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The shiur in English
The Yanuka’s own words in this shiur, translated into English by Lehallel · 1,181 words · 5:29. Press a time to hear it said.
0:00 I was a hostage in Gaza for two years, and, you know, I'd like to know what you think about October 7th, about the whole kidnapping, this whole thing - what went on there. You know, I reached a point where I'd tell the terrorist: 'Write down my words - in the sixth month it will be like this, in the seventh like this, in the eighth like this.' I'd tell him what was going to happen in the future, and it happened - one for one, it happened. And to this day I have this thing.
0:29 And I'd like to know what you think about it, what the Torah says - like, what went on there, with every hostage - there are people who were slaughtered, there are people who were saved, there are people who were kidnapped and died, there are people who were kidnapped and released. I'd also like to know how it makes sense that I'm alive and whole, because what I went through there - I, like... I mean, I saw death maybe five or six times. And I'd like to know what you think, because it was a very antisemitic event - it was aimed at Jews.
0:57 So I'd like to know your view on it. What went on there? Look, I'll tell you my view. First of all, there are things we will never be able to understand. You agree with me, right? However much we give an explanation, it will only be an interpretation. We can't truly understand what really happened there, and what the Holy One, blessed be He, decided to do. You know there was the sin of the Golden Calf.
1:23 The Holy One, blessed be He, said: 'Let Me alone, and I will destroy them.' To Moshe Rabbeinu - 'and I will make you into a great nation.' It came out of the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He: 'Let Me alone, and I will destroy them.' So what do you do? The Holy One, blessed be He, said there would be destruction upon the Jewish people. What did Moshe Rabbeinu do? He said to the Holy One, blessed be He: 'If You take them all at once, nothing will be left. Make it payments. Take a little each time.' Every time we see pogroms that befell the Jewish people - it's a payment for the sin of the Golden Calf. That's first of all.
1:48 In the Holocaust there was a very great payment that was taken. On this 7th that happened - a very high payment was exacted, very, very painful, a very, very hard thing. Something we cannot understand. A very, very hard thing. That already goes to make a Tikkun for the sin of the Golden Calf. A second thing - a third thing: you create a kiddush Hashem, a very great one, because you lived through it there.
2:15 You saw - the Holy One, blessed be He, left you here for a purpose: so that you go on and reveal His light in the world, and tell what you lived through, and what you saw, and how He saved us. The Holy One, blessed be He, takes us out of prison, takes us out of the hospital, takes us out when we were in some place that isn't good - and we must thank the Holy One, blessed be He. 'Let them thank Hashem for His kindness, and for His wonders to the children of men.'
Read the whole shiur in English (6 more parts)
2:40 We thank Him and praise Him. Your role is to praise the Holy One, blessed be He. And the message is that the Jewish people must be united. What do you think? I don't know. And I think there's something supernatural here. No, that's clear. There's something here that's beyond even what the mind can grasp. You know? I can't manage to understand what the meaning of it is, I try, and I can't manage to understand what went on there.
3:07 Have you heard of the Chacham Tzvi? Yes. There's the Chacham Tzvi, in siman 18. He writes that 'nature' is an invention of the researchers. In truth, there is no 'nature'. If you truly want to understand: the Holy One, blessed be He - if He wants, if He wants the sun to shine and there to be snow, He can make it a hot day with snow falling - the very hottest day, without a cloud passing, and snow falls. The Holy One, blessed be He, doesn't need to use what He created. He can take the sun - tomorrow He decides that the sun turns the whole Earth to ice.
3:39 The Holy One, blessed be He, uses them to reveal His will in the world. Everything you see, the events that happen and take place in the world - it's in order to reveal the will of the Holy One, blessed be He. What does He want here, in this world? He reveals His will through what you see in the world - the creatures, the deeds. When we see that there are pogroms and things like that, the Holy One, blessed be He, is awakening the Jewish people - that they must be united.
4:05 But of course, it is beyond that. Yes. — You, all of you, are a work of miracles of the Holy One, blessed be He. Yes. Sadly, the people aren't waking up. They are waking up - but only in hard ways. Only through blood do they understand. Sadly. Thank you, Rav. And I'd also be glad for a blessing for the soul. I'd be glad to have some Tikkun for this. 'Give thanks to Hashem, for He is good, for His kindness is forever.'
4:33 May you always have thanksgiving to the Holy One, blessed be He. May you have salvations and joy and health, a good life. Amen. — May it be only in joy, always. — Amen. May the Holy One, blessed be He, deliver you. Blessed is He who saved you from the house of bondage. You are, baruch Hashem, with us. 'Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time.' Baruch Hashem - I'm happy to see you. May the Holy One, blessed be He, raise you up, raise you and lift you very high. This only shows the greatness and kedushah of your soul: you were in a place like that and came out strong, and still a lion.
5:04 You are a hero - the Holy One, blessed be He, is with you. May the Holy One, blessed be He, grant you success. Be strong and courageous - a holy and pure soul. Happy are you, and may it be good for you. May you have the very best in the world - great success. — This is for you. Be well. — Thank you, thank you very much. — This book is for you to keep. I recommend that you say it. I'll read it. Thank you, Rav, thank you very much. — Be well. — Thank you very much.
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