Strength in War 

“This was the first journey at Hashem’s bidding through the hand of Moshe.” (Bamidbar 10:13) 

The True Strength in War 

Whenever the threat of a major war arises — especially in light of recent events — the world quickly descends into fear and anxiety, gripped by the dread of a potential global catastrophe. 

In today’s technological age, fear is magnified by the relentless flow of information from media outlets. Constant exposure to news updates subtly pulls people away from a spiritual perspective. 

Rather than turning inward and strengthening their emunah during these troubling times, many become fixated on human efforts — military strategy, political maneuvering, and displays of power. The more they absorb, the more they are drawn into the illusion that human hands control the outcome. 

But this is a tragic mistake. True security doesn’t come from armies or diplomacy — it comes from Hashem alone. 

In times like these, we must hold fast to the timeless wisdom of Chazal, who taught in Sotah that in the era of Ikvesa D’Meshicha — footsteps of Mashiach — our only true support is Hashem. 

When the world feels uncertain and unstable, our task is clear and unwavering: to place our trust solely in our Father in Heaven. This is not a time for confidence in human strength or power. It is a time to remember that salvation does not come through might, but through emunah, faith. 

In such times, the clearest path forward is to awaken our hearts and draw closer to Hashem—through strengthening our observance of mitzvot and turning to Him in sincere prayer and pleading. 

R’ Chaim Vital, zt”l, writes in Eitz HaDaas Tov (Chapter 24) that at the end of days, a most difficult exile will come through the children of Yishmael. And in that dark time, he warns, salvation will not come through strength or strategy — but only through heartfelt cries and tefillot to Hashem. 

A Time for Teshuvah 

The Chafetz Chaim, zt”l, once announced, that he would deliver a halachic lecture in his home for the students of his yeshivah. When all the students had gathered, he simply read to them a single line from Sanhedrin (97b), which discusses the coming of Mashiach: “Rav said: All the appointed times have passed, and the matter depends solely on teshuvah (repentance).” 

That was the entire lesson. 

Through this simple yet profound act, the Chafetz Chaim was teaching his students a powerful truth: in our times, as we witness the suffering and upheaval that marks the birth pangs of Mashiach’s arrival, the halachic response is clear — we must awaken from our spiritual slumber and empower ourselves through the process of teshuvah. Redemption does not hinge on politics or power, but on the spiritual awakening of the Jewish people. 

And when that awakening does not come on its own, Heaven intervenes. As the Gemara explains, when the Jewish people delay repentance, Hashem appoints a king with decrees as harsh as Haman’s — forcing them to return and correct their ways. These difficult moments are not random; they are lovingly orchestrated to stir us from within and guide us back to Him. 

Remembering the Divine Design 

In such times, we must be especially cautious not to fall under the influence of those who attribute everything to chance or coincidence. 

The Chafetz Chaim zt”l offered a striking interpretation of the Mishnah at the end of Sotah, which describes the era of Ikvesa D’Meshicha as a time when “the face of the generation is like the face of a dog.” 

The Chafetz Chaim explained that when a person throws a stone and a dog chases after it, the dog bites the stone with all its might, injuring its teeth—entirely fixated on the object that struck it, without ever turning to see who threw it. So too, in our generation, many respond only to the immediate pain and turmoil, focusing solely on surface events. They never pause to recognize that it is Hashem who is behind it all—lovingly sending these challenges as a wake-up call, urging us to return to Him in teshuvah. 

In the same spirit, his student, the R’ Elchanan Wasserman, zt”l, wrote in Ikvesa D’Meshicha (1:13):  

“There is no use in striking the stick—for are there not countless sticks in Heaven? Hashem has many agents. What we must do is act in ways that prevent the nations from being empowered to raise their sticks against us. Yet our modern leaders have declared war on mighty empires. And what has come of it? They have only fueled the fury of the serpents against us. They see the stick—but refuse to acknowledge the One who wields it.” 

These words ring truer than ever: when we focus only on worldly threats and forget the Divine source behind them, we lose the very key to our salvation. 

Now Is the Time for Commitment 

When facing times like these, we must respond by making meaningful commitments and taking positive steps forward. As it says in Tehillim (Psalm 66), before the coming of Mashiach, Hashem will place the Jewish people in a state of hardship and fear—pressed by the forces of Esav and Yishmael—not as punishment, but as a call to awaken. These moments of distress are meant to stir us to teshuvah, so that through our return, we may merit Hashem’s protection and blessing. 

In that chapter, Dovid HaMelech writes that we thank Hashem saying, “We came in fire and water, and You took us out to satiety”. (Psalm 66:12) ” That is, they endured suffering at the hands of the forces of Esav and Yishmael. And each Jew will say to Hashem, “…I will pay my vows, which my lips uttered, and my mouth spoke when I was in distress.” (Psalm 66:13-14) 

From this we learn that during these times, a person must take immediate action. It’s not enough to feel inspired; a person must take that inspiration and turn it into concrete growth by accepting a meaningful, spiritual commitment—something new, something that moves him forward on the path of teshuvah. 

This concept is also seen in the war with Amalek, where it says (Shemot 17:11), “And it was when Moshe raised his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” Chazal taught (Rosh Hashanah 3:8) that it was not literally Moshe’s hands that would make or break the war. Rather, this pasuk is teaching us that whenever the Jews look upward and subjugate their hearts to Hashem, they are victorious. And, when they don’t, they fail, and defeat is inevitable. 

Moshe Rabbeinu lifted his hands to direct their hearts upward—to Hashem, the One who had sent this fear to awaken them. In that moment, they recognized the call from Heaven, and it stirred within them a desire to make meaningful commitments and draw closer to Hashem. Through that awakening, they merited Divine protection. 

This is alluded to in our pasuk which says, “And they journeyed for the first time at the command of Hashem…” They began, for the first time, to travel the journey of life in accordance with the command of Hashem. And the journey was “by the hand of Moshe” – through the hand of Moshe Rabbeinu, who stirred them to look upward. 

This is a truth every Jew must hold onto in times of difficulty and fear: to strengthen his emunah, take on a sincere commitment to grow, and do what he can to inspire others—especially those who feel distant—to awaken the faith that lies within their hearts and bring them closer to Torah and mitzvot. 

In this merit, he will not only experience personal salvation from his troubles but also help hasten the ultimate redemption for all of Klal Yisroel. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. Sign up at www.kaalov.org.