When the Belzer Rav zt'l lived in Tel Aviv, he would bake matzos erev Pesach in Kfar Chabad. Once, it was late, and the driver was rushing to get to the bakery in Kfar Chabad on time. The Belzer Rav asked the driver to stop the car, and he got out. He stood on the side of the road for a few moments. People heard the Belzer Rav say to himself, מבהלה נפש הושענא, that Hashem should save us from panic and confusion. Zrizus is needed, but we should never lose our equilibrium and peace of mind.
People asked the Chofetz Chaim's son-in-law what attribute of his father-in-law impressed him the most. He replied that it was his tranquility. Even when the Chofetz Chaim went through difficult times, he never lost his peace of mind. And this is because of his emunah in Hashem.
Reb Moshe Sternbuch Shlita relates that the Satmar Rebbe zt'l was against putting out a daily newspaper. He permitted the publication of a weekly newspaper based on his view of Israeli politics. Still, he felt that a daily newspaper would inevitably write, in addition to the news, the reasons things happen. These analyses often border on kefirah, because a Yid believes that everything occurs because this is Hashem's plan. It isn't because of what this person said or what that person did. Everything is Hashem's plan.
Therefore, we shouldn't worry about the future, even during these difficult times in Eretz Yisrael. We should take all necessary precautions, but that is solely as far as our deeds are concerned – our hearts shouldn't be afraid.
In the Hoshanos, we say, ...מדלקת דגן הושענא מבהלה נפש ...מחגב חיטה, "Save the crops from fire... the wheat from locust... the soul from panic." The Chofetz Chaim zt'l said that crops are totally consumed in fire, locust completely destroys wheat crops, and so, too, a person's soul is totally ruined from בהלה, worry and panic.
It states (Tehillim 140:8) נשק ביום לראשי סכותה, "You protected my head on the day of battle." The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni ח"תתפ) says that this refers to when Dovid battled Golyas, and Hashem protected his head. Rav Shach zt'l asked that it wasn’t solely the head that needed protection. The entire body needed protection! The answer is that Dovid was praising Hashem that even during war, Hashem protected his mind from panic and despair.
We add here a good counsel, and fortunate are those who listen to it: Don't listen to the news. The gain from knowing the information is small, while the loss is significant. The news broadcasters don't give over the news with emunah. They are out to frighten people, so people will get addicted and listen to them again and again. When missiles fall, we must run to a guarded protected place, and similarly, when missiles of kefirah are being fired over the radio waves, it is imperative to run to a safe place where we won't hear it.
The problem is that no sirens go off when kefirah attacks. When a missile is shot from Gaza, sirens remind people to take cover, but there are no sirens to remind us to escape and save our neshamos from the poisonous information being transferred through the airwaves. Everyone must be cautious on his own, and guard himself and his children from the news.
