Path to Victory
The Jewish nation is under attack. Our hearts go out to the thousands of murdered and injured. But for those gearing for war, a greater crisis unfolds: how to fight not only against our physical foes but an attitude of despair and defeat? The Avner Institute presents two letters of hope—one with comforting advice that the Jewish soul lives on after death, guiding and protecting from above its loved ones below; the second a powerful response to the Yom Kippur War of 50 years ago, with the message of Torah observance as a “call to arms” and means to ultimate redemption.
Dedicated in memory of loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
“He is no longer limited”
When spiritual transcends the material, even death.
16 Iyar 5711
Brooklyn, NY
Miss Doreen Salzman
c/o Talmud Torah Rabbi M.J. Mendelowitz
1006 Greene Avenue
Brooklyn, 21, NY
Blessing and Greetings:
I have received our letter through Rabbi Mendelowitz. I am glad to know that you are his pupil, and I trust that you are studying with the proper diligence and eagerness.
You write that your father died a year ago, and that you are troubled by the question, why G-d took him away.
Rabbi Mendelowitz did give you the right answer: we must not question G-d’s ways. I can quite understand that you feel the loss of your father very much, but you can be quite sure that G-d will compensate you for it in some other way, although at this time you cannot see yet how it will come about.
Although we must not question G-d’s ways, but feel sure that everything is for the best, I want to give you one positive explanation which I hope will ease your mind.
As you know, and can well imagine, your father’s greatest happiness was when he could provide the most for your dear mother, for you, your sister and brother. You can well understand that when your father was alive here on earth, his possibilities to help you all were limited, for no human being has unlimited possibilities.
But now your father can watch over you all the time, for he is no longer limited by a physical body. He also can do more for you and for your mother, sister, and brother than before. From your letter I can see that he was ever devoted to you, so he will surely continue to do his best for you, even more than before.
Deal of Good
So, you see, that although you and your family miss your father very much, a great deal of good will comes out of it for you which could not have come before. You should remember, however, that in order to be able to receive all the good which he wants to bestow upon you, and in order to make it easier for him to obtain for you all this good, and in order to make it easier for him to obtain for you all this good, you must lead your life in such a way that would please him. One of the most important things, as far as you personally are concerned, is to study with eagerness and diligence, and be full of the spirit of Yiddishkeit. You may ask yourself, “Would Father be pleased if I do this or that, or he not be pleased?”
If you will remember that your father is always watching over you and your family and praying for you before G-d, you will not feel so lonesome for him. By trying to please him who is Above and being also a source of nachas [joy] for your mother, may G-d give her long life on this earth, a source of Yiddish nachas, and you will soon find that all the questions and problems now troubling you will disappear, and you will be happy, and make others happy.
Blessing you and yours, and wishing you success and happiness,
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“Truly a holy people”
When military and spiritual victory meet.
5734
Mrs. ——–
Detroit, Michigan
Blessing and Greeting:
I am in receipt of your letter.
It is surely unnecessary to point out to you that events in the Holy Land, and those concerning the Holy Land, are moving with such swiftness and mutability that it makes it difficult to express and opinion on the situation in reply to a letter which was written a few days earlier, and which will reach its destination a few days later. For, even in the course of a week, there are certain to be changes in the situation—possibly important changes.
One observation may be made, however, on a matter not subject to change, and it is surprising and regrettable that it does not receive the emphasis that it merits. I refer to the fact that the Jewish claim to, and connection with, the land which is universally recognized as the Holy Land—the holiness of which is derived from the Torah—is based on the Torah and dates back to the Covenant which G-d made with our Father Abraham in which He promised “Unto your children I have given this land” (Genesis 15:18). It follows immediately that, for this claim to be recognized by the nations of the world, it is necessary that the Jews themselves live up to that Covenant by showing that they are truly a holy people.
Furthermore, in the present situation, when the whole world has involved itself in the future of the Holy Land, when every nation has its own ideas about it and external pressures are mounting daily, it is well to bear in mind that in the area referred to, namely, in fulfilling the Covenant with G-d, the Jewish people are completely independent and not subject to outside pressures and the good will of the nations, nor subject to international consultations and negotiations.
In the present situation, the plain words of the Torah: “If you walk in My statutes…you will dwell in your land safely, and I will give peace in the land…and none shall make you afraid…and I will be your G-d, and you shall be My people” (Leviticus 26:3-12), become even more crucial. The sooner and more fully Jews will live up to this situation, the sooner G-d’s promise will be fulfilled.
It is indeed remarkable that precisely many of our young people now defending the frontiers of the Land of Israel, who have not been brought up in the true Jewish tradition, yet, after seeing the miracles which G-d wrought on all fronts, began to put on tefillin and openly declared themselves to be dati, believing in G-d, the Creator of the world, Who alone determines the outcome of events.
One can only hope and pray that those who are behind the lines, as well as our brethren in the Diaspora, will not put to shame the tremendous spiritual revival and inspiration of these young people. For, unfortunately, too many seek refuge in the excuse that living among the nations of the world and under economic pressures, etc., makes it difficult to retain full Jewish identity and independence, or to observe the mitzvoth in the fullest measure in the daily life.
Nothing Impossible
It obviously militates against common sense to say that G-d, Who created the whole universe, including the Jewish people, has placed Jews in a position where they cannot fulfill His precepts. Even your typical manager of a small business or industry would not expect his employees to accomplish something that is beyond that capacity. Certainly G-d does not act so capriciously, or despotically, as to expect Jews to do the impossible.
Needless to say, the above is not meant to imply that Jews should not do everything in their power in the natural order of things to cope with the present situation. However, it should be understood that in order to make the proper decisions, and in order to have hatzlacha [success] in these efforts which concern the Holy Land and the holy people, there must be definitive and substantial change pointing in the direction of faith and trust in G-d and His Torah—a change that should immediately be evident in the daily life which is conducted in accordance with the will of G-d, as embodied in the Torah and clearly set forth and codified in the Shulchan Aruch [Code of Jewish Law].
With blessing,
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