There is a true story that has been told in Eretz Yisrael and which has also reached the foreign press. In case you haven’t heard it – and even if you have – I’d like to share it with you:
An interview was overheard in which an Arab asked a Hamas commander: “What’s the problem? Why aren’t you hitting your targets? Don’t you know how to aim?” To which he was answered: “We know how to aim very well. We are experts. But their G-d moves the missiles.”
I’d like to share with you that Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch speaks strongly about the importance of being aware of the miracles that are happening to us constantly, and acting accordingly – which means improving our behavior, and also earnestly expressing our gratitude to Hashem for His miracles.
One of the gabbaim of his shul said that when there was a gathering to say Tehillim because of the war, Rabbi Shternbuch said that they should first say the chapter of Tehillim, “Mizmor LeTodah,” which thanks Hashem for all His goodness and kindness. He explained that we shouldn’t just ask Hashem for more and more kindness and miracles without first thanking Him for all the kindness and miracles which He has already done for us.
He also said that only if we are completely clear that salvation depends on Hashem alone, will Hashem save us … and we will merit further miracles.
I’d like to add something I heard several times recently regarding miracles. It’s written in the Psalms that the gentiles will praise Hashem for all His miracles that He does for Am Yisrael. The question is asked: why should the gentiles praise Hashem if the miracles are done for us? The answer is that the gentiles, who know of all the efforts they made to hurt and destroy us, efforts that we don’t even know about because they didn’t come to pass, or were unsuccessful, because – and only because – of Hashem’s loving, Divine intervention.
Rabbi Lazer Brody, who lives in Ashdod, says: “… a grad missile … sneaked pat the iron dome missile defense system and landed in Ashdod … As usual, the newscasters broadcast … ‘the Iron Dome intercepted three missiles over Ashdod … but one missile fell into open spaces.’ For a listener who isn’t familiar with Israel,” says Rabbi Brody, “it sounds like the missile landed someplace similar to the Sahara Desert or the Grand Canyon. But in tiny Israel, open spaces are parking lots and vacant sandlots. It’s about time that we open our eyes and recognize Hashem’s phenomenal providence, protection and patience. Such miracles that have led to such a miniscule level of casualties and damage, obliges us to understand Hashem’s message, awaken from our spiritual slumber and to return to Hashem. We don’t want another war; if we all wake up and do teshuva, this war will be the last.”
May all of us continue to share stories of Hashem’s kindnesses and miracles, may Hashem continue to have compassion on our soldiers, and on all Am Yisrael, and in the merit of our realizing that all goodness is from Hashem, may we all experience soon the complete redemption, the Geula.