HaGaon HaTzaddik HaRav Tzemach Mazuz addressed the FlyDubai plane neis at the beginning of his weekly shiur Monday night, speaking about the extraordinary Hashgachah Pratis surrounding the incident and the obligation to thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

“First of all, we need to say a big ‘thank you’ to Hashem for the immense neis,” HaRav Mazuz said. “During Chol Hamoed, we were in danger from that terrorist who thought of bringing down the plane and wanted to fulfill upon himself the ‘mitzvah’ written in the pasuk, ‘Let me die with the P’lishtim’ (Shoftim 16:30) — he was prepared to die as long as, chas v’shalom, he could kill Jews.”

The Rosh Yeshivah spoke about the kavanos of those seeking to harm the Jewish people and contrasted them with the rachamim of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. “What did this terrorist and those behind him expect? They were watching the clock and waiting for the moment when, chas v’shalom, the plane would fall, with dozens injured and dozens of levayos in Israel, chas v’shalom. But what happened? HaKadosh Baruch Hu, our Father in Shamayim, loves us! He looks at the good things, at the many mitzvos performed during the Yamim Tovim — on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos. He had mercy on us and saved us. He brought us from slavery to freedom, from subjugation to redemption, from mourning to Yom Tov.”

“Sukkos is called ‘Zman Simchaseinu.’ And our enemies wanted, chas v’shalom, to turn it into a great national mourning — but HaKadosh Baruch Hu granted us the merit and protected us. ‘Give thanks to Hashem, for He is good, for His kindness endures forever.’”

HaRav Mazuz then addressed the identity of the person through whom the rescue came, saying there was a powerful message of emunah in the fact that an ordinary Jew was the one who saved the passengers.

“HaKadosh Baruch Hu sent the rescue through a simple Jew. Not a military man, not a man of war, not some kind of hero — but through a simple Jewish plumber. It is not difficult for Hashem to save us, even through ordinary Jews. Certainly this Jew had zechuyos beforehand, and therefore Hashem chose him to be the one who would save them. He saved almost 200 people! Hashem always finds a way to save Am Yisrael through an unknown person. Only HaKadosh Baruch Hu knows how to choose the right person.”

“From time immemorial until today, HaKadosh Baruch Hu has saved us, and it is all in the merit of emunah. That is how it was with Dovid HaMelech and Goliath the P’lishti — Dovid’s koach was his emunah in Hashem! That is how it was with Gideon and the P’lishtim — HaKadosh Baruch Hu told Gideon: You have many soldiers, too many. That is not good! Reduce their number. Am Yisrael could, chas v’shalom, make a mistake and say after the victory that the salvation came because there was a large army.”

“It is all in the merit of emunah in Hashem! Is there anything that can thwart HaKadosh Baruch Hu? Whether there are many soldiers or few soldiers, it is always HaKadosh Baruch Hu Who grants us salvation! When we believe in the true power of Hashem, He is with us. There is no wonder in how such great nissim happen. HaKadosh Baruch Hu can both save us and shatter an enemy in an instant. That is the power of HaKadosh Baruch Hu!”

“Therefore, Rabosai,” HaRav Mazuz concluded, “let us recite ‘Mizmor L’Todah’ together and thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Let us not forget to give thanks for the nissim and niflaos He performed for us. Chazal say in Maseches Sanhedrin (94a) that Chizkiyahu HaMelech was supposed to be Moshiach, but he did not give thanks to HaKadosh Baruch Hu for the great neis that was performed for him.”

The Rosh Yeshivah concluded by reciting “Mizmor L’Todah” with great emotion.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)