I hope that we don’t make the same mistake which we made during the plague of Corona. Our Sages teach that everything which Hashem does in the world, He does for the Jewish People. Obviously Corona was meant to wake us up and inspire us to pay more attention to the King of the Universe in both our daily and national lives. But after an initial reaction of “Gevalt!” our attention focused on the important and necessary issue of finding an effective vaccination against an invisible enemy. In this emergency situation, Hashem was put on the back burner. People prayed, and certainly many were moved to forge a stronger bond with the Torah, but on a national level we remained the same.
Often we look upon Hashem as if He were a spare tire in the baggage of our cars. Most of the time we drive about doing our daily chores, not thinking about the spare tire. Only when we get a flat tire do we turn to the spare tire for salvation. But the Creator of Heaven and Earth isn’t a spare tire. He is the metaphorical designer, maker, and driver of the car. In the wake of the plague of Corona, most of us and the world went back to business as usual. Hashem was largely forgotten.
What does this have to do with the surprise terrorist attack on Simchat Torah and with the war Israel is now fighting? Well, as they say, Hashem has many messengers. He has no shortage of ways to awaken us and call us back to Him. Right now, after the initial “Gevalt” of the horror and magnitude of the disaster which fell upon at the outbreak of the war, most of our attention is focused on the appropriate military response, on the defense of our communities, and on the mighty effort needed to help our soldiers, the wounded, and people evacuated from their homes across the country. Certainly, all of this is vital for our survival and a great mitzvah.
Also, along with the explosions, we can hear the thunder of our united and heartfelt prayers. But, in addition, because we are the Children of Israel and Hashem’s chosen Nation, the war can be seen as a wake-up call to bring us back to our full identity, both as a powerful physical nation and as a kingdom of priests and a holy Nation. Perhaps, according to Hashem’s game plan, the time has come to make the transition from a secular state to a state which carries the word of Hashem on its lips and which upholds the light of the Torah as a beacon to all of the world. Hashem has promised that we will reach that exalted calling. And He shall, in one way or another, surely bring it to pass.