This week is the aftermath of “Shabbos Taharenu,” observed in our holy community this past Shabbos, following the noble custom of many sacred Jewish communities who gather during the Shovavim period for purification, when on Shabbos and the following days, we merited to purify and sanctify ourselves, each person examining the innermost recesses of his heart and soul under the elevated and awe-filled guidance of our leader and teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, shlita.
The pesukim state (Divrei Hayamim II, 29:16-19), וַיָּבֹאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לִפְנִימָה בֵית ה’ לְטַהֵר וַיּוֹצִיאוּ אֵת כָּל הַטֻּמְ אָה אֲשֶׁר מָצְאוּ בְּהֵיכַל ה’... וַיֹּאמְ רוּ טִהַרְ נוּ אֶת כָּל בֵּית ה’... וְאֵת כָּל הַכֵּלִים... הֵכַנּוּ וְהִקְדָּשְׁ נוּ וְהִנָּם לִפְנֵי מִ זְבַּח ה’ – “The kohanim went into the inner part of the house of Hashem to purify it, and they brought out all the impurity they found in the hall of Hashem... They said: ’We have purified the entire house of Hashem and all the vessels... We have prepared and sanctified them, and they are before the altar of Hashem.’”
Likewise, with the proclamation of a milchemes mitzvah, we strive to save our homes, our souls, and the souls of our descendants from the grave threat looming over Jewish homes in this generation—the dangerous plague of technological devices, the ultimate source (avi avos) of impurity, driven by the fiery forces of the Sitra Achra (impure Other Side). These devices burn with the boiling excrement of impurity, Rachmana litzlan, seeking to destroy and extinguish the pure Jewish soul.
As we stand in awe, deeply moved by the sanctity and purity that inspired us to strengthen ourselves together as one unified people, we resolve to seize this opportune moment. A small collection of selected tales has been gathered, related to the theme of this time, to prepare and fashion vessels that can sustain the flow of holiness within us. These vessels must be firmly built upon a foundation of faith in Chazal and unwavering adherence to the directives and guidance of our Torah leaders, shlit”a, in all their decrees and in upholding the protective walls they have erected to safeguard the sanctity of the Jewish home. This effort is essential to ensure that the Jewish home does not, chas veshalom, slowly transform from within into a foreign dwelling in Jewish disguise.
May it be the will of our Father in Heaven that, through this awakening of repentance for the purity of Yisrael during these exalted days of the Shovavim period, we elicit an awakening above (isarusa d’le’eila) from the awakening below (isarusa d’lesata). May this lead to our purification and sanctification in His supreme holiness, bringing abundant blessing into our homes. May our homes be filled with the triple blessing of children, life, and abundant sustenance. Amen.
