HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Rosh Kollel of Beis Dovid in Holon, published a special letter of chizzuk after the murderous terror attack in Holon at the request of the city’s residents who wanted his Daas Torah on the tragedy.
“To my dear and beloved brothers and friends,” HaRav Zilberstein wrote. “We are shocked and pained by the tragedy that befell our city of Holon, the murderous attack by a heinous terrorist today, Sunday morning, erev Rosh Chodesh.”
“And each one of us should examine our deeds, why this happened in our city, why Hashem is showing His anger. Chalilah that we should point fingers at who we think is responsible for the tragedy. Instead, each person should think that it is because of him and his sins that this terrible tragedy happened. Like Yona HaNavi said: כי יודע אני כי בשלי הסער הגדול הזה עליכם” (יונה א-יב) – despite the fact that Yonah could have blamed all those who worshipped avodah zara who were on the boat with him, he blamed only himself!”
“And seemingly, since it was right after Motzei Shabbos Kodesh, and right near a place where public Chillul Shabbos takes place, in our many sins – the Shabbos HaKedoshah is pained by the Chillul Shabbos and we must appease it and be mechazeik in shemiras Shabbos.”
“And therefore every one of us should be mechazeik in Shemiras Shabbos, at home and on the street, and influence those around him in Shemiras Shabbos. And each person should learn at least two halachos of hilchos Shabbos every day.”
“ובזכות החיזוק בשמירת השבת, נזכה לברכת השבת, וכדברי רבינו אברהם אבן עזרא “כי אשמרה שבת א-ל ישמרני”, ונזכה לגאולה בקרוב. אמן”.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
What is he referring to??
I fail to see how this statement qualifies as chizzuk? Seems more like the opposite to me.
The sensitivity in the words of his letter is lost in your selfish headline desperate for clickbait!
Unfortunately, The headline is a misinterpretation of the Rav’s words. He in essence is saying that we all are responsible. Similar to what Yona Hanavi did. He took responsibility for his own actions and blamed himself vs. his fellow man.
I will add that most probably the people being mechalel Shabbos unfortunately are Tinokos Shenishbu who obviously need Kiruv. They cannot be held responsible in the same way for their chilul Shabbos. It is our responsibility to be Mekarev them and not point fingers.
Especially in these days that we are in need of Achdus Yisroel, let us come together for the sake of bringing the Geula Sheleima now
Sorry, it’s not a misinterpretation, rather somewhat misleading…
The tziyoinim are falling apart. Interestingly enough I notice more and more frum people who are getting tired of Israel’s lies. Like that in the West Bank there is no apartheid, which has been proven over and over again (I went there as a bochur and saw it myself).
Now of course in Gaza the army is doing its job but more people could use a little self reflection about why the West Bank people have become so dangerous. Night raids into random peoples houses, random searches etc.
Rav Kahana also agreed that this is not normal and that we should kick them out instead of holding a foot in their necks. He understood why they act the way they act, which anyone would after years of getting treated like garbage.
It seems where we are getting so a situation where the last supporters of the state left will be the chareidi zionists
Even some hard core chabad guys that used to be very Zionist, have started saying in private that they believe the tziyoinim have been lying to us all along and the Arabs are takeh oppressed
Crazy stuff
Still not clear what specific actions the rav is referencing. If it is a general commentary about non-observance of shabbat, perhaps he should focus his attention starting at the top with the chazer eating, mechalel shabbos PM.
These type of broad assertions attributing tragedies to various actions or behaviors are not especially helpful when the families of non-observant yidden are sitting shivah for their sons/daughters who have been niftar in Gaza while protecting the familes of all Israelis, including chareidim.
spot on, justanotherpushuteryid
“we must appease it and be mechazeik in shemiras Shabbos….every one of us should be mechazeik in Shemiras Shabbos,…And each person should learn at least two halachos of hilchos Shabbos every day.”
Just look at comments like alexfromny. You have blood on your hands, YWN.
Before you write your comments, read his letter. He clearly writes about the tragedy which happened today, Sunday Morning. You are so quick to attack Chareidim, he does not say it happened because they were mechallel Shabbos. But, rather, he writes “Chalilah that we should point fingers at who we think is responsible for the tragedy. Instead, each person should think that it is because of him and his sins that this terrible tragedy happened.” And definitely, these days are not the right time to speak negative against Klal Yisroel and of course not our Gedolim.
יהי רצון מלפני אבינו שבשמים, שנשמע ונתבשר בשורות טובות ישועות ונחמות, ויקבץ נדחינו מארבע כנפות הארץ, ונאמר אמן.
It is not clear to this reader what the message of the letter is.
Is it being implied that chilul Shabbos brought on this tragedy?