Rabbi Eli Monsour - Yom Hazikaron 2025

We say this uh this prayer. We say this every time we finish uh a volume of the of the Torah should be our craft, our tool, our instrument in this world and it should be with us in the world to come as we uh as we remember all those as Josh said all those who have fallen uh 26,000 or so I think since since the the the dream and prayer of thousands of years was begun to be fulfilled and when we think about all of the ones in the current we think about Zakaria who's uh whose picture was up there his Torah in the case of Zakaria in the case of So many drove them. It was their tool to do what they did in this world and it it is it is with them very much people driven by values to understand that this gift that we have in our time that we should have it forever that it's just our opportunity of the fullest expression of what when we thought together what to put on this wall that's at the center of this headquarters that connects the upstairs and the downstairs the the bond of these two things together. That's what we have been blessed and what those guided by commitment to the Jewish people and uh with a special commitment to Torah have brought us at this time. Um, this past summer I had one of my most in inspiring experiences in my time in the Orthodox Union. I was I had the privilege to be invited to spend the Shabbat in in deal New Jersey and uh my first opportunity over there was actually in in Rav Mansour's uh Besset in Deal Ra Mansour during the year is the rav of the Saffra synagogue in in Brooklyn and in the summer in uh in Deal New Jersey. Um, and what what I saw there I've I've talked about innumerable times to see a community that has brought Torah to um, the community, the beautiful, beautiful Syrian Jewish community. There was a community of business people, of craftsmen, of manim. and over the past 20 years has become a community so rich in Torah. It's the was the most inspiring thing for me to see a Shabbat of Bet Kesset after Bkesset of people engaged in learning Torah Shabus afternoon. Like we we had a bunch of we had a bunch of Ashkanazi rabbis in here a few months ago. We said you have to simulate that model that we saw there. a Shabbat afternoon dedicated to limitra, all groups, all ages. And one of the engines, the great engines of this change, of this of this power of limatra, who we have the privilege to have a a little bit of a hand promoting his dafy on on the on the Aldaf platform, is our Ravi Eli Mansour. uh uh a truly great person who teaches Torah, who brings Torah into the umut of his of his community, of everybody who comes in contact with him. Thank you, Rabbi Howa, for that uh introduction. I guess we get so used to what we have. So when we hear a fresh eye and a reaction to what is going on in our community, it's refreshing to know. We might take it for granted but I'm glad that the way the outside world looks at it is something very positive and I hope that God give us the strength and the ability to continue the work. I'm only small engine but there a lot of big engines out there that are above me but together we're making it we're making a difference. the great Rabbi Ganak, my great Rabbi Rabbi Elephant and all those that are assembled here, ladies and gentlemen at the offices of the OU here in New York. I was asked to speak today at this event of Yakaron and I feel very privileged. Uh I know that you don't have a uh you know a lack of uh talent in the room that could do what I'm going to do probably better. But again the fact that the rabbi did call me uh I felt that uh I cannot say no after all for all that this organization does to u you for us and for our Jewish world. So this is a little token of appreciation uh in a very small way. Everything has to obviously have a source in the Torah. So when we talk about fallen soldiers and our reaction and our response and the way we're supposed to think about it, it has to be obviously Torah oriented. I'm sure history books have things to say about fallen soldiers. I'm sure even this government, United States has certain opinions about them. But again, we have to follow obviously a a misura. Our misur comes from the great Rabbi Ysef Shalom that serves as the chief rabbi of the state of Israel for many years. And I'd like to quote what he said at an event of yakaron 40 years ago today. The late chief rabbi said that there was a famous story in the Garatanit where the king maybe was a Caesar um his daughter was murdered and the king who was no friend of the Jews was an anti-semite. He blamed uh the murder of his daughter on the Jewish people. Of course it was a liel. This was the king's way to blame the Jews and then have all the Jews uh eliminated. and he gave the Jews a certain amount of time to come forward. Now, nobody's going to come forward because it wasn't them. Until two brothers, Papos and Lolinos, uh they came forward and they said, "Well, we did it. We murdered the king's daughter." And the king said, "Well, if that's the case, we're going to execute the two brothers and as a result, the rest of the Jewish people will be spared." Uh that is a perfect example said Haravo Vadya of somebody giving up their own life in order to allow others to live. Now in this case it wasn't in the context of war but nonetheless it's the same paradigm. These Jews uh were innocent and they gave up their blood for the blood of others. And that would be the parallel to at least in this case in specifically we're referring to the soldiers the hayaleim. So uh recently recently about half hour ago we had an event at Magen David yeshiva where I uh serve as rashisha of the high school actually of the whole school and we had a sister of a fallen soldier a fellow by the name of Saul Harrariim. So his sister got up and said, "Well, his brother or her brother was on Miluim and he was in Lebanon and they identified a depot with a lot of weapons and therefore they wanted to secure the area and as they were getting close they noticed that there was all um missiles that were faced towards the north of Israel and if the army wouldn't have got there in time clearly Hzbalah was going to detonate those missiles. And it would have been very very tragic for the Jews that were still living in the north at the time. Anyway, when he got close to the depot, it seems that there were some Hzbalah soldiers underneath the ground and they detonated a bomb and they killed him. However, the reaction was that the soldiers were able to eliminate the husbah and they were able to move away those launchers. So, in this case, uh, soldier Harrari gave up his life for the Jewish people. However, his life clearly saved many other Jews. That's a modern case of Papos and Linos. And the Rabu Vaja said that's the way we look at it. Now, what's the Gimar's opinion about these two? Are they Sadikim? Maybe the Gim will say they had no right to give up their lives. Who asked them to give up their lives? Maybe, you know, who knows how the Gar looks at these two people. We look at it as a as a noble and heroic act, but that doesn't mean that we're right. So the comes along and says in a in a postcript regarding these two that no creature, no human being is able to be within the the means the area uh the corridor. The is the the place inabah in paradise. Nobody is able to reach that place. That means they're in a very exclusive and in a very high place that is reserved only for very few. So the Gab actually saying Papos and Linus actually reached the highest the highest level through their sacrifice. then said that he believes that the soldiers that die protecting others reach the same level of that's a that's a and that's the way the understand it which is very very important to understand that we're not just saying these things to make people feel good and we're not just making up you know concepts so everybody can feel that uh it's of course it's the right thing to say or politically correct fact it's the right thing because the gim and the gdima understanding that this is the way we're supposed to view it. So after I said this at the mandavid event uh the brother-in-law of soldier Harrari came to me and said strange you say that rabbi because I had a question at the levaya of Saul and now you've answered a question. What was the question you had? He said the RV that gave the he did not say he kept on saying and I wanted to know why don't why doesn't he say that's the normal uh phrase that you make somebody passes away soul should be elevated but according to what the said today from there is no because they have reached the highest highest level. So if you if you're at the highest level, if you're at you're at the roof, so where else are you going to go? So therefore, on a soldier, we could not say they have reached and therefore the right word would be in memory. If anything, the sh is for us in order to have an an elevation. I guess that's why we come together on days like this for of the living. those that have given their lives up they have reached a lun shama in their service and in their sacrifice. So then the question becomes well our tradition doesn't begin with Papos and Lolinos you know they have to have a a source also our customers as well as yours I'm sure is to study the this time of year and right in the beginning of we're told about the tradition and My man fills in the blanks. 40 generations from all the way down to a soap and have to come from somewhere also. They're not the mur of this. So then you're able to ask how did they know? And I think the ultimate source where this comes from where papers have this uh instinct where they know that they have to give up a life and that's something that's very Jewish. I think it comes from [Music] uh commands Abraham to take his son and to sacrifice him. This would be something that many Jews would do thousands of times or millions of times after it's hakabu. But as Hana who gave up her seven sons would tell her seven son if he wouldn't bow to the to the king so told the seventh son before he was going to make his way up to heaven to that place. So she says to him, you know, on the way up, I want you to go visit Abrahamu for a minute and I want you to go tell him. Which incidentally tells me that she understood clearly that this child will have access to Abrahamu. I'm not sure that everybody just that just goes up to heaven automatically gets access to you. You have to deserve that. But Hana understood that for what he's going to do now, he has a an easy pass to go to any of the and so therefore make your way to she was certain about that. And what should you tell Abraham? So there's different versions in hazal what exactly the message was. I saw one hazal says that Hana was telling uh the child go tell Abraham you did one I did seven. I always found that a little uh uh obnoxious to say the least. I mean what do you want from aabinu? It's his fault. I mean, he did what? He did what he was told to do. It's not his fault. God bless you. You did seven. Are you trying to say that? What? I'm better than you. Is that That's Hana's message. It sounds like she was a little she was a little angry at something. I once heard that that's shalom not the case. What she was saying is that where does a lady in case Hana get the strength and get the kawak and the energy and the wherewithal to withstand such an to give up seven. This is something that she must have inherited. This is something that must be in the in the gene in the chromosome in in the gene code of the Jewish people. And therefore she was saying go to Afraham and say the following. because you sacrificed one I was able to do seven meaning it was she was telling that the Jewish people have this ability to be nephesh in in many ways but it comes because we have a it comes from a source and we've inherited that mid of Abraham and that's one one version but there's another version of that that she comes along and she tells Abra Abraham, listen Abraham, you attempted to sacrifice your son. I did it to you. It was in the Yak walked away alive. I actually accomplished it. And that's again I believe with the same yaw that she was saying where did I get the strength to actually execute and fulfill this in fruition of nephish time 7 it comes from I have no doubt that the nephesh of these soldiers clearly is connected to that's where we have it where does a Jew get an idea in this case of the Harari boy he lived in America Rabbi Har was talking about deal is paradise in this world. Why would anybody want to leave that and go to Lebanon and and fight and and deal with this danger? It's everybody has a certain inside of him. Actually, I saw from the from the beta levi at the end of and he comes along and he says that we refer to that event as although the Torah refers to it as the so he wants to know why is it in the vernacular more known to asak's test as opposed to Abraham's both were challenged obviously so he wrote he writes and I quote [Music] He says to us, "We have more. We've bequeathed more and we relate more unfortunately in our time to the to the of more than Abraham. after so many Jews have died. Therefore, our affinity is closer to its in our generation. He said the even to Abraham. And then he writes, we have an inheritance. So papos and lolinos they were willing to sacrifice only because they came from good stock. Somebody came before them in this case that was willing to sacrifice his life for the word of God. Today is of course your and we come to remember however who has to remember the puk says in God is talking I will remember the covenant that I made [Music] with and my covenant with the is the isore. So God says, "I will remember the covenant of Yakov and I will remember Abraham." The Gab says, "Why is it when it comes to God says I will remember?" When it comes to the says, "I will remember." But when it comes to it does not say I will remember. It says and also the covenant of why doesn't God also remember the says because he never forgot it in the first place because the ashes or the virtual ashes of are still under and they are in front of God constantly and therefore when we talk about God does not need This is something that is not forgotten in the eyes of God. It is in front of him constantly for us who are busy and we don't have the time or the ability to stare at the of and all the other that are mixed up all the bloods that have been mixed up on that misbeh. We're busy. So therefore, we must take from our time at least once a year. God's is every single day and therefore it's not called a zikaron anymore because he never forgets. If you forget, you need a zikaron. But if you don't forget, it's a constant. Well, if that's the case, I do believe that there is a followup to your karadon. Uh there's the day after your and I came to talk for a moment about the day after. Not the day after, I don't mean your mat. I know that's on the calendar. Although clearly something's going on. The fact that they had to cancel most of the events in Isladen is very very strong. It seems this is something that is worthy even to read a few chapters of and to pray that there should be protection that our land is is burning on all on on all sides. But that being said, I want to talk about the real day after that the prophet is mentioned in chapter 63. He comes along in chapter 63 in he says God is talking through there's a day that's called not but it's called it's the day of revenge and God says and the zored says the word numerically equals 42 which is the same gimatria as the word dam. And God says the blood of all the Jewish people and those martyrs that have given their lives throughout the generation or their lives have been taken because they were Jewish. God says that blood is on my heart and there's going to come a day that God is going to take that revenge. And that's what we say. Where do we know that this it's from this it's so will be followed by I think it's appropriate that you finished mak a few days early because that is what mak talks about it talks about the goadam that is going to avenge and the ultimate goam is akadoshu as the end of the puk says [Music] We refer to the redemption as because at the time of the gah God is going to serve not as only a goel a redeemer but as a goel had he's going to take an avengance of all that blood that was spilled. The Gab actually said over there on that uh Satan is going to get befuddled on that day because it seems he learns Torah but he's not so accurate in his learning and he's going to read that there's a city of refuge that's called Ber but he's going to get confused and he's going to think that it's Bra. So instead of seeking asylum in Ber he's going to go to Bra. The Gar says that's his first mistake. But even if he would get the right miklat, he doesn't realize that miklat only protects those that did it bish the satan with all these minions that he has they are not sh by any stretch of the imagination they are mazid and miklat whether it's orra will not protect and thirdly mlat only is a city of refuge for people Adam, but it is not a refuge for the Satan himself who is behind who is the energy behind all these tragedies. Well, that day is coming is coming and Bam says at that time God is going to look around and he's going to say I'm the only because I see that the Jewish people have no support and I will ponder and I think that is clear today. Churchill I think once said that countries and governments do not have permanent friends or permanent enemies. They have permanent interests and therefore governments are only interested what serves them. As we learned in therefore we turn around who can we rely on and we ponder God is going to say that and therefore he says it's going to be on ultimately to bring this will beam Um, incidentally that gimmal that the rabbi read at the end of Makot, he talks about theeim that are going to run freely around the temple mount theim tell us that the word is the same letters as is and that's what [Music] predicted is and therefore the is telling us that there will come a time where is going to take that ultimate revenge and on that it says the prophet is talking who is this that's coming from it's referring to on that day that Mashiach comes his clothes are going to be soiled The says is going to come with soiled clothes. We refer to God as the one that's closed are glorified. Why on this day is it going to be and say because before God takes revenge he's going to take his clothes. This is of course but the oen is going to take his garment and douse it into all the bloods all the bloods of 2,000 years from the crusaders down to the inquisitions down toat and of course the great tragedy of European jewelry and the holocaust and down to today with all that's going on to send all over the world. God's going to take his garment which is a limitless garment and he's going to douse it into all the bloods including the blood of including the blood of soldier Harari and all the others. That's and he's going to come because that's where the Satan's going to be hiding in BRA like the Gab. But then the Navi says the blood stained clothes of God. That means it's so close to Hashem this blood. You know what it means to wear the blood. That's what we mean when we say it's so close you can't get close if Hashem is wearing it. How do you become the clothes of how do you become such oneness with Hashem? It's the highest level. And the or the then says although it's blood stained that's the glory of God when he comes on that day is on that day going to fulfill justice and an abundance of salvation. So this is something that we have to look forward to. I'm not a prognosticator. I don't know the future more than anybody else. I don't think you have to be a Na'vi to recognize that these days are coming ve very very shortly. You know, if you said this a 100 years ago, 200 years ago, they would say, "Oh, you're you're not allowed." you know, you know, I don't think today if somebody says mashia is coming very soon that you're considered avine and therefore that is our consolation when we come to we say but is on the way and that's going to be done by and he's not going to forget even one drop of blood is going to soak up from the ground. God will soak up from the ground every drop of blood from wherever it is. And with all that blood in the revenge will take place in the meantime as was mentioned the says also that we learned in The says that one of the reasons why our soldiers were so successful in the war and on the battlefield is because what took place in the gates of Jerusalem. What happened in the gates of the Jerusalem was the bet midrash where the Jewish people were studying Torah. there is a direct relationship between the battle that takes place in the yeshivas and the battle that takes place on the field. So I feel that it was very appropriate today that on the day that we commemorate the battle that took place on the field that takes place every day on the fields that we come with a and we make a we're connecting the battlefields with and it is our prayer that should say in the meantime we must recognize that And this is the heirloom that we inherited from. And these soldiers and others have found that place in the place that is the closest to God. And that is something that you don't need an for them. They have it. Nor does God need to remember it because it was never forgotten. But for us, the illumin shama is upon us. And therefore, I pray and I encourage that the good work that is being done by the Orthodox Union on all levels on Talmud and down should continue. Not only are you elevating yourselves, but in the process, you're bringing a lot of sh to everybody else, including me and our community and every other community in the world that you elevate. Your purpose is great. And I hope like we say in the we make a blessing every day. Nowadim are very strict when it comes to making blessings. We have a rule called and the threshold for is very very very small. You don't need a big for the banishite to say don't make a better and if there was even a 1% or half a percent that there might not be we would not say the three times a day. So if the banish did not say to theem that indicates to me that he was certain. Now if the B says to make the take my word it's going to happen and therefore I pray that that moment should happen speeding in our times. Amen. That's all. Thanks.