Hamas as
Agent of Hashem
Q: Is
Hamas an agent of Hashem, causing us to atone for our
transgressions? And if not, why doesn't Hashem destroy them and make
it easier for Am Yisrael?
A: For the
same reason that since the time of Kayin there are evil people and murderers in
the world (see Ha-Rav's book "Ve-Gavar Yisrael" which discusses the
problem of evil in the world and why bad things happen to good people).
Missile
Fire
Q: Does
one who goes out of his house during missile fire, violate "Guard your soul
very carefully" (Devarim 4:10).
A: One is
always obligated to follow directives of the Home Front Command and not try to
outsmart them.
Warning
Siren in the Middle of Shemoneh Esrei
Q: What
should a person do if he is in the middle of the Shemoneh Esrei and hears a
warning siren for an incoming missile?
A: He
should run to the bomb shelter and continue to Daven the Shemoneh Esrei
there. This is based on two factors: 1. It is a case of a
life-threatening situation. 2. Walking in the middle of the Shemoneh
Esrei without speaking is not considered an interruption. For
example, if I am Davening the Shemoneh Esrei and a child is bothering me to the
point that I cannot concentrate, I can move to another place. Or if
I am Davening by heart and I cannot remember "Ya'ale Ve-Yavo," I can
go and get a Siddur. Speaking is forbidden, but there is no problem of
moving if there is a need (Mishnah Berurah 104:2). Therefore, if I
am in the middle of the Shemoneh Esrei and I hear a warning siren for an incoming
missile, I should go to the bomb shelter without talking and continue to Daven
where I left off (Piskei Teshuvot, Orach Chaim 104. Shut Be'er Moshe
3:13. Nes Lehitnoses by Ha-Rav Yoel Schwartz at the end, in the
Q&A of Ha-Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein during the Gulf War #39).
Missiles
Will Not Fall on the City of…
Q: A Rabbi
said that missiles will not fall in a particular city. Is it
permissible to rely on him and not enter the bomb shelter?
A: In
general, one should obey the directives of the Home Front Command. But
you should ask the Rabbi directly (These were the words of Ha-Rav Chaim
Kanievsky regarding Bnei Brak, based on the promise of the Chazon
Ish. However, I heard that Rav Kanievsky said that one should go
into the bomb shelter in order to feel distress with the rest of Am Yisrael. See
Rashi on Shemot 17:12).
Torah
Learning for Protection
Q: If I
learn Torah in order to protect myself from the missiles, is it considered a
violation of "One who makes unworthy use of the crown [of Torah] shall
pass away" (Pirkei Avot 1:13)?
A:
No. It is considered learning Torah not for its own sake (see Nefesh
Ha-Chaim, Sha'ar #4. Shut Yechaveh Daat 3:73).
Feelings
during Times of Distress
Q: During
this time, should we be frightened, recite Tehillim and Daven, based on the
idea that we should cry out to Hashem during a time of distress, or should we not
get excited and continue in our routine in order to show that we will not bow
to terror and will not be scare us?
A:
Continue on with strength and courage during our state of war, which began with
the establishment of the State of Israel. But a courageous person
also Davens to Hashem, as we see with Yaakov Avinu before his meeting with
Esav: He sent gifts, Davened and prepared for war (Rashi on Bereshit 32:9).
Helping
Tzahal
Q: What
can I do in order to help Tzahal be victorious?
A: Repent,
Daven and give Tzedakah. It is already certain, however, that Tzahal
will be victorious, but you can help make the process faster and less
costly.
Sleeping
in a Bomb Shelter
Q: It is
permissible for me to sleep in a bomb shelter with my husband if other men are
also there?
A: Yes, in
a corner.
Adding
to the Prayers
Q: In
light of the situation, should we add prayers to the Davening?
A: There
is no need. This is the normal state of war with our enemies, which
has been going on since the establishment of the State of Israel.
Wedding
in Ashdod
Q:
Is it permissible to travel to a wedding in Ashdod (in Southern Israel) which
is in range of the Kassam and Grad rockets or is it forbidden based on the
commandment of "You shall surely safeguard your soul" (Devarim 4:15,
23:11)?
A:
It is permissible. There is a clear
distinction in Halachah between a high-probability danger and a low-probability
danger. If this were not the case, we
would not be able to travel in a car since every year, to our great distress,
six hundred people are killed in car accidents in Israel. Many more people have been killed in car
accidents since the establishment of the State of Israel than all of the Kassam
rockets and all of the terrorist attacks and all of the wars, even when they
are added together. We nonetheless
travel in cars, obviously with the required cautions, since this is called "a
non-frequent damage" in Halachah (Pesachim 8b). In our time there are statistical tools to
verify the frequency of a danger. There
is a halachic responsum on this subject by Ha-Gaon Ha-Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein,
Rabbi of "Ramat Elchanan" (neighborhood in Bnei Brak). A student was learning in a yeshiva in
"Yesha" (Yehudah, Shomron or Gush Katif) and his parents were
concerned about the danger. Rav
Zilberstein proves that "a frequent damage" is five percent. This means that if – G-d forbid – five
percent of the students of the yeshiva were murdered, it would be forbidden to
learn in that yeshiva. This is obviously
far from reality - Baruch Hashem - since the Kassam and Grad rockets are not
killing five percent of the population.
In fact, Ha-Gaon Ha-Rav Yitzchak Isaac Herzog in Shut Heichal Yitzchak
proves based on Shut Rabbi Akiva Eiger (#60) that a frequent danger is not five
percent, but one in a thousand, but - Baruch Hashem - Kassam and Grad rockets
are not killing one in a thousand people either.
Furthermore,
it is permissible to take a "small risk" for the sake of a Mitzvah
and bringing joy to a groom and bride is a Mitzvah. The Tiferet Yisrael discusses this principle
on the Mishnah in Massechet Berachot at the end of chapter one. There is a story about Rabbi Tarfon who said
the Shema at night while reclining according to the view of Beit Shammai. He endangered himself while doing so and the
Sages admonished him for following the view of Beit Shammai instead of Beit
Hillel. But the question remains: Why
did Rabbi Tarfon endanger himself, since reciting the Shema is not in the
category of "Be killed and do not transgress," i.e. requiring one to
sacrifice his life for its fulfillment?
The Tiferet Yisrael explains that it was permissible since there was
only a small risk of danger. There is an
additional proof from when Rabbi Akiva was in jail, and he used the water he
received for "Netilat Yadayim" (ritually washing his hands) instead
of for drinking. The halachic
authorities ask: How could Rabbi Akiva endanger his life for this practice? The answer is that Rabbi Akiva understood
that he would obtain more water, the danger he was taking was extremely minute
and it is permissible to take a small risk for a Mitzvah. This is also the ruling found in
"Pitchei Teshuvah" (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 157).
In
conclusion:
a. A
non-frequent danger is not considered a danger according to Halachah and the
danger in Ashdod is a non-frequent one.
b. It is
permissible to take a minimal risk for a Mitzvah and bringing joy to a groom
and bride is a Mitzvah.
