BS’D
Five major catastrophes occurred in Jewish history on the 17th of Tammuz: (1) Moses broke the tablets at Mount Sinai, in response to the building of the Golden Calf. (2) The daily offerings in the First Temple were suspended during the siege of Jerusalem in the 5th century BCE. (3) Jerusalem’s walls were breached, prior to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. (4) Prior to the Great Revolt, the Roman general Apostamos burned a Torah scroll — setting a precedent for the horrific burning of Jewish books throughout the centuries. (5) An idolatrous image was placed in the Holy Temple — a brazen act of blasphemy and desecration. (Aish.com)
How can we illustrate the current battle? What is the avodah (task at hand) of each and every one of us right now? To sing Tehillim v’Tishbachot (Songs of praise, love and affection) to Hashem. That is our mission; to sing to Hashem in a very loud lofty voice.
We learn this from the following written in Divrei Hayamim (Chronicles) II, 20:15-17: “And he said, “Hearken, all Judeans, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Yehoshafat, so said Hashem to you: You shall not fear neither shall you be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the war is not yours but Hashem’s… It is not for you to fight in this [war]; set yourselves, stand and see the salvation of Hashem with you, O Yehudah and Jerusalem; fear not and be not dismayed. Tomorrow, go forth before them, and Hashem will be with you.”
Do you know what Ahm Yisrael did right after Hashem spoke? They sang to Hashem as is written, (ibid. 20:19), “And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise Hashem with a loud voice on high.” Worrying ceased and in its place came songs of love to Hashem.
The K’tuvim (Scriptures) continues (ibid. 20:22), “And when they began to sing and to praise, Hashem set ambushes again the children of Ammon, Moav, and Mount Seir, which were against Yehudah, and they were smitten.” They didn’t have to life a single finger – Hashem fought their war!
Something to think about particularly today!
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Nosson Tzvi ben Sorah Rivka Kashtya a two year old who is in a coma after a pool accident. May Hashem send him a complete recovery amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.
