Yechezkel, which were written thousands of years ago – seem to describe our contemporary world perfectly. When the Malbim wrote, there were few Yidden in Eretz Yisroel, but since then we have flooded back. Today, approximately half the Jews in the world live within the borders of the Holy Land. 

This influx of Jews is all in accordance with the words of the Torah, as it says in next week’s Parsha, “It will be that, when all these things come upon you – the blessing and curse that I have presented before you – then you will take it to your heart, among all the nations where Hashem your G-d has dispersed you and you will return unto Hashem your G-d and listen to His voice, according to everything that I command you today, you and your Children, with all your heart and all your soul. Then Hashem your G-d will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you and He will gather you in from all the peoples to which Hashem your G-d has scattered you…..” (Dvarim 30:1)

Now that we have returned to our land, in accordance with prophecy, the nations of the world are rising up against us in a unity of hatred, as the Malbim predicted. 

The nations of the world are sensing the proximity of the Reign of Torah. They know that, when Moshiach comes and the Temple is standing in Yerushalayim, it will be the end of their cruel and barbarous civilization. They are desperate to stop this from happening, so they are uniting as never before. Moslems are increasingly dominating Western Nations. Governments and individuals throughout the world are turning against us. The Erev Rav as well is operating at fever pitch to stand in the way of Torah. 

But this monumental confrontation between us and the nations of the world will lead to the greatest Kiddush Hashem in history. As Dovid ha Melech says, “All the nations surround me. In the Name of Hashem I cut them down!” (Tehillim 118) 

The key is “b’shaim Hashem … the Name of Hashem.” 

The Name of Hashem has rescued us throughout our history. That is our unique strength. We are the Children of the Master of the Universe. But in order to invoke Hashem’s help, we must increase our closeness to Him and know – with all our heart -- that He is with us and will help us. 

“Al tira … Do not fear sudden terror or the holocaust of the wicked when it comes. Plan a conspiracy and it will be annulled. Speak your piece and it shall not stand, for Hashem is with us. Even until your seniority, I remain unchanged, and even until your old age I shall endure. I created you and I shall bear you. I shall endure and rescue.”

We have to prepare by working on ourselves to become close to Hashem. The second bracha in Shemoneh Esreh is “techias hamaisim.” We have to know that He is with us in this world and the Next World. Whatever happens to us, He is holding our hand. 

It is said in the name of Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein ZT”L, “In the final war before the coming of Moshiach, all the Jews who fear Hashem will survive. Hashem will say to them, ‘All those who are removed from the secular, worldly culture, you are Mine!’” (Redemption Unfolding)

To be continued, with Hashem’s help, next week…. 

The Malbim zt”l

Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein zt”l

GLOSSARY

Bitachon: faith in Hashem 

Chodesh Elul: the Jewish month before Rosh Hashanah

Dovid ha Melech: King David 

Erev Rav: foreigners who came out of Ancient Egypt along with the Children of Israel

Esav: the twin brother of Jacob, primordial enemy of Israel, progenitor of the Western Nations

Malbim: Great rabbi who lived during the Nineteenth Century

Techias ha Maisim: Resurrection of the dead

Yechezkel ha Novi: Ezekiel the Prophet

Yishmoel: brother of Isaac, the other primordial enemy of Israel, progenitor of the Moslem Nations