For about six months now, we have been dealing with a brutal wave of terrorism, in which dozens of Jews have been murdered and hundreds injured. Although there has been a recent decrease in the number of attempted attacks, terrorism is still here, and the public is troubled by the fact that they have not yet succeeded in eradicating it.
The reference to the wave of terrorism among believing Jews can be confusing.
On the one hand, they talk about the need for a firm hand, "Rise to kill you - rise to kill him." About the necessity of acting so that Jewish blood will not be in vain. About great Jewish construction, as a message to our enemies that terror will only strengthen our hold on the inheritance of our ancestors. On the other hand, they express that this is a decree from heaven, and that we need to increase prayer and Torah study and strengthen ourselves spiritually.
Mordechai's understanding
But there is no reason to be confused.
These two directions are intertwined. Earthly activity and spiritual activity should be intertwined and unified. This is how a Jew practices in all aspects of his life.
When he seeks to succeed in his business, he does buy and sell and make appointments, while at the same time giving charity, in order to gain God's blessing. A Jew in need of medicine goes to the doctor, takes medication and, if necessary, undergoes surgery, but at the same time he prays and checks the mezuzah in his home.
The combination of these two motifs is well reflected in the story of the Purim miracle. When Haman's decree was announced, it was possible to clearly determine the natural reasons for its decree – the wicked Haman's hatred of the Jews, his jealousy of the Jew Mordecai, his arrogance and conceit, the frivolity of King Ahasuerus, and his tendency to accept bribes.
From a conventional, secular perspective, the Jewish Mordechai should have focused all his activities in these directions. But he begins his activities to repeal the decree in a completely different direction.
Mordechai understands that natural causes alone are not yet capable of inflicting such a terrible decree on the people of Israel. The decree proves that the divine protective wall that protects the people of Israel has been damaged.
Therefore, he invests most of his energy in repairing the spiritual breaches. He calls for repentance, fasting, prayer, and a cry to God Almighty.
A reform that will bring about a revolution
As a terrible decree of extermination hangs over the Jewish people, Mordechai gathers twenty-two thousand children and studies Torah with them. Those who examine things from a materialistic perspective will not understand this. When the entire Jewish people are in danger, Mordechai must use every moment to lobby and find ways to convince Ahasuerus to rescind the decree.
Instead, he sits and studies with children.
But Mordechai knows that the existence of the Jewish people cannot be based solely on earthly activity, although it is important and vital, and he himself takes such actions. It is clear to him that even natural processes are actually guided by the Supreme Providence. God is the one who gives us the strength to do good, and if a calamity suddenly strikes us, it is impossible to be content with seeking natural, social, political, or military explanations, but rather one must strengthen the connection with God.
Spiritual strengthening will, God willing, bring the political and military leadership to their senses, until we deserve the most important "transformation" - the transformation from exile to redemption, with the coming of our righteous Messiah soon in our days.
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