In light of the numerous disasters that have befallen the Chareidi sector during Bein HaZemanim, HaMashgiach HaTaddik HaRav Don Segal spoke words of chizuk this week. Speaking in a broken and tear-filled voice, HaRav Segal said: “Our hearts are broken, every eye tears and every soul is rent about the great trials that have befallen us during these days. It’s already known what the Rambam said, that if chas v’chalilah we don’t wake up from the tzaros that befall Yisrael and instead relate to them as coincidences, chas v’chalilah, on this it says: ‘ואם תלכו עמי בקרי והלכתי עמכם בחמת קרי’ [If my nation treats it as happenstance, I will treat you with a fury of happenstance.], rachmana litzlan.” “It pains that I’m saying this and I know that I’m not worthy to say this but at a time when it’s a matter of pikuach nefesh for Klal Yisrael, the weak will say I’m strong,” HaRav Segal said. “It is known that the Gemara says in Taanis (31): ‘Tanya, Rebbe Eliezer HaGadol says, from the 15th of Av and onwards, the koach of the sun is weakened, and no trees were cut for the wood for the mizbeach, since they wouldn’t dry. Rav Menashya said: ‘וקרו ליה יום תבר מגל’ [They call it the day that the sickle was broken]. From now onwards, the one who increases[his limmud Torah], [his days] will be increased, and the one who doesn’t increase will be ‘gathered,’ i.e. will die.’” “‘Rav Yosef quotes a beraisa, ‘What is ‘will be gathered’? Rav Yosef says: ‘His mother will bury him.’ And Rashi explains – ‘from here and onwards – from the 15th of Av and onwards – he who add nights to days to be oisek b’Torah, the days of his life will be increased. And the one who doesn’t increase – to be oisek b’Torah during the nights – his mother will bury him, i.e, he will die before his time.’ So it’s explained that davka, one who adds limmud Torah during these days will add to his life, and if chalilah, he doesn’t increase limmud Torah during these days – when they stopped cutting wood for the mizbeach and increased limmud Torah – his life will be taken and his mother will bury him, rachmana latzlan.” “And the fact of the matter is that it’s seen from the sources in Chazal that davka during these days, the obligation is to add to the study of Torah and not chas v’chalilah the opposite. Moreover, if we close the yeshivos hakedoshos, apart from the etzem of the bittul Torah of the matter, but then chas v’chalilah, it appears as if we don’t believe in the these divrei Chazal, as it specifically says that he who doesn’t increase his limmud will be ‘gathered’ and his mother will bury him. And if an individual does this, the matter concerns him, but if it’s the entire public, it’s kaviyachol like we don’t believe these words of Chazal, and it’s terrible to contemplate.” “Unfortunately tzaros occur every Bein HaZemanin. I remember once that they shelled the city of Haifa. The residents were in danger and many wanted to flee the city. I was by HaGaon HaRav Shteinman, z’tl, and he immediately said: ‘It’s pashut to me that in another week, this […]

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