By:  Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

It was June 1967. The Six-Day War was raging in Eretz Yisroel. My uncle, HaRav Amram Jungreis z”l, was the rav of a small town on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. He wrote us, telling of both the difficulties and miracles taking place. I share with you one of his stories that my mother a”h included in her first book, The Jewish Soul on Fire.

“There was a family in the shul that came from Yemen. They had eight sons in the IDF. Their mother, beside herself with worry, consulted a sage and begged that he advise her where she might best pray for the safe return of her children.

“At which grave should I knock? Who should I awaken from slumber? Who will be the righteous messenger to carry my plea to HaShem’s throne?”

The sage pondered her question for a while, and then instructed her not to pray at any grave, but to go home and await her children. He told her ‘The graves of the holy souls are empty. They are all at the front, battling alongside your sons, watching over them. Be assured that they will bring them home in safety.’ “

This week we read Parshas Lech Lecha – Go for yourself. HaShem was sending Avraham on a journey of self-discovery, leaving his country, his community, his family. It was a journey fraught with danger and life tests. But Avram overcame the challenges, emerging as Avraham Avinu, father of the Jewish nation.

Hafach bah, va’hafach bah, d’kola bah. (Pirkei Avos 5:26). How often my mother would quote these words. Turn the pages, turn the pages, it’s all there. The story our people, then and now.

Lech Lecha. Today, as Eretz Yisroel is battling a most ruthless enemy, HaShem is sending Avraham Avinu on a different mission. A mission to go and be with his children. As the sage told the woman, the kevarim are all empty. The neshamos of our holy avos and imahos, our patriarchs and matriartchs, our tzadkim and gedolim, the righteous ones and the leaders of our people, are all on the front. They are with acheinu kol beis Yisroel, our brothers, our people. It is only with this emunah that we can forge ahead.

Three times a day, during Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv, we turn to HaShem in tefillah. Three times a day during Shemoneh Esrei we say Magen Avraham, the Shield of Avraham. The Magen Avraham is with us now.

But why only Avraham? Why not mention all of the avos, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov? The Chidushei Harim explains that in the z’chus of Avraham withstanding ten difficult life tests with fortified emunah and bitachon, a spark of Avraham is implanted in each and every Jew. A spark that is a magen, a shield for all time. This is the legacy bequeathed to us by Avraham Avinu. To endure life’s difficulties, its tests and challenges, and emerge an even stronger Jew.

Like Avraham, we are experiencing events that are difficult to comprehend. It is the Magen Avraham, the Shield of Avraham that gives us chizuk. It is a shield of hope and trust in HaShem, and a belief in the eternity of Klal Yisroel.

Never before have I seen so many soldiers from all backgrounds and all different levels of observance joining hands together, singing songs of emunah, songs of belief, songs of thanks and praise to HaShem.

My mother taught that Magen Avraham has yet an additional meaning. It is a shield that protects Am Yisroel by virtue of Avraham Avinu’s boundless chesed, loving kindness. Together with Sarah Imeinu, Avraham built an eishel, a tent open to guests, and travelers trekking through the desert. He offered food, drink and a place to rest, and personally tended to the needs of his guests. Avraham not only provided food and lodging, but taught his guests what it means to believe in One G-d. What it means to love and have gratitude to HaShem.

If anything, this war has brought on incredible achdus and achrayus, unity and responsibility. A nation uniting and becoming an Am Echad, one people, each one feeling for and being concerned for his fellow Jew. After so much divisiveness between the left and right, our people are coming together, going out of their way for one another.

I think of the group of Vishnitz chassidim, who arranged a full Shabbos for hundreds of people displaced from the South. Not just sharing home cooked meals, but providing a complete Shabbos environment, beautifully set tables, zemiros, and an abundant display of love for each person.  I think of the residents of Ramat Beit Shemesh who opened their homes and hearts, and made every vacant room and apartment available to thousands who had to flee their homes with nothing more than the shirts on their backs.

I think of the tzitzis campaign, providing thousands of soldiers with a spiritual protective shield. I think of all the organizations, first-aid providers, and individuals going above and beyond to alleviate the many needs of soldiers and the families they left behind. I think of the community in Tzfat, who suddenly found themselves in the midst of the new front in the North, proving food and other necessities to soldiers and reservists called up for duty.

I think of the tens of thousands of Jews throughout the world who have undertaken to say Tehillim…. and more Tehillim, of those who are adding time to their daily Torah study, doing more chesed, even writing letters to bring a small measure of cheer and a smile to soldiers thousands of miles from home.

HaShem tells Avraham, “v’heyei bracha, you shall be a blessing”. (Bereishis 12:2). Rashi explains that HaShem told Avraham that until that time, the power to bless was in His hand, but from that moment on, the power to bless others was given over to Avraham.

V’heyei bracha. To lives one’s life to bring blessings to others. As Jews, we carry the Magen Avraham. We daven that Avraham is with us, protecting us and guiding us. That with HaShem’s help, the spark of Avraham should be ignited within each of us, so that we can withstand the difficult tests that our nation is facing.

HaShem told Avraham, “V’nivrichu b’chah kol mishpichos ho’adamah, All the families of the earth shall be blessed through you.” (Ibid. 12:3). Let us all daven that through our tefillos, tzedakah, and chesed, we too will merit to be a source of blessing to all of mankind. That the Magen Avraham will bring protection and shalom to all of Am Yisroel – both in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the world.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas /In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l