The Blogs: Israel is Back at war. What should/can we do?

Israel is back at war, a war they should have and could have finished months ago. The situation we are in today is far from simple, and no need for me to get into the political arena and the frightening possibilities. With God’s infinite kindness and mercy, He will take us out of this very, very soon.

I can be enraged at Hamas for being obstinate; I can be angry at the ICC for being anti-semitic; I can be fuming at the UN for having two standards when it comes to Israel; I can be exasperated at the elements in Israel who are fighting and weakening us internally and continue to give the impression to our enemies we can be defeated. I am shaken when I see the rise of antisemitism on college campuses and in general all over the world, and very few confront this abhorrent behavior as it continues to spread like a nasty infectious disease.

I can be bewildered at the fact that the world seems to blame the victim when Jews finally get up and defend themselves and simply don’t care and certainly come nowhere close, to condemning Arabs when they slaughter their own or people of other religions.

The other day, a Chabad Rabbi was sharing with an officer in the IDF what Rabbi MM Schneerson advised Israel to do in our current dilemma, and the officer retorted, “And do you do all that the Rebbe instructed”?

Rabbi MM Schneerson lamented many times that so many of us often study and study and study, and when we are faced with challenging times, we become blinded and freeze. We seem to forget what we learned and preached to others and how we should respond. Many of us forget our faith and see ourselves all alone as if “it’s (all, only) my strength that brings (or doesn’t bring) my success.”

“…… It is well known that everything in this physical world evolves from how things are spiritually, as we see according to the explanation of our sages; “Amalek came to wage war with Israel in Refidim” (the Torah tells us the name of the place, Refidim to indicate) they were weak (rafu yedaihem) and slack in the matters of Torah. This means this (spiritual weakness) was the energy and impetus that there should be the physical, “And Amalek came (to attack the Israelites).”

This is the Law of “measure for measure.” Because we allow and host the (spiritual enemy ) Amalek, “the strange evil force within,” to approach (and enter our lives and hearts); as a result, this evil Amalek evolves in the physical world (as the counterpart of the evil within), and (the actual physical) Amalek comes and attacks. The same is true concerning the wars of the other nations …….” (Purim 5730)

In the above quote, Rabbi MM Schneerson makes it straightforward for a believing person. What happens physically is a direct result of how one conducts oneself spiritually. The energy for the physical reality results from its inner spiritual undertones. What we experience physically is a mirror and outgrowth of our spiritual conduct.

I wish all were well and there were no fights, wars, casualties, etc., to write about. We all lived happily and peacefully, “each of us under our vine trees.” Unfortunately, according to the quote above from the Rebbe’s discourse, the reason we are still battling Amalek, i.e., Hamas, Houthis, Hezbollah, Iran, etc., is that we seem not to be addressing this evil force within ourselves and within our communities. The stubborn, persistent Hamas within is the root cause for the impudent, persistent, evil Hamas in this world!

I see all the frustrations and anger I mentioned above regarding our current terrible physical situation on Chassidic/Frum WhatsApp groups and social media. I see many articles and videos about our current problematic and troublesome situation. If anyone is genuinely bothered and wants a positive and helpful impact, passing around these distressful news updates is not where our energy should be focused. Regular people not in politics will accomplish practically nothing since they have no influence there. So posting and discussing these matters can only make us anxious and stressed and not be of much good.

The only way you and I can help alleviate the pain and hardships all of Israel is going through is, according to the Rebbe and classical Jewish sources, by eliminating the negative energy within. If anyone is genuinely interested in improving where we’re at, it would behoove them to eradicate the Amalek within our communities and not play blind, but address the issues. There has to be an Amalek within if there is such a persistent one in the world. Amalek must be totally eradicated to see relief from what’s happening worldwide.

Eighteen months have passed since October 7th, and this persistent problem in the world does not seem to be getting any better.

When the Head Shliach of Florida ignores and consciously rebels against the Psak Din of a Bais Din because it ruled against his interests, which he shook hands and committed to implement, and no one stands up to challenge this horrible behavior, open and blatant disregard for the rules of our holy Torah and the request of the Rebbe to follow the rulings of a Bais Din, according to the Rebbe and classical Jewish texts this is reflected in the world where world leaders say and do ridiculous, unjust things, receive support and accolades and are allowed to get away with this.

Where is the protest in the world for the victims of this tragic attack?

This same Head (sic) Shliach had the temerity to threaten the entire Bais Din, saying he would take them all to another Bais Din if they did not change their legal decision in his favor!!

When the family (other Shluchim Directors of educational institutions in Florida) of this Head Shliach lies on his behalf to protect this unlawful behavior, creates false narratives to protect his father and his reputation, and tries to organize others to operate with him in this crusade, according to Rabbi MM Schneerson, this behavior creates the possibility that so many other world leaders vote for and defend the crazy, hypocritical, and unjustified position promoted on the world stage using all kinds of perversions of truth and outright lies. This behavior becomes the energy, which is the root cause of the phenomenon worldwide, especially for the many fabricated lies against our people.

The above is just one example of the inner Amalek in our communities that I am most familiar with, and there are many other similar Amaleks within that are crying out for their attention and elimination.

The blame and responsibility in this article (and in the other cases not mentioned here) used as a Spiritual Amalek within our communities must be laid squarely and entirely on the perpetrators of this terrible behavior and not on the victims for speaking out. Otherwise, we are once again adding fuel to this same phenomenon in the world where Israel, the victim, is blamed for its actions of defending itself from the terrorist perpetrators of horrendous acts.

It should be a personal feeling for all conscionable Chassidim who want to emulate the Rebbe and follow his teachings that when not such good things are happening in the world, we take it seriously with introspection personally and communally.

Today’s incredible audacity and impudence of our enemies must end quickly. We cannot allow our current situation to fester for much longer. With the help of God Almighty, this will all “fly away from us like a dream.” Getting rid of Amalek inside each of us and in our communities is the first step to ushering in the times of Moshiach. If we are here today, God knows we can overcome these bitter struggles.

Let us hope and pray that just like then in the times of Haman, the entire month of Adar was turned on its head miraculously for the good, that we will quickly move from the miracle of Purim to our ultimate redemption speedily now.