Twelve Q and A About the Israel Hamas War

Twelve Q&A About the Israel-Hamas War

Question 1

What is the root of Galus Yishmael? It is not counted as one of the four exiles (Bavel, Paras-Madai, Yavan, Edom) but some views consider it as part of Galus Edom, the Maharal views it as part of Galus Paras-Madai, while others say it is a fifth exile. Since we can see that right now the Arabs (Yishmael) waging war are from Iran (Persia, Paras) does this prove that the Galus Yishmael is really part of Galus Paras-Madai?

The hidden inner root of it is in the Eirev Rav. For this reason they are called Arabs, from the word Erev. But in the revealed aspect of Torah, they are rooted in the Amalek that became revealed through Galus Madai- Paras as in the times of Haman [who was of Amalek].

Question 2

If an Arab doesn’t harm a Jew, will he get a tikkun and become a servant of Jews in the future? Or, since most of the Arabs are happy for Jews to get killed and they support the war against Israel, does that mean that most of the Arabs are all part of the kelipah - they are inherently evil?

Most of them are part of the kelipah (they are evil) while only a few of them will become good.

Question 3

Why is it that the irreligious Arabs (who don’t pray to G-d) don’t hate Jews whereas the Arabs who pray 5 times a day to G-d are the ones who hate Jews and wish to kill Jews in any way they can?

“A craftsman hates his competitor” [hence it is only the religious Arabs who hate the Jewish people, because they see the Jews as their competition, since they both pray to the same G-d. The secular Arabs though who don’t pray to G-d don’t see the Jews as competition].

Question 4

What is the meaning of the pasuk עליך ברית יכרותו, against You they form a pact. After all, they believe in G-d, and they say that this is G-d's will,

They get their strength from keeping Bris Milah, as the Zohar teaches.

Question 5

Why do the Arabs hate the Jewish people? Is it because they inherited the jealousy of Yishmael towards Yitzchok, and as they claim that they suffer because of Israel? Or is that just an excuse for their hatred and really they hate Israel as all the other nations do, just as Esav hates Yaakov?

The root of the Arabs’ hatred is because they are rooted in the Eirev Rav, and there are good parts of the Eirev Rav that can be discerned amongst them.

Question 6

What is the source of the barbarism of the Arabs? Wasn’t it Esav who inherited the way of “By your sword you shall live”? Did they learn this from Eisav, when Eisav married Yishmael’s daughter? Or are they in essence barbarians because they are called pereh adam (wild man)?

See above answer. They are Eirev Rav, which is Esav and Yishmael together.

Question 7

Hamas claims that they don’t hate Jews in essence, they just hate the State of Israel. As proof, there are some Jews living in Iran and Lebanon whom they leave alone. Are they telling the truth when they say this, or do they really wish to kill all the Jews whom they have taken hostage, and it is just that they are temporarily allowing the hostages to live for political reasons? Is there anything substantial to what they say?

There is nothing substantial to what they say.

Question 8

When Hamas kills Jews, is it because they want to kill Jews just as all other goyim deep in their hearts wish they could kill Jews (and it’s just that they need a good excuse to do it), or is it all because of nationalistic reasons they have?

It is because they are from the Eirev Rav which opposes the Jewish people for being a “nation that dwells in solitude”.

Question 9

Do Hamas people have evil souls who come from Amalek, or have they just become temporarily turned evil (just as the goyim of Jordan and Egypt were killing Israelis in the early wars of Israel but later they made peace with Israel)?

Same answer as before: Eirev Rav.

Question 10

What should we be davening for? There seems to be three primary differing views amongst the Gedolim about how to daven about the situation (just as during the Six Day War). (1) One view is daven for the Jews of Israel to be safe relying only on Hashem to protect us (not relying on the army to protect us); (2) Another view is to daven for all Jews to be safe – with no mention of the army at all. (3) Another view maintains that we need to daven that the army should succeed in protecting Jews of Israel. Which of these is proper to daven for?

The second view which you mentioned.

Question 11

When Israeli soldiers are killed in war, there are also differing views of the Gedolim how to react. One view is (1) Feel pain over their deaths just as you should feel pain of one sentenced to death through Beis Din – because perhaps they could have done teshuvah. (2) Another view maintains that we should feel pained over their deaths no less than feeling pain for any other Jew who dies – and we should not differentiate between one kind of Jew and another. (3) Another view maintains that we should feel pained over the fact that people who tried to save Jews have been killed, and these soldiers are tinok shenishbah (they are like children who were raised to be irreligious and cannot be held accountable for their irreligious lifestyle). Which of these views is the proper perspective to have?

Simply feel pain over their deaths. Without making any kinds of these calculations.

Question 12

Since we are supposed to daven in a troubling time, how should we go about this practically? Say some chapters of Tehillim every day for a few minutes, and learn Torah the rest of the day [for men]? Or to daven personal tefillos about Klal Yisrael or say Tehillim for at least a half hour a day? Or to daven for an hour a day?

The main tzarah (trouble) we find ourselves in is in ruchniyus (in our spiritual situation). Every person should daven according to his or her personal koach (energy) and a bit more than that. Primarily, we need to radiate the light that is called Mesirus Nefesh (making some sacrifice for Hashem), to counter the evil Mesirus Nefesh which the Arabs show [for they are willing to die for their beliefs in order to destroy us]. This is the “50th Gate of Holiness”, the Shaar HaNun of Kedushah, and it is elaborated upon in the Sefer Shaar HaNun (published recently).