Many people are asking why Hashem is doing this to us? Why is the Torah world being so terribly persecuted by evil gangs whose actions garner so much vehement applause from the knights of democracy, who used to spout: "Each unto his own beliefs"?
An enlightening story is quoted in a weekly sheet "A Candle for the Shabbos Table" from the book Ish Eshkolos (a biography of HaRav Yisroel Zev Gustman):
Towards the end of the thirties of the previous century, the condition of European Jews was at a drastic low. Horrible, threatening decrees were being issued and the prognosis for the future was of things even worse to come.
At that time, a wealthy businessman from Vilna, a pillar of the community who was closely attached to HaRav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, approached this revered leader and asked, "How can it be that the Creator places Jewry, and the world at large, in such difficult straits?" He persisted along these lines with more pressing questions.
At first, HaRav Chaim Ozer listened patiently to his tirade but as the questions continued, he changed his approach and answered in a different tone:
"A person must be very wary about asking such questions. The ways of Hashem are very difficult for us to fathom in this world due to our material understanding and approach. Only in the spiritual world can things become clear and apparent. We must be ever cautious about pressing for answers. Hashem is liable to decide to provide answers to your questions and take you to a place where He can answer them!"
HaRav Yisroel Zev Gustman, who was present upon this occasion, testified: "The man's face became fiery with fear, and from then on, he ceased asking such questions!"
A Message from Sefer Chassidim
And something else, insignificant, a small inner defense which is always good and necessary.
A prominent Yid pointed out to me some thoughts which HaRav Yehuda Hechossid wrote in Sefer Chassidim (siman 209):
"If you happen to see the home of a tzaddik or a shul reduced to ruins, with evil men dwelling therein, know that the Jews who had been dwelling there previously had not regarded it with the proper respect. Similarly, if you were to come upon a house of study where levity was present and which eventually fell into the hands of gentiles, it is sufficient that "the slave become like its master."
"You should realize that such disreputable people could not behave with contempt unless the former occupants had behaved with disrespect, as we find written (Yirmiyohu 7:11) "Has this house which is called upon My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?' and similarly, in Tehillim (80:13) 'å so that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?' The uncircumcised ones will only do evil if Jews treat one another foully, and Torah sages will be abused only if they have abused one another to begin with, or alternately, have abused the Torah with no one protesting..."
