BS"D
DIVREI YOEL PARASHAS VAYEIRA
1. The Satmar Rebbe, ZY"A, in Divrei Yoel (Parashas Vayeira, p. 354), explains an irony regarding the prayers we say everyday. The Shemoneh Esrei is called by this name because originally, this prayer had 18 berachos. (Shemoneh Esrei means eighteen.) The truth is, however, that the Shemoneh Esrei as we know it contains 19 berachos. The beracha of "V'lamalshinim" was added later, when the heretics and informers proliferated. The Rebbe explains that this addition was necessary only because of galus, but in the time of Moshiach, the hearts of Klal Yisroel will be turned back to their Father in Heaven and there will be no more apikorsim. Shemonah Esrei will return to consisting of the original 18 berachos.
2. The Torah teaches us that Hashem revealed Himself to Avraham Avinu. Avraham was the Torah leader of the generation and Hashem was with him. The Satmar Rebbe, ZY"A, (Divrei Yoel Parashas Vayeira, p. 361) teaches that this concept applies throughout every generation. Hashem is with the talmidei chachamim, Torah leaders, and judges of every era. We must turn to the true Torah leaders of the generation for guidance, for Hashem is standing with them and agrees to their decisions. The true gedolei Yisroel have an ability to see beyond what normal human perception would allow. It is they who we must follow and strive to emulate.
This is in contrast to Zionist political leaders and "rabbis" who like to fancy themselves as gedolei Yisroel. These fools believe that they have a right to argue with and dispute the true tzaddikim. This is despicable behavior. It is clear to every believing Jew that these phony "rabbis" are nothing but amei ha'aretz and apikorsim. If a Torah leader is famed for his Torah knowledge and genuine piety, we must follow him. If someone is revered for how many politicol statements he has made, or for how many wild, senseless, animalistic settlers he has attracted as followers, or for how many college degrees he has, we must run from him. The Torah does not give importance to any of the above-listed "accomplishments." The Torah gives praise to one who has achieve great accomplishments in Torah, mitzvos, and chesed. The difference between these two types of leaders is abundantly clear. Let us make the Torah-true choice.
3. The Satmar Rebbe, ZYA, in Divrei Yoel (Parashas Vayeira, p. 378), explains that Avraham Avinu saw with ruach hakodesh that the Jewish People would be liberated from Galus Mitzrayim and Galus Bavel through a messenger of Hashem. While these exiles came to an end through a human emissary, the final geulah will come through a different type of shliach. Our teffilos are what will bring Moshiach. If we cry to Hashem to redeem us, work to improve in our service of Hashem, and wait patiently for Hashem to redeem us with the true and final redemption, we will not fall prey to any false Moshiach. Accepting a fake "geulah" that comes from the heretics will not hasten the coming of Moshiach. On the contrary, it will only delay the coming of his arrival.
4. The Satmar Rebbe, ZY"A, (Divrei Yoel Parashas Vayeira, p. 435) explains in what zechus the Jewish People were given Eretz Yisroel: through the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos. Avraham Avinu started the line of Klal Yisroel, and through his performance of Hashem's will, he merited to acquire Eretz Yisroel for himself and those of his descendants who would follow in his path, serving Hashem faithfully.
* * *
Throughout the generations, Eretz Yisroel has always been a place for Torah-true Jews to live. Eretz Yisroel is the land that Hashem has given to Klal Yisroel as an inheritance. Eretz Yisroel is intended for the Jews who observe Torah and mitzvos. To go to Eretz Yisroel and throw off the yoke of Torah and mitzvos is not what was intended. One who acts in this manner is no better than the Canaanim, who inhabited the land before the Jewish People. Hashem gave Eretz Yisroel to the Jewish People because we believe in Him, learn His holy Torah and follow His mitzvos faithfully. If one does not follow these conditions, what claim does he have to Eretz Yisroel?
The Zionists went to Eretz Yisroel without any intention at all of observing the Torah. In fact, they wanted to uproot the Torah and mitzvos from the entire Jewish Nation. Since the Zionists reject belief in the Torah, what right do they have to Eretz Yisroel? The same is true for the so-called "religious" Zionists. They make a pretense of basing their claim to Eretz Yisroel on the Torah, but the truth is that their position is based on mindless nationalism. What does an Israeli flag have to do with Torah and Mitzvos? Yet, "religious" Zionists constantly wave the flag. This flag represents heresy, bloodshed, lewdness. It is a Nazi flag.
Let all who are true to the Torah gather together and proudly raise the banner of the Torah. Let us proclaim with a unified voice to the world: "Judaism and Zionism are mutually exclusive, and we, as Torah-true Jews, reject every aspect of Zionism. We wish to live in peace with all our neighbors."
5. The Satmar Rebbe, ZY"A, (Divrei Yoel Parashas Vayeira, p. 447) explains a gemara in Meseches Chagigah. The Gemara there states that right before R' Yehoshua's passing, the Rabbis bemoaned to him the fact that now that he would no longer be in the world, there would be no one to debate the heretics. R' Yehoshua responded with the passuk: "Counsel has been lost from the children, their wisdom has spoiled." This means that when counsel is lost from the Jewish People, the wisdom of the nations of the world spoils. The Rebbe elaborates on this Gemara. Hashem saw that in the later generations, the tzaddikim would have a very difficult time fighting the forces of tumah. Therefore, He injected a special power into these generations to be able to stand up against the forces of impurity. In every generation where the forces of evil are strengthened, Hashem responds by strengthening the power of the tzaddikim and the forces of holiness. Despite the strengthening of the side of holiness, the situation is still exceedingly difficult for us. Another fact taught to us by this Gemara is that the secular wisdom of the non-Jews comes from the side of the Satan. It is a very difficult battle that we face, and we must look to Hashem to help us.
* * *
It has long been the desire of the Zionists to leave behind the pure and true wisdom of the Torah and replace it with the impure wisdom of the nations. They seek to accomplish this goal by introducing secular studies into yeshivos and seminaries. Through this, they hope to destroy the neshamos of the children of Klal Yisroel, and ultimately to bring down the entire nation, R"L. Therefore, it is our obligation to fight against the idea of secular studies being introduced into our pure and holy institutions of chinuch. Unfortunately, many Charedi politicians and school administrators have buckled under pressure and agreed to allow heretical studies into their schools, so that their government funding will not be terminated. How can anyone with any semblance of a conscience allow such a thing? Our sons and daughters are offered up for spiritual and physical destruction by their brethren with beards and peyos! We must cry out against this disgusting "replacement" of genuine chinuch.
It is clearly understandable why, throughout the generations, the heretics have always sought to destroy Klal Yisroel through the introduction of secular studies into the schools. These studies are so saturated with tumah that one will, without question, be negatively affected by them. He will fall from any previous level he may have attained in Torah and yiras Shomayim. Even glancing casually through such material causes great damage to a person's awareness of Hashem, and one who habitually engages in studying this material destroys the most precious gift that a person is given: his mind. The tzelem Elokim is wiped from his face, until he becomes more like an animal than a human being. All of these terrible effects are seen clearly today amongst those who engage in these forbidden studies. Gedolei Yisroel across the spectrum have banned this heresy. This reason alone should be enough for us not to engage in these aveiros. Unfortunately, the eyes of many in this generation have been blinded, and they believe that they are smarter than the gedolei Yisroel, and that in their situation, it is somehow fine to attend college. The ridiculous foolishness of this argument is apparent to any believing Jew. Such a misguided attitude is the equivalent of saying: "In my circumstance, idol worship is fine. The Torah doesn't understand my situation." Such an attitude is very telling. Such a person wants to separate himself from Hashem and the Torah not in this matter alone, but in every way, although this may not be readily apparent. Our response should be to separate ourselves from him. We must shun him and point out to our children that we desire to be the exact opposite of this person.
The same applies to IDF soldiers, especially those who have come from religious households. These resha'im know better, and deliberately choose to rebel against Hashem and fight in the army of the sitra achara. They are from the forces of Amaleik, and we must fight against them. These soldiers throw off the yoke of Torah and mitzvos intentionally, rebelling against Hashem and the Torah. They usually further compound their terrible aveiros by publicly announcing their rejection of Hashem, and demonizing their loving families and community in front of the entire world. When they get a break from serving in the modern day Nazi army, they come back home expecting to be received with warmth and gratitude and are incensed when they are not given all this honor. The objective fact of the matter is that they are treated far better by most Charedim then they deserve. These IDF soliders are endangering the Jews in Eretz Yisroel far more than their Arab neighbors. What right do they have to complain when they are spit upon by some extremists?
We, as Torah-true Jews are loyal to our host countries. It is proper to thank every American soldier and veteran that we see. They are fighting to keep us safe and enable us to practice Torah and mitzvos. The Zionist army, on the other hand, is an army that is fighting against the Torah and mitzvos. They are the army of the Satan and we must stay far away from any contact with them.
6. The Zohar Hakadosh teaches us that Yishmael was given a portion in Eretz Yisroel in reward for his performance of the mitzvah of milah. Although his milah is halachically invalid, he is still given a small reward, that being a temporary foothold in Eretz Yisroel.
These are the words of our Holy Torah, in which every G-d-fearing Jew believes. The existence of an "Israeli army" that attempts to throw the Arabs out of "Israel" is ridiculous. The IDF will never be able to accomplish this, since Hashem has decreed that Yishmael will have a foothold in Eretz Yisroel until the zechus of his milah runs out. Until that happens, Jewish blood is being spilled needlessly by the IDF. Every person who has died as a result of the establishment of the State of Israel was, in essence, killed by the Zionists. The Zionist government is spilling the blood of Jewish People in a useless war against an enemy that has been brought upon the Jewish People by the Zionists themselves!
May Hashem, in his great mercy, bring an end to all our troubles with the arrivel of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, b'mheira v'yameinu, amein.
7. The Satmar Rebbe, ZY"A, (Kuntres Chidushei Torah Bereishis Parashas Vayeira, p. 79) explains that Avraham Avinu was the first person to have the merit of revealing Hashem's greatness to the world on the basis of his own zechus. Noach came close to Hashem and revealed His Glory to the world, but he achieved these levels based upon the merit of his descendants. Avraham, on the other hand, had enough personal merit to rise to great levels of service to Hashem on his own. What was the difference between these two tzaddikim? The Rebbe explains that since Avraham was exceedingly humble, he merited these spiritual levels.
* * *
It is important to remember this lesson when we protest against the wicked. We must be vigilant to ensure that we never fall prey to personal desires or anger. We must always protest l'sheim Shomayim. On the other hand, we cannot let feelings of inferiority stop us from speaking out against evil. We must attach ourselves to the true tzaddikim, learn Torah, and daven to Hashem to purify our hearts, that we may serve Him with awe and love, without any personal motivations. The Rebbe taught that it is not only the perfect tzaddikim and holy rabbis in every generation that must protest against Zionism. Rather, every person is obligated to stand up against heresy and fight it with all his strength. May we merit to see the destruction of all heresy speedily and in our days, with the arrival of Moshiach. Amein!