?Our Father, our King, frustrate the counsel of our foes.?
Regarding the plot of Esau, also called Edom, to destroy the world, our sages comment: ?Jacob said: Master of the Universe, do not allow wicked Esau to do as he wishes. ?Further not his evil device? (Psalm 140:9) - this refers to the Edomite Kingdom of Germany, which if allowed to pursue its goals would destroy the whole world.? (Megillah 6a).
Indeed, throughout history, despots have arisen who plotted to conquer the whole world and to destroy it. Yet G-d always found the way to prevent their destructive plots from hatching, as in the example that our sages bring of Germany and Rome, which fought one another, thereby making it impossible for them to unite and fulfill their mission (ibid.).
In our own era, the worst despot of all times arose, Hitler, in that very same Germany, and his goal was to conquer the whole world and to destroy it. He first set for himself the goal of destroying and annihilating all the Jews, men, women and children. With his bestial sixth sense, he knew that Israel was the heart of the world, and that as long as that heart continued to beat, the human race and the whole world could rise once more. Yet G-d, in His abundant mercy, did not allow him to implement his evil plan. G-d, Master of Warfare and the Prime Cause, brought the whole free world against him in the Second World War, led by the United States, the Soviet Union and England. The Axis of Evil, headed by Germany and Hitler, suffered a resounding defeat, and Israel arose to rebirth in Eretz Yisrael, through the establishment of the Jewish State.
Today, we bear witness once more to a cruel despot who has risen in Iraq with the goal of conquering and destroying the world, starting off with the state of Israel. Just as despots down through the generations did not succeed, so shall this despot meet a similar fate. And may we see the fulfillment of the blessing, ?You in Your great mercy did frustrate his counsel and upset his plan. You caused his mischief to recoil on his own head? (Al HaNisim prayer), as well as the speedy fulfillment of our request in the Avinu Malkenu prayer: ?Our Father, our King, annul the plans of our enemies, frustrate the counsel of our foes, rid us of every oppressor and adversary.?
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Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UbeEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il/.
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Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.
Regarding the plot of Esau, also called Edom, to destroy the world, our sages comment: ?Jacob said: Master of the Universe, do not allow wicked Esau to do as he wishes. ?Further not his evil device? (Psalm 140:9) - this refers to the Edomite Kingdom of Germany, which if allowed to pursue its goals would destroy the whole world.? (Megillah 6a).
Indeed, throughout history, despots have arisen who plotted to conquer the whole world and to destroy it. Yet G-d always found the way to prevent their destructive plots from hatching, as in the example that our sages bring of Germany and Rome, which fought one another, thereby making it impossible for them to unite and fulfill their mission (ibid.).
In our own era, the worst despot of all times arose, Hitler, in that very same Germany, and his goal was to conquer the whole world and to destroy it. He first set for himself the goal of destroying and annihilating all the Jews, men, women and children. With his bestial sixth sense, he knew that Israel was the heart of the world, and that as long as that heart continued to beat, the human race and the whole world could rise once more. Yet G-d, in His abundant mercy, did not allow him to implement his evil plan. G-d, Master of Warfare and the Prime Cause, brought the whole free world against him in the Second World War, led by the United States, the Soviet Union and England. The Axis of Evil, headed by Germany and Hitler, suffered a resounding defeat, and Israel arose to rebirth in Eretz Yisrael, through the establishment of the Jewish State.
Today, we bear witness once more to a cruel despot who has risen in Iraq with the goal of conquering and destroying the world, starting off with the state of Israel. Just as despots down through the generations did not succeed, so shall this despot meet a similar fate. And may we see the fulfillment of the blessing, ?You in Your great mercy did frustrate his counsel and upset his plan. You caused his mischief to recoil on his own head? (Al HaNisim prayer), as well as the speedy fulfillment of our request in the Avinu Malkenu prayer: ?Our Father, our King, annul the plans of our enemies, frustrate the counsel of our foes, rid us of every oppressor and adversary.?
--------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UbeEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il/.
************
Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.