Remember to Look at the Big Picture | Rabbi Haggai Lundin | Beit Midrash

Family and Society
Army and War

קטגוריה משנית

The daring operation in which two hostages were released by IDF forces makes us all happy, not because it solved all our problems: there are still 134 hostages in Gaza, the campaign is far from over, and we are overwhelmed with a variety of security, economic and social challenges; at the same time, it makes us happy because it is a reminder of the big picture, which is - we are winning!

In the month of Adar, we increase in rejoicing because that is when the miracle of Purim took place. The salvation on Purim did not solve all the problems of the Jews in Persia (which is why Hallel is not recited), but it was a miracle. "Nes" the Hebrew word for miracle is related to the Hebrew for a flag that is raised; a reminder that the overall picture is that reality is led by God and leads to the good and to salvation.

The release of the hostages is also a miracle; a flag that reminds us of the overall picture that terrorism is won by determined struggle, not through surrender; a flag that reminds us – despite some people's desperate desire to obscure this – that the overall picture is that we are defeating Hamas; a flag that reminds us that the overall picture is that in the long run the Jewish people are overcoming and growing security-wise, economically, socially and spiritually.

The sages say that "one who wants his assets to be preserved and protected from ruin should plant an eder tree among them, as it is written: "The Lord on high is mighty [adir]" (Psalms 93:4). Due to the similarity of the words eder and adir, this is understood to mean that the eder tree bestows permanence" (Beitza 15b). Anyone who wants to preserve their mental health and stay sane in the midst of the current tumultuous situation, should remember these signs which remind us of the overall picture that "the Lord on high is mighty".

The evil will pass
The good will prevail
With the help of God

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Army and War