There is no way to make sense of the world today. A tiny state surrounded by enemies on all borders, composed of the most persecuted people on earth, who were victims of the greatest genocide in history, now stands accused of genocide itself. Why? Because it is fighting back against the most brutal terrorist organization in the world, which committed unspeakable horrors against the tiny country.
We are suddenly finding out, as are the rest of the nations, that the descendants of Yishmael have a grip on just about every Western country. They have even controlled the minds of academia and the students of the greatest intellectuals on Earth. I do not have to spell it out. It is too painful to recount.
Everything is upside down. The greater the atrocity committed by terrorists, the greater the backing they receive. They have even attracted greater numbers of Neturei Karta, ubiquitous at every pro-Palestinian rally. This despicable group of chasidic-looking anti-Zionist extremists take pride in siding with the enemy that killed thousands of their brethren. It is very gratifying to learn that the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg publicly lambasted them for their actions and said that this is what happens when you conduct yourselves with no regard for halachah or our Mesorah, long-standing tradition. Even the extremists have gone beyond their extremes.
The only comfort we have is that we are Jews. The anti-Semites claim that we, a speck of a people, dominate the world. In a certain sense that’s true. The Torah tells us that as Jews, “You shall be only above…and He shall place us as the head and not the tail” (D’varim 28:13). The word used for “only” in this pasuk is “rak,” a diminutive word, minimizing things. The sefer Divrei Eliezer, as quoted by Iturei Torah, explains that while we are the smallest of nations, we will always be at the center of the world’s agenda. We see that constantly. Just ask the United Nations. Even more so today.
The midrash in Pesikta Rabasi (37:2) tells us that in the generation preceding the arrival of Mashiach, all the nations of the world will conflict with each other, with Persia (Iran) stirring things in the middle. At that time, Hashem will let us know that the Jews will find solace in knowing that the Great Redeemer is at the doorstep.
At least we can take comfort in that promise.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.
