Safeguard the Queen

IN the aftermath of last week’s Hamas massacre, Jews across the world were consumed by shock, then horror, then grief — and then resolve. Resolve to exert every earthly effort to rid the world of the murderous terror group, along with the resolve to elevate ourselves so we can be worthy of the Divine aid that is so crucial to our safety and security amid so much hate.

Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein holds a seat of honor at the mizrach vant of Jewish leadership. A famed posek, son-in-law of Rav Elyashiv, rav of Bnei Brak’s Ramat Elchanan neighborhood and of the Mayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, and confidant of some of the greatest gedolim of the era, he demands uncompromising fealty to Torah and halachah while managing to connect with Jews of every stripe and type.

In an effort to seek out practical ways to merit the Divine protection we so desperately need, we consulted with Rav Zilberstein. In response, he spoke of air raid sirens and salvation, queens and commanders, parenting and partnerships. Most of all, he sounded a clarion call: Safeguard the Shabbos and Hashem will keep you safe in return.

What kind of avodas Hashem should chareidi Jews in chutz l’Aretz focus on during these tense times?

I’ll tell you what I told the residents of Eretz Yisrael, something that’s also relevant to the residents of chutz l’Aretz. If they improve this one thing, it will bring brachah and shemirah to all the Jewish people in the entire world.