Pesach Reflections from the Bomb Shelter by Rabbi Yerachmiel D. Fried
Nisan, 5786/March 2026
In the Haggadah we recite: “והיא שעמדה לאבותינו ולנו, שלא אחד בלבד עמד עלינו לכלותינו, אלא שבכל דור ודור עומדים עלינו לכלותינו והקב”ה מצילנו מידם”
“…not only one nation tried to destroy us, but in every generation, they stand up against us to destroy us and the Holy One, blessed be He rescues us from their hand”.
We sing this section after covering the matzos and while lifting the cup of wine. One reason for this custom is that the cup being held corresponds to the expression of “vehitzalti”, “I rescued you”, out of the 4 expressions of redemption. Another is because wine symbolizes hidden miracles, as opposed to the matzoh which symbolizes open miracles. The plots to destroy the Jewish people in every generation are normally hidden from us, as is the redemption, the spoiling of that plot. Often, we never know about either – or only find out many years later.
There are other times when the plot to destroy us is totally revealed and the salvation from that evil plot is an open miracle. I believe we are living through such a time, in the midst of our Pesach preparations. It has been decades since the “Haman of our times”, in the Persia of today, has been declaring openly and clearly his intent to “kill all of the Jews, from young to old, children and women in one day” as stated in the Megillah. Those decades were spent developing the resources to do just that, as their wicked regime openly proclaimed, and even inscribed it on the very missiles they intended to do the job!
Just as Pharoah’s refusal to rescind his decrees upon on brought him the ten plagues, many plagues are being unleashed upon that nation that sought to destroy us.
Besides that, we must not lose sight of the incredible miracles we are witnessing here in Eretz Yisrael daily. Every time we respond to the piercing sound of the air raid sirens and lock the heavy metal door of the bomb shelter, (which happens all too often throughout the day and night!), it is because a destructive barrage of lethal force has been unleashed upon us. These are missiles larger than buses with warheads that could knock out a city block and have done so in other places. Time and time again, they’re knocked out of the sky. More so, even when they have hit, they have they have relatively not caused that much destruction and even more rarely have there been casualties. Usually they seem to hit “open spaces”, (how many “open spaces” are there inside these crowded Israeli cities?!)
We deeply mourn those who have been killed by these murderers and pray for all who have been hurt. Also, we can’t even begin to calculate the trauma caused to the Israeli children, hearing these constant piercing sirens and running to protection, being out of school for weeks, and the trauma and sleep deprivation to the parents as well…
At the same time, we are in awe to see the protective Hand of G-d watching over us! Even the layers of air defense are working at levels never seen before. Literally a fulfillment of the beracha we recite Friday night, “”הפורס סוכת שלום עלינו ועל כל ישראל ועל ירושלים, Hashem spreads a sukkah-covering of peace upon us and all of Israel and Jerusalem!
The Maharal says it’s incumbent upon us to continually publicize miracles, as Hashem performs them for us to recognize Him.
We can’t lose sight of the miraculous nature of this war due to the tremendous skill, dedication and professionalism of the IDF and IAF, joined by the might of the US army. With all the incredible appreciation we have to both, we see how this entire situation is Heavenly ordained and orchestrated. (The modern-day Haman and his henchmen were taken out the very day we remember to destroy the Amalekite nation, Parashas Zachor!)
In the 7th chapter of Shoftim/Judges, Gideon’s army of 32,000 was reduced, by request of G-d, to a mere 300 soldiers to fight the vast Midianite army. G-d commanded Gideon to do this to make it clear it’s not the power of the army, but rather the strength of the Al-mighty that will give Gideon a miraculous victory. So too we must recognize the Hand of G-d in this war as well.
This year at the Pesach Seder, when we raise the cup of wine and sing “vehi she’amda” this year, we should expound to our families the miracles we are all witnessing today! Once again, our enemies are trying to destroy us and HaKadosh Baruch Hu is rescuing us from their hand!
The Talmud says that in Nisan they were redeemed (from Egypt) and in Nisan they are destined to be redeemed (from the current exile), (Rosh Hashana 11a). We are hearing the footsteps of Moshiach, let’s truly pray that it will be in Nisan this year that the wail of the sirens should be transformed to the Great Shofar Blast announcing our redemption. This year in Jerusalem!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
Rosh Kollel Ohr Hashemesh, kollelohs.org
Founding Rosh Kollel, Dallas Community Kollel, DATA
