In it, the Rabbi deals with issues arising from the fact that his son, on the morrow after his wedding, returned to his army duties as a combat officer to lead his men into Gaza. His son, Second Lieutenant Aharon [Aharon Yehoshua ben Chava Shoshana], was critically wounded in that action. Here's a video of the father speaking.
I have translated/paraphrased selections from his words from the following Hebrew text:
"...Couldn't the army have done without him at this time? But we have learned from our Rabbis that even a Chatan [bridegroom] leaves his wedding chamber in a war that is one that saves Jewish lives...We have been instructed by our Rabbis to view life from the perspective of God and not a narrow human view, not human emotions guide us but God's morality...
The construction of the personal relationship of a couple receives its meaning and importance only when connected to the public and the general populace. Even one of the wedding benedictions reads: "who has blessed His people Israel through chuppah [wedding canopy] and matrimonial service"...we ignore the private couple and recall all of Israel...
...and so, it is rather simple, if quite difficult, that a bridegroom and even a bride, private persons in this instance, are required to assist the public...one of the problematic issus in contemporary society is the 'private contemplation' vs. caring for the general public and there are those who would even suggest stopping the battle or even halting the campaign...but we see, thank God, that now the public is very comitted to this saving of Israel, through a sense of sanctity..
...May God's will be to guard over our soldiers everywhere and that we should hear good tidings, salvation and consolation."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment