לזכר נשמת אמי מורתי שולמית בת הר’ יעקב אליעזר ע”ה
In memory of my mother, Mrs. Shulamith Rabinowitz A”H.
May the study of Torah we do through this message be a merit for shalom in Israel.

מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כָּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל תִּפְקְדוּ אֹתָם לְצִבְאֹתָם אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן׃

From twenty years and up, those who can join the army (of the nation) of Israel, you and Aharon shall count them according to their groups. (Bamidbar 1:3)

I’d like to share with you a story about a Jewish Soldier.

Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach (1825-1894) the Belzer rebbe (the Grand Rabbi of the Chasidic dynasty of Belz, Ukraine) was staying at a hotel in Vienna for Shabbos with a group of his followers. At one point the Rebbe heard melodious sounds emanating from the room next door. He rose to see where they were coming from with his followers close behind. They found a Jewish soldier singing the words of Torah he was so immersed in. His concentration was so great that he was oblivious to those watching him. Finally he noticed the Rebbe standing at the door and rushed to greet him. The Rebbe asked him his name and what brought him to the hotel.

The soldier explained that when he was drafted into the army he made one request of Hashem: that he not have to desecrate Shabbos. His request was granted. He was appointed special assistant to an officer who agreed to let him take Shabbos off if he worked diligently and loyally for the remaining days of the week.

The soldier told the Rebbe that he made a vow that if Hashem allowed him to keep every Shabbos he would dedicate every moment of Shabbos to the service of Hashem and Torah study.

As the Rebbe left the room he turned to his followers and said, “Who knows if the Torah of this soldier is holding up Moshiach (Messiah) from coming!” His followers were taken back and asked him what he meant.

“It is possible,” said the Rebbe, “that the Torah of this soldier is more precious to Hashem than the sacrifices (korbanot) and Divine worship of the future Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple).”

There are people who display great dedication and self sacrifice in their service of Hashem, whether it be in Torah study or supporting others. They do it though, under conditions that are conducive to their goals. Then there are people to this day who display great dedication and self sacrifice to serve Hashem under conditions that are extremely difficult and actually hostile to that goal. There are things that may seem so easy to us to do that for some are really challenging. Yet those people rise to the challenge without support and without fanfare. They may be people who don’t appear to be as great as a pious and learned Rebbe. But they have accomplished something that few have.

Let’s hope that instead of postponing, these people speed up the coming of Moshiach!

Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak