Unlikely Pawns 

Many of us were getting quite comfortable with what we considered our “friends in office,” both in Eretz Yisrael and in the US. Under President Trump, Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan was recognized. The American embassy was moved to Jerusalem. In the United States, Jews were valued at the highest levels of office. We were well-connected in the highest echelons of government. The White House wouldn’t even play ball with Iran, who had to halt their nuclear activities. The president’s own daughter was a practicing Jew. We thought, as the Gemara says in Megillah 15b, “achos lanu b’veis hamelech,” we had an advocate situated in the halls of power.

Then, as if on a dime, it all changed. Defund the police, anti-establishment sentiment prevails. Somehow, in the eleventh hour, a less friendly face ekes out just enough votes to win the presidency. Israel goes to a fifth election. New deals are brokered, and all the familiar faces are cast out. Anti-Semitism has reared its ugly head in this country in ways we haven’t seen in decades. Our security has vanished in the blink of an eye.

Or so it seems.

This image of change is only a surface reflection. In reality, nothing has changed. We were always completely dependent on Hashem; we always will be completely dependent on Hashem. What we saw as positive world events was nothing more than HaKadosh Baruch Hu pulling the strings of world leaders, manipulating the powers that be to protect the welfare of His beloved children.

The Almighty does not need the assistance of “our people in office” to protect the security and interests of the Jewish people. In fact, sometimes the Ribbono Shel Olam prefers to use the unexpected pawn — the power, president, or minister who is considered an adversary — as the very instrument who brings salvation to the Jewish people.