
Gedolim Issue Letter of Chizuk Amid War; Specific Kappitlach of Tehillim Designated
HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and HaGaon Rav Dov Landau released a special letter of chizuk in response to the current matzav in Eretz Yisroel during Operation “Roaring Lion.”
The letter opens with an address to “our brethren, Bnei Yisroel dwelling in the Holy Land and in every place,” and speaks of the gravity of the hour.
“At a time such as this,” they write, “when the nation dwelling in Tzion is in a matzav of war and great danger, רח”ל, and additionally when the burden of governmental decrees weighs heavily upon the בני הישיבות and kollelim, it is our obligation to increase Torah and tefillah before the Creator of the world, that He pour upon us mercy from Heaven, save us from all who rise against us, and show us wonders as in the days of Mordechai and Esther.”
They add the plea: “Avinu Malkeinu, annul the counsel of our enemies and remove from upon us all harsh decrees.”
In the continuation of the letter, the gedolim call upon the ציבור to gather in the batei midrash and botei knesses on Ta’anis Esther prior to Mincha to recite specific perakim of Tehillim — chapters 22, 83, and 85 — verse by verse, followed by the recitation of Keil Melech and the Yud-Gimmel Middos HaRachamim.
They further note in the name of the Chazon Ish that the kappitel of “Yosheiv B’Seiser” is a segulah against shells and bombs.
The letter concludes with a heartfelt tefillah: “May it be the will of our Father in Heaven that He hasten the geulah, speed the yeshuah, and take us from distress to relief; may joy and gladness overtake us, and may sorrow and sighing flee away.”
{Matzav.com}