In a heartfelt address transmitted to thousands of Bobover chassidim across Israel, including hundreds of yeshiva students, the Bobover Rebbe delivered words of encouragement and urgency amid the ongoing war, stressing the imperative to adhere meticulously to all safety directives.
The Rebbe opened his message with hoda’ah l’Hashem for the many chassodim bestowed upon the residents of Eretz HaKodesh. “Nevertheless,” he continued, “we are still in a situation that demands tefillah—hoshanah nefesh mi’behala.”
Speaking with deep personal connection, the Rebbe said, “I speak to each and every one of you individually. I do not remove you from my thoughts—day or night. I daven constantly for loyal and beloved ovdei Hashem, and I daven that we merit peace and calm, and that we should hear only besuros tovos.”
Recalling a poignant moment from the recent wedding of his granddaughter, the Rebbe shared: “Last week under the chuppah, I expressed the thought that while standing beneath the chupah in the open skies of Eretz Yisroel, our brethren were seeking shelter in bunkers. Rachmana litzlan. We find in the Gemara that Rav Shmuel bar Yitzchok danced with three myrtle branches, and we explained that he was alluding to Eretz Yisroel, which is referred to in Yirmiyahu as ‘eretz eretz eretz, hear the word of Hashem,’ which Rashi explains refers to the three regions within Eretz Yisroel.”
The Rebbe emphasized that in times of war, Klal Yisroel has a sacred tradition from our avos and gedolei hadoros how to behave: “To claim there is nothing to fear or to ignore the events unfolding around us is not our way. The Rambam states it is a mitzvas asei min haTorah to cry out and sound the alarm when tragedy strikes. That is what removes calamity.”
He continued, “It is critical to view the reality soberly. U’shemartem me’od lenafshoseichem—we must take great care of our lives. Even in a situation of safek sefeika, a distant doubt, we must strictly follow all instructions. As the pasuk says, ‘Chavi me’at rega ad ya’avor za’am’—hide for a brief moment until the wrath passes. The Ramban explains that the Torah records how Yaakov Avinu was saved to teach us that Hashem redeems His servants, even from mighty forces. Just as it happened to Yaakov, so will it be for us. Yaakov prepared for battle—with gifts, tefillah, and by fleeing to save himself. Likewise, each of us must be scrupulous not to disregard the rescue protocols.”
The Rebbe also urged his followers to engage in introspection and repentance: “We must strengthen ourselves in teshuvah and cheshbon hanefesh. V’haya machanecha kadosh—our camp must be holy. We must ensure that we are not, chas v’shalom, pushing away the Shechinah. We must safeguard all our spiritual vessels, so that middah k’neged middah, protection is granted to us from Above. Strengthen your tefillah… Our emunah must remain strong: ‘If Hashem does not guard the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.’ Only through faith can we persevere.”
At the same time, the Rebbe warned against falling into despair: “We must not be overtaken by despondency. As my grandfather, the Kedushas Tzion, wrote in a holy letter, ‘Who permitted you to worry or grieve?’ Rather, we must strengthen ourselves, and every individual should uplift their family, despite all the stress and distractions.”
He offered particular encouragement to the yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit who continue to persevere in their Torah learning: “They are fulfilling the verse, ‘Mah ahavti Sorasecha kol hayom hi sichasi.’ In their merit, we will be saved from exile and distress.”
{Matzav.com}