"After the Six Day War, the IDF exulted, dancing in the streets," are the opening words of HaRav Chizkiyohu Mishkovsky.
The army was hailed and adulated by all. They even invited the famous maggid, HaRav Shabsai Yudelevitz, to speak at an Air Force base. Rav Shabsai at first refused. However, after much pleading, he finally capitulated. En route, he again had reservations but it was already too late to back out, and he just said that he would only speak briefly.
The commander of the base, in all of his arrogance and self-importance, addressed the whole assembly and said, "What is the glory of rabbonon? The army is composed of various divisions. Our air force division contributed much towards the victory," and he began enumerating them. "All of us together were instrumental in liberating Jerusalem, the Kosel Hamaaravi and Kever Rachel etc. What did the yeshiva world contribute to the army's victory and to the Jewish People?" he questioned very cynically.
HaRav Shabsai was not taken aback. "I was asked a question here. And as representing the Torah world, I want to tell exactly what the yeshivos contributed.
Before the war, the press asserted that under normal circumstances, we would anticipate at least fifty thousand dead. And since these must be buried immediately, and there being not enough room in all of the cemeteries, we require that all the parks in the big cities with wide open spaces, become temporary grave sites until we eventually decide what to do. Here, then, is what the yeshivos accomplished, in three different ways:
Granted the fifty or sixty thousand bodies. In the event that this was actually the case, who would deal with their burial? The yeshiva students. And then their contribution to the war effort would be recognized.
But Hashem did not want them to be diverted from their study and disregarded a few dozen of the predicted thousands of fatalities and in the end, the number was even less than one thousand. This is a major contribution on our part.
The second one: Yeshiva students also contribute to green areas. Instead of converting public parks to cemeteries, these areas remained untouched, again, thanks to us.
Third: The very victory of the army must be attributed to the merit of the yeshivos. It is written, 'Our feet stood firm in your gates, Yerushalayim.' The gemara in Makkos notes: 'What caused our feet to stand so steadfastly in war? The gates of Yerushalayim, where Torah was disseminated."
These words met with deafening applause from those in the audience who validated their truth.
What was said about the overt miracles and marvels which we saw despite heavy Iranian shelling? Or after the other numerous wonders which this country saw all along?
Here, too, we anticipated heavy losses. And who protected us? Only the yeshiva students who toil in the yeshiva halls. Does the country wish to lose out on that [Divine] protection?
The Mashgiach of Yeshivas Orchos Torah continues vigorously, "The yeshivos and kollelim have taken a break between sessions.
At the funeral of HaRav Elya Lopian, a most eminent Torah leader, (and also my uncle) HaRav Elya Mishkovsky, eulogized the deceased, explaining the verse which is said when the Sefer Torah is removed from the aron: "And when the Aron traveled, Moshe said: Arise, Hashem, and may Your enemies be scattered, and those who despise You flee from Your Presence.'
How is this to be understood? What is the connection between the first half of the posuk and the latter half? Which enemies? That of the Aron?
My uncle interpreted this as follows: So long as the aron remains in place, it does not require a special prayer. The aron itself constitutes protection. The Torah protects and saves. But when it travels, it is no longer in its usual place and no longer has the same power to protect. That is when it requires a special prayer asking that Hashem arise and scatter His enemies.
