Dear YWN,
I am extremely perplexed and literally at a loss for words.
Millions of Yidden are in extreme danger right now, and for the most part we are silent.
We see massive asifos called for AI. We see gatherings and campaigns regarding giyus and many other important matters. But I ask with a broken heart: where is the yom tefillah? Where is the united cry of Klal Yisroel?
Where are our Gedolei Yisroel calling on the tzibbur to dedicate a day for tefillah and limud haTorah on behalf of our brothers and sisters living under constant missile fire?
The reality is that millions of Yidden are living in Eretz Yisroel and are in sakana every single moment.
Just today, more than 100 rockets were fired by Hezbollah into northern Israel in under 15 minutes, while Iranian missiles were being launched simultaneously. Entire cities were running to shelters.
And yet we continue with life as usual.
Where is the trembling? Where is the crying out to the Ribono Shel Olam?
I also want to raise another point that has been bothering me. How many shuls last Shabbos recited a Mi Shebeirach for President Trump (“…הנותן תשועה למלכים”), and how many will do it this coming Shabbos. It is appropriate to show hakaras hatov to leaders who stand with the Jewish people, especially a President who just wiped out an existential nuclear threat that could have annihilated the entire Eretz Yisroel in a split second.
I remember hearing that in the Mirrer Yeshiva, under the leadership of the great Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shmuel Berenbaum zt”l, they recited the tefillah for President Bush on Yom Kippur following the attacks of 9/11. It was done with tremendous seriousness and recognition of the moment.
So why today, when Klal Yisroel is under such massive threat, do we not see a unified outpouring of tefillah?
Have we become so numb to war that we simply move on with our routines while rockets are falling on Jewish cities?
Our silence is deafening.
I write this with pain and confusion, not with criticism. Perhaps others can explain what I am missing.
But to me, it feels like the moment calls for something far greater from all of us — more tefillah, more Tehillim, more limud haTorah, and more achdus.
May the Ribbono Shel Olam have mercy on His people and protect all of Klal Yisroel.
Pained in Lakewood,
Chaim B.
PS: Here is the Tefilah for President Trump. Make sure your Shul says this on Shabbos:
הנותן תשועה למלכים וממשלה לנסיכים, מלכותו מלכות כל עולמים.
הוא יברך וישמור וינצור וירומם ויגדל וינשא את נשיא ארצות הברית של אמריקה.
הקדוש ברוך הוא ישמרהו ויחיהו מכל צרה וצוקה ומכל נגע ומחלה, וישלח ברכה והצלחה בכל מעשה ידיו.
מלך מלכי המלכים ברחמיו יתן בלבו ובלב יועציו ושריו רחמים לעשות טובה עמנו ועם כל ישראל.
בימיו ובימינו תושע יהודה וישראל ישכון לבטח, ובא לציון גואל.
וכן יהי רצון ונאמר אמן.
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11 Responses
You ruined your entire letter with your PS.
please do not question Daas Torah, they know best. It is border line kefira this letter.
Very well said.
Mordechai gathered everyone to daven, where are we?
I have a goyish friend who told me their mission fasted for three days for Jerusalem.
Where are we?
My shul already says it. But don’t expect yeshivish places to ever say that. Anyway I think it’s war fever people are just sick of being depressed and nervous that the only coping mechanism is try to stick to your schedule and keep your head down. It’s sad that that’s how it’s playing out but if you don’t you’ll really go out of your mind
In kaj they say every שבת
I AM DAAS TORAH AND I APPROVE THIS LETTER
Because you Chaim B. clearly are NOT familiar with your Daily Prayers.
Our Prayers are full of Bakoshos & requests for Geuloh & salvation, and for destruction & elimination & of our enemies.
Our Shuls already at every Kerias haTorah recite MiSheBerach for Medinat Yisroel & for the entire IDF forces.
You Chaim B. may need to invest in a Siddur with English translation, and you may become quite embarrassed by the contents of this mailbag which you submitted.
Your letter is sadly right on target! Sadly, we are busy with Yom Tov sale purchasing now and disconnected. Some are worried that their daughters may have a hard time coming home because of the war. Gimme a break! Let them stay in E.Y. for Yom Tov. Let their schools earn the $30,000 they charge for not even 8 months of school and zero Shabbos meals: but that’s a separate issue. Why we just follow the bombardment of Iran and not cry out for אחינו בני ישראל העומדים בין בים ובין ביבשה is beyond, beyond, beyond.
Was that tefilla ever said for Woodrow Wilson or FDR during two world wars?
lakewoodbt
No it’s not. Your suggestion tries to shut down independent thinking and a true cry. I don’t understand why the gedolim aren’t even talking about this war! How about an “Elul” like cry every day before learning?
Sadly the threat to Jews is not just in Israel. It is a lot broader than it is being described in this piece rachmana litzlan. This operation in Iran is a sakanah to all. As a limud zechus people are just worn out after years of fighting coming on the heals right after years of COVID shutdowns and restrictions and tragedies in Meron etc. It is hard to live with stress and anxiety so denialism kicks in. It’s not an excuse but a reality. We also need a real cheshbon hanefesh about the unquestioning infatuation and embrace of Bibi and Trump and to ask where this is all heading. BTW did the author of the post say the tefilah for the government when Biden was in power? Just wondering.