Battling the Yetzer Hara

Battling the Yetzer Hara

There is an unusual expression of praise stated in the הניסים על. We thank Hashem על המלחמות, for the wars. If we said, "We thank Hashem for giving us victory, we would understand, but why do we thank Hashem for the wars?" The Ponovitzer Rav zt'l answers that we can't thank Hashem for victory because we never finished the battle. Until Moshiach comes, we are at battle. Therefore, המלחמות על is praising Hashem that we are not giving up and we are still battling the war. We aren't fighting the war in a literal sense, but spiritually, we are still battling against the influences and ideologies of the Yevanim, and we thank Hashem that we didn't give up and are still fighting.