To the editorial department of Vechol Ma’aminim,
Under the direction of Rabbi Yaakov Dov Marmurstein, shlita
In the past year, you quoted a number of times the words of the Tanna Devei Eliyahu (Rabba 11) on the passuk in Shiras Devorah (Shoftim 5:2): “Bifroa pera’os b’Yisrael behisnadev am barchu Hashem.” He writes: “What did Devorah prophesize for Am Yisrael? She said to them: In whose merit does HaKadosh Baruch Hu exact punishment for Am Yisrael from the nations of the world? In the merit of those who go to the beis knesses and beis medrash morning and evening and answer amen...”
There is no need to expound on how much we have hoped and yearned this past year to see the revenge of Hashem on Am Yisrael’s enemies. I personally strengthened myself and others with the recital of Birchos Hashachar bechavrusa, especially with answering amen in general, and your distinguished publication was a source of chizuk and encouragement.
Wonder of wonders, towards the end of the year, we have been privileged to witness “bifroa per’aos besonei Yisrael” in various and remarkable ways. And on Shabbos Parashas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, we were informed of the elimination of the fiend from Lebanon, ym”s. May Hashem continue to grant us more miracles.
When I saw this, I recalled the words of the Tanna Devei Eliyahu, and there was no doubt in my mind that strengthening in matters of amen, which you are so instrumental in doing, is what has advocated for us to see how Hashem exacts revenge on our enemies.
Anyone who read the haftorah of Parashas Nitzavim-Vayeilech saw the passuk (Yeshayah 63:4): “Ki yom nakam belibi ushenas ge’ulai ba’ah,” and felt an urge to thank Hashem for the “day of revenge” that we have merited. Hashem also illuminated my eyes, and I saw in this passuk an allusion to why we merited this day of revenge, as the numerical value of the acronym of the words כי יום נקם בלבי ושנת גאולי – the same as amen is ninety one. Meaning that we merited this “day of revenge,” and b’ezras Hashem we will merit the “year of redemption” for being strict about amen. And we can add that the last word באה – also alludes to answering amen as it is an acronym for ברכות השחר and בני אמונים.
May the new year and its brachos begin, and may we merit to see the fulfillment of all the promises Chazal have made for those who are strict to answer amen.
With best wishes,
S.B.B., Yerushalayim
Letters can be sent to fax number 08-9746102 or emailed to the Vechol Ma'aminim email address. [email protected]
