Rabbi Yitzhak Zilberstein Recalls Miraculous Survival During Jerusalem's Pre-State Siege

Rabbi Yitzhak Zilberstein, a member of the Council of Torah Sages, delivered a moving lesson on the sorrow of the Divine Presence during the Three Weeks period, reflecting on the destruction of the Temple and the ongoing mourning despite the event occurring 2,000 years ago. He cited the story of Napoleon observing Jews mourning the Temple on Tisha B'Av, noting that a nation that remembers its loss for so long is destined to regain it.

Rabbi Zilberstein emphasized that God experiences great sorrow when people act contrary to His will, especially when Torah scholars are imprisoned unjustly. He described these actions as deeply painful to the Divine.

Drawing from his own youth in Jerusalem during the 1948 War of Independence, Rabbi Zilberstein recounted the perilous conditions under siege by seven hostile nations intent on Israel's destruction. Despite bombs and gunfire flying overhead, none of the children, including himself, were killed as they traveled to study Torah, which he called "miraculous." He recalled how the community's faith and the encouragement of great rabbis sustained them through these dangers.

He also shared a teaching about Rabbi Aryeh Levin's visits to lepers, explaining that while generally forbidden, such acts were permitted for Rabbi Levin due to his pure intentions and devotion to God, as confirmed by Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.

Rabbi Zilberstein concluded by stressing that the current existence of the Jewish people in Israel is a supernatural miracle. He urged everyone to serve God with love, unity, and faith, recognizing the ongoing wonders of the Creator.