By Daniel Keren
Last Week, Rabbi Doniel Osher Kleinman, Rav of K’hal Nachlas Dovi and the mechaber (author) of the multi-volume Sifrei Koveitz Halachos spoke at the Flatbush Hakhel Veterans Day Yarchei Kallah on the topic of “Our Duty in Times of War”. He began by remarking on the fact that we are living in a time where there is a lot of activity around the world, especially as it relates to Acheinu Bnei Yisroel, our Jewish brethren.
This is not just regarding the serious situation in Eretz Yisroel, the Land of Israel, but also closer to home in Boro Park. The calls from those who hate Israel for aggression and for violence has become a wave that causes us as Jews [everywhere] to stop and think. What exactly are to understand from these events in a tekufah, period like this.
The Four Things G-d Regrets Having Created
In Mesechta (the Talmudic tractate) Sukkos 52b, Rabbi Chana bar Acha said: There are four things G-d regrets having created: galus/ the exile, the Chaldeans the Casdim (the Babylonians who destroyed the Bayis Rishon, the first Holy Temple in Jerusalem), the Ishmaelites (Yishmaelim or the Arab nation), and the Evil Inclination (Yetzer Ha-ra).
Rabbi Kleinman asked what does it mean that Hakodesh Baruch Hu (the Holy One blessed be He) has harata (regret)? He knows all that will transpire even before He creates them. The only explanation why these four things exist is only to bring Klal Yisroel to teshuva. There is no other reason.
Furthermore, the Rambam (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, (1138-1204) writes that when tzoras (troubles) occur and Klal Yisroel, the Jewish nation cries out, it is important for us not to look out the window, but rather into a mirror in order to examine our ways and to improve ourselves [spiritually.] So, we the Bnei Yisroel, Jews have to accept responsibility and not just blames ourselves for superficial mistakes.
The Spiritual Danger of Discovering Logical Explanations
Some people after the terrible events [of the October 7th massacre of Jews in southern Israel) began pointing out logical explanations for this terrible tragedy (i.e., the failure of the Mossad, the Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces.] The Rambam continues that if the Jews don’t daven [after such a horrible event,] by crying out to Hakodesh Baruch Hu, such behavior is similar to that of people who are akzorius, cruel.
The responsibility, Rabbi Kleinman said, is for us as Jews to take this terrible tragedy to heart. Otherwise, the Rambam warns such an attitude will G-d forbid only lead to things or events that are much worse.
Instead of having 100,000 Jews take part in a pro-Israel rally in Washington, DC [our nation’s capital], Rabbi Kleinman said that we should rather get together in MetLife Stadium for an Asifa to pray to Hakodesh Baruch Hu and recite Tehillim for rachamim, mercy. He also suggested that what we as Jews should do is to have a tainus, a fast. Today, it may be difficult for us to physically fast [by not eating or drinking.]
Ideally, Rabbi Kleinman suggested that restaurants and pizza shops should be closed during these months [when Israel is fighting to destroy Hamas and free the hostages]. Also, ideally the Jewish entertainment industry should be closed. Our lives should look different. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t go to work. Rather, we should do something different and meaningful, showing Hakodesh Baruch Hu that we aren’t living our lives as if nothing happened.
Hashem’s Response to Avraham’s Request
In Bereishis/Genesis (17:18) Avraham requested of G-d "If only Yishmael will live before You!" In response to this request by Avraham that his son Yishmael should walk in the ways of Hashem, Hashem answers that He would make of Yishmael a great nation. And that is what the Gemora mentions was one of the four regrets that Hakodesh Baruch Hu had with regards to things He had created.
Rabbi Kleinman quoted from the Pirke D’Rebbe Eliezer who forecast almost 2,000 years ago the terrible afflictions that Yishmael would do against the Jewish people. He also recalled once that his Rosh Hayeshiva – Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky brought down a copy of the Zohar from a bookshelf regarding the question of whether or not a person with a bris milah (circumcision) has a spiritual connection to Hakodesh Baruch Hu and thereby a chelek (share) in Olam Habah (the World to Come.) Does this also apply to the Yishmaelim who also have a bris milah?
Yishmael’s Reward in This World
According to the Zohar, Hakodesh Baruch Hu answered the question of Shimon Bar Yochai by saying that the Yishmaelim will not have a chelek in Olam Habah because their circumcision is not a spiritual one. Instead as a reward, Hakodesh Baruch Hu has granted them power in this world, especially in these days of the Yamim Acharonim, the final days before the coming of Moshiach.
The whole purpose of this tekufah, Rabbi Kleinman said is for us to internalize within ourselves and find those things in which we need to improve in our spiritual avoda, service and not get lost in examining the external causes for our distress.
Chazal in Mesechta Sanhendrin teach that Moshiach, the Jewish redeemer will come when many Jews are in despair of his arrival. The coming of Moshiach will be like the woman giving birth, which consists of a series of contractions, each with a sharp pain. But these difficult pains are a sign of the coming birth of the child and also when we as Klal Yisroel when suffering tzoras such as the recent events in Eretz Yisroel will have to push ourselves with even more teshuvah that will definitely bring us closer to the coming of Moshiach.
Reprinted from the November 17, 2023 issue of The Jewish Connection;
