Israel is on my mind. Israel is on all our minds.
As I worked this week, whether at home, or in the office, from morning until night, my computer was tuned to a live stream of news reporting from Israel's Arutz 10.
I listened/watched in worry as the rocket attacks from Gaza increased in number, speed and distance, as little children ran to shelters, as homes got destroyed. I watched with awe and pride as Israelis responded with resilience, with the ingenuity of brilliant technology and with supreme humanity as they try to defend their citizens while trying their best to avoid civilian casualties.
Then, as the rockets continued to fall, furiously, without abandon, with out stop, I started to notice a pattern: Incredibly, time after time, barrage of rockets after barrage of rockets, Israelis were emerging unscathed, unhurt: A car takes a direct hit on the road exploding into a ball of fire, but the driver escapes, unharmed. A house is destroyed, while it inhabitants remain safe. A rocket falls, but right in between two homes. Over and over, stories begin to emerge of small miracles, one, and then, another, then another.
Small miracles...that are not small at all. It takes only one injury to realize the catastrophe that these rockets can wreak.
During the First Gulf War, when Iraq threatened Israel with scuds, Jews the world over were overcome by panic and fear. At the time, many visited the Rebbe seeking advice and guidance about travel to Israel or having loved ones leave Israel as the danger approached and intensified. Over and over, the Rebbe repeated that Israel is safe, that the Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers, that Israel is a land that is continuously watched by G-d. Miraculously, during that crisis no one was killed by a scud attack.
Below please find a short video clip with words of encouragement from the Rebbe.
Our sages tell us that "the words of the righteous stand for all time".
May G-d continue to bring success to Operation Protective Edge, and safety and security to all our soldiers and to our brothers and sisters in the land of Israel. May the Land of Israel and its people, be blessed with peace.