We all have our eyes glued to the war in Ukraine, and with the combination of smartphones and social media, we can literally watch everything live as it happens.
It’s like watching a horror film.
Most frightening is Russia’s arsenal of 6000 nuclear warheads—more than any other country in the world, including the US. And the modern day nuclear weapons make the bombs dropped on Hiroshima look like child’s play.
Russia has the capacity to level every major city in the world; who can fight against that? A single nuclear bomb has so much power that it can literally destroy the entire state of New York or California. So when Russia announced that it was putting its nuclear arsenal on high alert this week, it sent a wave of fear and dread across the world.
But practically, what can we do?
We need to counter Russia’s threat by unleashing our own nuclear weapons—spiritual ones. Our arsenal of goodness and kindness is far more powerful than Putin’s warheads.
And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. There are over 200 Chabad couples serving 160 communities in 52 cities throughout Ukraine, and all have been in high gear over the past week, going to all lengths to help and support those in need.
I heard Rabbi Wolf, Chabad rabbi in Cherson, being interviewed this week. He’s been helping Jews shelter and escape around the clock, and said that all his training has been for this week alone. He was exhausted, in tears, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support he has received from all over the world. Suddenly it makes no difference if you are religious, secular, right wing, left wing, conservative, or orthodox—everyone has been reaching out to help. What a beautiful nation!
In Zhitomir, Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm stayed behind and made sure that bus after bus of Jews from his city could evacuate. Only then did he board the final bus himself. If that is not nuclear, then what is?
In another Chabad house, in the middle of Shabbat, a Jew walked in and cried out to the rabbi, Pinchus Vishetzki: “Rabbi, I have no gas! My tank is empty and there is no gas at any station in the area. I just want to save my family.”
The Rabbi did not hesitate. He pulled out his car keys and said, “My car has a full tank. Take your wife and children to safety”.
The Jew began to cry and asked, “And what about you, Rabbi?"
“I'll manage,” the Rabbi reassured him. “Go save your family!”
If that is not unleashing your most powerful nuclear weapon, what is?
Rabbi Moshe Reuven Osman of Chabad in Kiev, in a thunderous and crackling voice, says, “I'm not afraid to be killed; I won't leave the people here. We are helping the innocent population. Women, old people and children. Food for mothers who protect their children in the shelter. Medicines for elderly people that can die without them.”
Is that not nuclear?
To unleash a nuclear warhead, you don’t need an army. You just need a single person, doing a simple act, like pushing a button.
The same is true with spiritual nuclear weapons. Each of us individually can unleash their power. Surely if a nuclear bomb can literally destroy the word, our nuclear powers of goodness can save it.
Will we all perish? I promise you, we will be fine! How am I so certain? Because G-d is the boss and G-d is in control, and He would never allow the world that He built to be destroyed. Is this war a sign that the coming of Moshiach is close? Without a doubt!
So go out today and do a mitzvah for Jews in Ukraine, and beg G-d to end this madness.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Uriel Vigler