Rabbotai, we are all aware that the time we find ourselves in is not simple nor easy. Not at all, neither inside nor outside our camp. Today was a fast day, as part of בה"ב that follows Pesach. In the Selichot of the day, we recited:
יִשְֹרָאֵל נוֹשׁ ַע בַּ ה', שׁ וֹכֵן וֹם יִוָּשְׁעוּ מִפִּיךַם־הַיּוֹם, תְּשׁ וּעַת עוֹלָמִים. גָּרוֹם מְרוֹמִים. כִּי אַתָּה רַ ב־סְלִיחוֹת וּבַעַל הָרַ חֲמִים:
פְּחוּדִ ים הֵם מִכָּל־צָרוֹת. מִמְּחָרְ פֵיהֶם וּמִלוֹחֲצֵיהֶם. נָא אַל־תַּעַזְבֵם, ה ' אֱ -לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם. כִּי אַתָּה רַ ב־סְלִיחוֹת וּבַעַל הָרַ חֲמִים:
יִוָּשְׁעוּ לְעֵין כֹּל וְאַל־יִמְשְׁלוּ בָם רְ שׁ ָעִים. כַּלֵה שֵׂעִיר וְחוֹתְנוֹ, וְיַעֲלוּ לְצִיוֹן מוֹשִׁיעִים. כִּי אַתָּה רַ ב־סְלִיחוֹת וּבַעַל הָרַ חֲמִים:
Israel, that is delivered by Hashem with eternal deliverance, even this day may they be delivered by decree from Your mouth, You Who dwell on high! for You are magnanimous to pardon and the Lord of compassion.
They are terrified from all their distress, from their slanderers and oppressors. We beseech You, do not forsake them, Hashem, G-d of their fathers, for You are magnanimous to pardon and the Lord of compassion.
Deliver them within sight of all, let them not be ruled by the wicked. Destroy the tyranny of Seir [Eisav] and his father-in-law [Yishmael], and let the deliverers go up to Zion, for You are magnanimous to pardon and the Lord of compassion.
We’re terrified from Rafah on one side and Hezbollah on the other. From one side and the other, there is no end in sight after seven months of our blood being shed like water. We already brought up what Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer says with regards to Yishmael (see Rav Baruch Rosenblum English Shiurim – Bereshit 5784). The fingers of Hakadosh Baruch Hu were used to redeem Noach from the flood and Bnei Yisrael from Egypt, and to show them a path forward with the Luchot, the Menorah, and Kiddush Hachodesh. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer asks: And what about His hand itself? When and how will the hand be used? The answer, may we witness it speedily, is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s hand will be used to destroy both the שֵׂעִיר וְחוֹתְ נוֹ – both Eisav and Yishmael together, in one fell swoop. Hakadosh Baruch Hu has no trouble obliterating both in one split second, if the presence of רַ ב ־ סְ לִ י ח וֹ ת וּ בַ עַ ל הָ רַ חֲ מִ י ם can be summoned.
There is nothing more to wait for, He must redeem us now! He must send us Mashiach Tzidkeinu now! Ribbono Shel Olam, it is possible for You to do so with one quick gesture. You can take care of all our enemies, on all sides, the names of which we cannot even keep up with anymore. Edom and Yishmael, with Your hand, in one shot! Please! Please look down from Heaven and see what is happening to us. See what we are doing to earn Your mercy. Please. It’s time. ◊
