Hakhel's Response to Bin Laden Death

Special Note One: A horrific Rasha was eliminated from our midst, and the announcement to the world of this fact was made on 28 Nissan, the date upon which the walls of Yericho fell at the seventh Hakafah of the Bnei Yisroel around the city. Most certainly, a grand lesson to us all is that Hashem takes every deed into account, and rewards and punishes at such time and in such manner as He deems fit. “We are reminded that as a nation there is nothing we can’t do,” is a quote of President Obama when announcing the Rasha’s pegira that flies squarely in the face of not only what we believe--but what we know. It is Hashem and Hashem alone acting and in control from Aleph to Tof. Additionally, Hashem has presented us with a graphic opportunity and display of how All of His Ways are Just, and that no one can hide himself or his deeds on the Day of Judgment. He was responsible for the murder and destruction of the family life of tens of thousands, and has only begun to receive his eternal punishment. We can learn that on our own personal level, LeHavdil, we will have our day on the things we do right, and the things we do wrong. Doesn’t it make a lot of sense to turn the word of Lashon Hara about to be uttered into a conciliatory phrase or even a compliment, a Kavannah-less into a Kavanna-filled prayer, and a minute of Bittul Torah into minute of Talmud Torah. Instead of wasting five minutes on something that you know is really needless, why not make a call to someone who needs Chizuk or think about Teshuva that needs to be done. It is our life--it is precious, it is invaluable, it is everlasting, it is eternal--and it what we make of it!

We asked a close Talmid of HaRav Moshe Wolfson, Shlita, how he felt the great Mashgiach would view these recent events. He responded with a few points:

1. It must be that the Sarim, the Heavenly representatives representing the various Yishmael parties are failing and falling, as a precursor for the Haramas Keren Yisroel;

2. That this is a time U’Viarta HaRa’ah MeKirbecha--a time of ridding the world of each individual’s evil; and

3. Hashem is showing us an Ais Ratzon, and that we should wisely use it with improved Tefillah and increased Torah study. ‘The wise man’s eyes are in his head’, and one should be using his head at this time to enhance his daily Avodas Hashem in a real and tangible way. Every person knows something that he can do in the here and now to improve his daily life.