Protection

Netanyahu encouraged Jewish pilgrims to stay away from Ukraine. He said that G-d didn’t always protect Jews in Europe.

Some Haredi Knesset members blasted him. Some argued that as long as Jews don’t sin, G-d protects them.

Regarding the holocaust, the Lubavitcher Rebbe said that it was so horrific, that we can’t possibly say that the holocaust was punishment for sins. The Rebbe said that no sin could possibly justify such horror. He said that right now we can’t understand why the holocaust happened.

We believe that everything G-d does is ultimately for our benefit. Sometimes the benefit is for the souls. And when Moshiach comes, we will then understand and appreciate everything that G-d has done.

The Rebbe explained that belief is for the past, and trust is for the future. So we believe that everything that happened was for the best, even if we don’t understand why. But for the future, we trust in G-d that He will help and protect us in a way that we can appreciate right now.

The Rebbe encouraged doing mitzvahs, good deeds, in order to open channels to receive G-d’s blessings. He often encouraged people to check their mezuzahs, since this helps to bring G-d’s protection. Before the Six Day War, he initiated a campaign to encourage many to put on tefillin, saying that this mitzvah helps to bring G-d’s blessing.

Netanyahu is not wrong. Our sages tell us to avoid dangerous situations, and to not rely on miracles. (There is a principle that people engaged in doing a mitzvah are generally not harmed. But (as explained in the Gate of Trust in Duties of the Heart), jeopardizing one’s life can cause the withdrawal of Divine protection, G-d forbid.)

G-d wants us to “guard our own lives very carefully.” (Deuteronomy 4; 15)

This includes not giving away any of Israel’s territory. The Rebbe explained that rumours about giving away land encourages terrorists, because they think that they have something to gain. He said that the Prime Minister of Israel should announce that Israel will not give away any land, and that this would save Arab lives too.

Let’s trust in G-d to protect us always. “Behold the Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers.” (Psalms 121; 4) Just before Iraq launched Scud missiles towards Israel, the Rebbe told us that Israel is the safest place, and he quoted a verse regarding Israel, that “G-d’s eyes are constantly on it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11; 12) And we saw tremendous miracles, as the Almighty protected the Jewish nation.

G-d loves us. And He protects us. And by trusting in Him, we help to bring His blessings more quickly, until the ultimate blessing of our Redemption with Moshiach, when those who passed away will rise and dance and sing with us, on the holy mountain in Jerusalem, in the holy Temple which will stand forever.

May it happen now.