English Blog

Am I Still Obligated To Don Tefillin?

Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 4:34 PM

This week I met Ron Harari, 21, who served as a combat medic. On October 7th he was called to his base in Nahal Oz which had been infiltrated by hundreds of terrorists, creating a bloodbath of murdered and wounded Israelis. Ron began treating everyone he could and then traveled to another base to help treat the wounded there. On the way, his APC was hit by a Kornet missile, and he was thrown into the air, one arm ripped off and shrapnel in his eye. His friend, who was also in the APC, was killed instantly. Ron was rescued and airlifted to Soroka Hospital, where he was sedated and ventilated.

We recently flew Ron and several other soldiers to NY to be seen by top doctors and specialists.

When we met, I asked Ron to put on tefillin. He agreed, we proceeded to wrap the straps and he recited Shema.

Then Ron asked me, “You know I can’t put on tefillin by myself now; I only have one hand. Am I still obligated to put them on daily?”

I gave it some thought. Here is a soldier who fought and battled for Am Yisrael, and while performing the greatest mitzvah of all—saving lives—he is wounded so badly that his hand is ripped off and he cannot don tefillin.

As a rabbi, answering a question is easy, but the trick is to answer the person not just the question.

So while the surface answer was easy—”yes, you still need to put on tefillin”—the real question was much deeper and harder to answer: “Why would G-d take away my hand if He commands me to put on tefillin, which I now can’t do?”

We know that every single thing in life is Divinely orchestrated. Nothing occurs randomly. It’s all part of His heavenly plan. Sometimes we are given glimpses into that plan, but often we are not.

I had to dig deep. Ron’s question was painful and legitimate. Why would G-d take away his hand? And why would G-d take away his hand when he needs both hands to wrap tefillin every day?

And the unsatisfying answer is simply: I don’t know. I have no explanation for G-d’s actions. I don’t think anyone knows or understands. All I know is how much we love Ron and appreciate his sacrifice. And I know that we will all be there to wrap tefillin on Ron whenever he wants.

But why G-d brought him so much pain, why so many soldiers were injured and why October 7th happened … that we don’t know.

We pray for the day Moshiach comes when all will become clear and all pain will evaporate.

In the meantime, we will continue to envelope Ron with love, joy, and immense gratitude.

L’chaim, Ron! G-d loves you and so do we.

Do South Africans Hate Israel?

Thursday, February 22, 2024 - 12:53 PM

I just came back from a beautiful trip to South Africa. I flew in for my niece’s wedding—along with most of my siblings—and we spent an incredible weekend together.

When I told people I was going to South Africa, the overwhelming response was, “South Africa? Are you serious? It’s so dangerous there now! Don’t go.”

We all know South Africa has been leading the charge in the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, which the Israeli Foreign Ministry called “one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history and a series of baseless and false claims.”

And then, while I was there, South Africa submitted an urgent measure to safeguard Rafah in the Gaza Strip (which was ultimately rejected).

Listening to the media, you’d think South Africans really hate Israel. But while I was there, I spoke with at least 100 locals—people I met on the streets, in shopping malls, going about their day-to-day lives—and not one of them had anything bad to say! In fact, they all told me how much they love Israel and the Jews—a poll with 100% success, definitely not what you would expect from reading the news. Moreover, I felt perfectly safe walking around Johannesburg late at night.

So what is it then? How to explain the discrepancy?

It seems that the government hates Israel, but the people love us. I grew up in South Africa. South Africans are generally warm, kind, friendly people. You greet someone on the street with a “Good morning” and they respond with a resounding “Good day!” You stop someone for directions and they don’t just wave you off, they stay with you and try to help you. South Africans are genuinely nice people.

On top of that, the Rebbe promised that South Africa will be good for the Jews until Moshiach comes, and even afterwards.

Clearly, there is a massive disconnect between what we see and hear in the media and what the average South African actually thinks and feels. The media tells us how dangerous and anti-Israel South Africa is, but it’s not true! The government has issues, but the locals love us.

I realized there’s an important message here for all of us.

In this world, we are all blind. We do not see the truth—G-d’s master plan. But ultimately, everything that happens in this world and in our personal lives is Divinely ordained.

Most of the time we don’t see it. We live our lives thinking we are the masters of our own success, but actually we are like the blind groping in the darkness.

Before we say the Shema every day, we beseech G-d: “Have mercy on us!” What does this mean? “Open our eyes to the truth,” we ask G-d, “show us Your ways. We don’t want to be blind.”

Moshiach is about to arrive, bringing redemption and world peace, but we are so blind that you’re probably thinking right now, “This rabbi is so out of touch!”

L’chaim! Let Moshiach come right now, and let G-d open our eyes so we truly trust and believe it will happen.

Dearest Hostages

Thursday, February 1, 2024 - 9:17 AM

Dearest Hostages,

Words alone cannot even begin to assuage the deep sense of pain and loneliness you are experiencing. We cannot begin to imagine the depths of your suffering. I cannot envision a worse predicament than being at mercy of ruthless, violent, blood-thirsty terrorists, living in fear every moment of every day. We have no idea how you survive each day in the darkness of Gaza, in tunnels or above ground. From where do you draw the strength?

That you’ve been living this way for well over 100 days is unfathomable.

When we go through dark periods, it's hard to imagine anything outside the pain. The future is blurry; there’s no apparent end to the suffering. “Why me? Why our people? Will the suffering ever end? What is its purpose?” Surely these questions flood your mind as you pray for an immediate end to your captivity.

And while I don’t have the answers to any of those questions, I wish you could see what Am Yisrael is doing now on your behalf.

Children in schools across the globe are praying for your safe return. Adults are reciting tehillim and learning in your honor. Jews of all stripes are doing acts of kindness in the merit of your safety. More Jews than ever are putting on tefillin, lighting Shabbat candles, and giving charity, storming the heavens and demanding your safe return.

The IDF, of course, is doing everything in its power to bring you back. Politicians and people behind the scenes are moving mountains to exert pressure for your immediate return.

You have succeeded in uniting the nation of Israel like never before—the togetherness we are experiencing now, all bound by our desire to see you reunited with your loved ones, is unprecedented.

This Shabbat we read the Ten Commandments, which outlines why we were created and what our mission is in this world: to infuse the darkness with the light of G-dliness, making our surroundings a holy place. This is exactly what we are trying to do—to flood the tunnels of Gaza with spiritual light until G-d is forced to concede, “Enough! You can all go home!”

We are moving mountains for you. We are coming to get you. You are in our hearts and minds every second of every day.

You are not alone; we are all with you and sending you a tremendous amount of strength, energy and light.

Stay strong! We will get through this and greet Moshiach, reunited in Yerushalayim, with you in the front row.

We love you all,

Rabbi Uriel Vigler