What message are we supposed to get following the sudden passing of so many great people in such a concentrated chunk of time? Who else will be snatched from us before we even have time to pray for the decree to be rescinded?
Believe me I’m afraid. Actually I’m terrified of the unknown of what has befallen us in recent days. Just last week here in Eretz Yisrael two of the greatest luminaries in the world of Torah were extinguished in shocking succession: the great gaon Rav Dov Shwartzman ztz”l a Torah giant with a rare and extraordinary breadth of scholarship and the living legend known as Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ztz”l. And just weeks before we suffered the tragic loss of the great Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky a”h. They were snatched from us with frightening suddenness in such a way that we did not even have an opportunity to daven for them in order to stave off the bitter decree.
And that is frightening. For we know that tzaddikim are taken to Heaven before tragedies occur. In fact Rav Chaim Kanievsky who suffered greatly from the Attribute of Justice with the loss of his esteemed rebbetzin declared this week that Hashem is now making accountings very quickly in preparation for the coming of Mashiach. We must ask ourselves then what else we can expect to experience chalilah as we continue to journey toward our ultimate Redemption. Or perhaps it would be better to ask what else we can to avert tragedy before it takes place.
The elder of our generation Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman shlita who carries the weight of the Torah world on his shoulders maintains that the primary task of our generation is the improvement of interpersonal relationships. He admonishes his visitors tirelessly with this message at every opportunity after every tragedy and every time people come to his door to resolve difficulties that have clouded their lives.
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