How Do We Stop the Disaster and Merit Geulah with Compassion? Rabbi Ofer Erez

Are we at the beginning of an all-out, brutal war—or perhaps the worst is already behind us?

Different theories are constantly being thrown into the air, as everyone takes part in the circle of analysis that is flourishing in the Land. Rabbi Ofer Erez shlit"a, in testimony from the courtyards of the Tzaddikim—and from the home of The Rav, the holy gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a—sheds light on our path: how we can influence and shape what is destined for us.

These are his words:

Someone who is truly moving forward now and truly wants Hashem—more righteous, less righteous, going up, going down—that is not what really matters at this moment.

Because first of all, we truly do not know who is ascending, who is descending, who is a Tzaddik and who is not. Most of the time it is imagination; it is mistakes.

It doesn’t go according to what we think. Today Hashem is telling us: Ask Me. Turn to Me. I am your Father. I love you. Hashem does not want judgments in the world. Hashem wants to bring the entire Geulah with compassion and kindness—we simply need to turn to Him.

I heard from several Tzaddikim—from The Rav (Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a) and also from other Tzaddikim—that there is an aspect according to which it could be that we have already fulfilled what was required of judgment through what happened.

There is such a side: if the Jewish people now take all the terrible things that happened and turn them into an awakening—it could be that we have already fulfilled what was required of judgment.

There was a terrible measure of judgment in what happened. I heard that The Rav (Berland) said it sweetened a great deal—very, very much. He said that there was supposed to be some dreadful decree upon the Jewish people, and this canceled it.

Now, what next? We truly do not know. But what we do know is this: the more the Jewish people awaken in prayer and in teshuvah. And for those who are far away and do not know—we must pray for them, that they should merit to awaken.

This is actually the most important thing. There is nothing to fear—truly nothing to fear—nothing at all! A person who walks with Hashem has nothing to fear—from anything.