Following the fall of missile fragments in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak on Purim, the neighborhood’s rov and renowned posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, addressed the incident on Thursday morning and called on residents to recognize the great miracles that occurred.
Speaking briefly in the central shul of Ramat Elchanan after Shacharis at neitz, Rav Zilberstein reflected on the events and shared words of perspective relevant to the current situation.
At the beginning of his remarks, Rav Zilberstein spoke about the broader miracles being witnessed in recent days.
“We have such a great illumination of favor from Hakadosh Baruch Hu—it is impossible to describe how great this illumination is. Today we clearly see the finger of Hashem in a very great way. The very fact that we remain alive after so many bombs that occurred during this night…”
In an unusual moment, the rov also shared a personal experience from the night of the attack.
“I sleep in Ramat Gan. What sirens there were during the night, without end… Now we come to the shul and say to Hakadosh Baruch Hu: even if there will be sirens from today until tomorrow, we are not shaken—we continue to do Your service.”
His talmid and close associate, the writer Rabbi Moshe Michael Tzoran, then raised a question that many residents had been asking: What should people do in response to what happened with the missile that fell in the neighborhood, even though clear miracles took place?
Rav Zilberstein responded directly.
“First of all: it is an enormous miracle that we all remained alive… Secondly: what happened here, simply speaking, must have been some sin that caused it.”
Talmidim of Rav Zilberstein later noted that at the moment the missile debris fell, the rov cited the words of Rashi on the verse in Bereishis (32:11). Although Hakadosh Baruch Hu promised Yaakov Avinu, “I will guard you wherever you go,” Yaakov still feared that a sin might cause the promise not to be fulfilled and that he might fall into the hands of Eisav. A similar idea is mentioned in the Mishnah Berurah (siman 158:38), which explains that even someone who is careful about netilas yadayim yet does not become wealthy—despite the promise of Chazal—may be prevented by his own negative actions.
Rav Zilberstein then surprised the kehillah with a remarkable display of humility. Standing before the community of Ramat Elchanan, he said: “We do not know whose sin it is… perhaps I am to blame… most likely I am to blame!”
Members of the shul immediately protested out of respect and affection for their rov and for the honor of Torah. Several people responded, “Chas v’shalom,” and one individual even raised his voice and declared, “I protest… I protest.”
Rav Zilberstein smiled and replied: “I will receive reward for what I said, and you will receive double the reward from me.”
He then continued: “What happened here is something that requires explanation. If we had someone today with ruach hakodesh, he would tell us what we must do—but we do not have that today.”
Rav Zilberstein went on to describe the remarkable miracles that occurred during the incident on Purim.
“But we must remember that there were miracles here that were beyond the natural order… As I heard, the gas pipe exploded and could have caused a massive fire. Immediately afterward the water pipe also burst, and the water extinguished the fire.”
This, he said, reminded him of an incident involving his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
“It reminded me of something that happened with my father-in-law, Maran Rav Elyashiv zt”l. During the time when the Jordanians were shelling Yerushalayim, a shell fell on the roof of his home and a large fire broke out. Rav Elyashiv simply stood there and said: ‘Hakadosh Baruch Hu, help me.’ Immediately afterward another shell fell and struck the water boiler, which exploded, and the water spilled out and extinguished the entire fire. So we have a possibility—how can there be a fire that does not require firefighters? Rav Elyashiv…”
In closing, Rav Zilberstein urged the public to strengthen efforts to draw Jews closer to Torah, especially during this period.
“We must now see that the greatest thing is for anyone who interacts with secular Jews to speak with them pleasantly, and it is possible to accomplish wonders. Simply speak nicely and with proper respect, and ask for siyata d’Shmaya. Today we can do a great deal with our brothers, because this is a time of awakening—truly extraordinary. But what is required is a great deal of siyata d’Shmaya.”
He concluded his remarks with a brocha: “All the best to my dear friends. May we merit to sanctify the name of Heaven, and may we merit to see salvations and consolations.”
{Matzav.com}
