We can apply the words of R' Elchonon Wasserman to our current situation.
He spoke in his yeshiva in Baronovich in 1937 when the effects of Hitler were already being felt. He cited the Vilna Gaon who remarks that all that happens in this world is reflected by what is happening in heaven.
“If an enemy like Hitler arose against us, then there must be a great accusation in heaven. So we must silence the accuser rather than repelling Hitler. Even if we can distort the evil plans of Hitler, another perhaps worse more violent enemy may take his place. An analogy for this is that of a store window which displays, for example, plastic fruits that have no taste or aroma. However, they represent the fruits sold inside. Likewise, world events represent what is happening in heaven and that’s where the focus has to be.”
Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of six books including the recently released Dazzling Money Insights. His writings, some of which have been translated into Yiddish, Hebrew, German and French, inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in Kiryat Yearim (where the Aron was for 20 years [Shmuel 1, 7:1,2]) where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
Baba Kamma 65b.
Coach Herb Brooks was hired to train the 1980 US men’s Olympic hockey team. Despite being a team of college all-stars, their team sportsmanship was horrible, and thus their performance was lousy. After an exhibition game, when Brooks noticed the players fighting with each other, he called them back on the ice and had them perform an intense drill, scolding, “Each one of you is wearing a jersey with a name on the back, representing yourselves. That name signifies the skills that you possess and the determination you carry. However, the name on the front of the jersey is far more important. That is the team you play for. It represents the skill sets of all the players combined. When the name on the front of the jersey is placed first then the name on the back of the jersey will truly shine.” Team USA went on to defeat the Soviet Union national team, which had won the gold medal in six of the seven previous Olympic games. There is a saying, “Do not aspire to be the best on the team. Aspire to be the best for the team.”
R’ Moshe Shapiro (1935-2017) related that when he was growing up, the Chevron yeshiva would make plays. One year the play was about an irreligious person who was murdered in the Holocaust and ascended to heaven. Now they were going to judge this soul. They acted out the following scene: in heaven, they asked the martyr some questions before he would be able to enter paradise. They asked him, “Did you observe the laws of kashrus? “No,” was the reply. “Did you keep the laws of Shabbos?” “No.” “Tefillin?” “No.” The question was then posed, “so what makes you Jewish?” The soul answered, “Well, Hitler thought I was Jewish.” This reply caused a commotion in heaven. Finally, they came up with a verdict: “Halacha K’Hitler.”
