Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 703
The war with Eisav is a long-lived one. It stretches out over all of the generations and takes place throughout the world. It begins with the first meeting [with the angel of Eisav]: “And a ‘man’ wrestled with him” (Bereishit 32:25), and this struggle lasted until “the dawn rose” (ibid.). As Yaakov was preparing to enter Eretz Yisrael, the angel of Eisav stood up against Yaakov when he was alone – from Yaakov’s [success in this encounter] he received the name Yisrael. When the Nation of Israel was on the way to enter Eretz Yisrael [after the Exodus], Amalek (the nation of Eisav’s grandson) came unprovoked to wage war (Shemot 17:8). Amalek’s hostility is not limited to Eretz Yisrael, as in the heart of the Babylonian/Persian exile, Amalek’s descendant Haman complained, “There is one nation that is scattered and divided among the nations” (Esther 3:8) [and sought to destroy them].
The nation that is described as “it did not fear Hashem” (Devarim 25:18) cannot bear the existence of a nation whose entire existence proclaims that the world has a Master. Israel is a nation whose existence does not fit with Amalek’s assumption that one can live “under the Heaven” (see Shemot 17:14). Bnei Yisrael disprove the accepted rules, such as when “As [the Egyptians] afflicted them, so did they multiply” (Shemot 1:12), because they have otherworldly stubbornness. When the nation senses danger to its very existence, it develops a power of opposition [to the danger].
Despite its numerical paucity, the Nation of Israel is like an active, unstable substance. It has a hand in every revolution and every new philosophy and activity that changes the accepted world order. It is not given to surrender to restrictive conditions, as those who heard “To Me are Bnei Yisrael servants” (Vayikra 25:55) are not inclined to accept the dominion of a human and thereby be servants to servants.
One historical phenomenon existed in all types of struggles and all eras: “Yaakov remained alone” (Bereishit 32:25). All of the imaginary allies disappear at the critical time, so that Israel must handle the struggle alone.
To the extent that Israel keeps to its expected character, all opposition is weakened. Eisav surrenders, losing its power to the nation that rises up like a lion. However, when Israel forgets its role in the world and imagines that it can be like all the other nations, the eternal enemy awakens.
For this reason, Eisav toils to ambush those who are weak in Israel, to seduce those of weak mind, and poison Israel with blasphemy and to relinquishing its internal uniqueness. This is along the lines of the famous parable of the fox that tries to cajole the fish into coming onto land. About this struggle, the Torah tells us that “Moshe’s hands [that were to inspire the people] were heavy” (see Shemot 17:12).
For some 50 years, authentic Jewish life in Russia has been silenced. There are no longer yeshivot or chadarim (Jewish day schools), no synagogues or rabbis. With iron fists and false propaganda, the Russians succeeded in uprooting everything. But then a miracle occurred, and when it appeared that [Judaism in Russia] ceased to exist, “Yaakov will not be disgraced now, and its face will not become pale, as it sees its sons, the works of My hand, in its midst, sanctifying My name” (Yeshayahu 29:22). Specifically, after a long period of subjugation and silence, the nation arose and “straightened its posture.” The huge political machine, which was designed to turn people into permanent slaves, has been shaken, calling out in fear due to the voice of truth of traditional Judaism, whose strength is in its speech. There is something that is stronger than tanks and planes, bombs and missiles. “Any tool that will be designed against you will not succeed, and every tongue that will rise up against you in adjudication you will disprove” (ibid. 54:17).
We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for:
Itamar Chaim ben Tzippora
Nir Rephael ben Rachel Bracha Arye Yitzchak ben Geula Miriam Tal Shaul ben Yaffa
Ori Leah bat Chaya Temima
Neta bat Malka
Meira bat Esther
Together with all cholei Yisrael
