My head is spinning. We are accustomed to trying to see world events with some semblance of logic. Usually, there is a playbook in politics: a predictable way diplomacy works, how countries do business, and how they disagree. Today, however, none of the old rules seem to apply.
Let’s point out just a few of the fascinating developments that have transpired over a relatively short period.
The Hostages Are Free! Wow!
First and foremost, the hostages are free. No one ever thought that all the living hostages would be released in one fell swoop, but it happened. It is still not entirely clear how or why the bloodthirsty Hamas terrorists gave up their most important insurance policy, but it happened. That itself is a chiddush.
Yes, we know that President Trump thinks out of the box when it comes to diplomacy. He approaches situations like a dealmaker, and that’s how he managed to get the oil-rich Gulf countries, the Arab nations that neighbor Israel, along with Turkey and others, all on his side. They, in turn, exerted tremendous pressure on Hamas to accept the deal.
But At What Cost?
Still, it doesn’t really make sense. It makes one wonder what the Arabs and Gulf states—like Qatar and Turkey, which are firmly aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood—were really promised to agree to get on board. How will those promises affect Israel, and how will they affect the Yidden in America?
After all, Qatar has been openly hostile toward Israel and Jews in general. Qatar’s financing of Hamas was essential for the group’s capability to carry out the October 7, 2023, massacre. The Qatari regime pumped at least $2 billion into Hamas’s coffers over the last decade. Hamas used those funds to purchase weapons and build its extensive tunnel system.
And now, the United States has announced that it will allow Qatar to build a training facility for its air force at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. This facility will house Qatari F-15QA aircraft and personnel who will train in the United States, with Qatar financing the construction of the base itself.
So yes, we have tremendous hakoras hatov to President Trump, who has by far been the best president for Jews in this country and for Israel. However, we are still uneasy about the unpredictability of his mode of operation. We wonder: What was given to the Turks and the Qataris? How will they influence the rebuilding of Gaza and America’s eventual position regarding matters related to Israel?
The Other Side of the Coin: The Threat to Torah Learning
Adding to the mix in Eretz Yisroel, while the news of the hostages’ release was absolutely exhilarating, at the same time, the Israeli government, along with its attorney general and courts, has instituted draconian laws that are turning young yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit into criminals for learning Torah instead of being drafted.
The fact that at the very same time that Hashem showed kindness to the country—enabling them to have a peace agreement and perhaps conclude the war—the government is going against Hashem’s Will in such a terrible way is more than disturbing. It’s downright frightening.
Furthermore, if things continue as they are, this could lead to tremendous civil unrest in Eretz Yisroel. How can we expect Hashem’s ha’aras ponim when there is such an open attack on the future viability of limud haTorah in Eretz Yisroel?
Jews for…Who?
Now, for the crazy developments closer to home. How could the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel elect an Islamist mayor? One commentator summed it up perfectly when he quipped, “Crazy time for Hamas. They lose control of the hostages, but they’re about to gain control of the New York City Mayor’s Office.”
It makes no sense. Zohran Mamdani is a young socialist who has never accomplished anything in his life. He’s never even held a proper job. Yet, he is poised to take over a city with a multi-billion-dollar budget. His plans will destroy the economy and endanger New Yorkers, with Jews being the first victims.
Nevertheless, according to the polls, about half of the liberal Jews in the city plan to vote for him, and there is even a campaign wing called “Jews for Mamdani.” If I had to name them, I would call them “Jews for suicide.”
It just doesn’t make sense. How could this happen? Are people that blind?
Furthermore, who would have believed that Yidden in New York who care about the future of our community would advocate for Andrew Cuomo, the consummate corrupt, ruthless politician who was so cruel to our community during Covid, who discriminated against us, and whose policies killed so many nursing home residents?
Yes, strange times call for strange measures.
The One and Only Answer
What is the answer to all of these open questions? There is only one answer: ikvesa deMeshicha.
It’s clear that during this period of ikvesa deMeshicha, the normal derech hateva rules of politics don’t apply. Nothing makes sense because Hashem is moving things at breakneck speed. The fact that President Trump was even elected—despite having to bear the full brunt of the Deep State’s efforts to sabotage his candidacy, multiple indictments, assassination attempts, and so much more—shows how Hashem is orchestrating events in a way that’s beyond nature.
The fact that all the hostile actors against Israel joined together to force Hamas to accept Trump’s plan is an ikvesa deMeshicha-type development.
The fact that New York City may soon have an openly anti-Semitic, anti-American, Islamist socialist mayor is also an ikvesa deMeshicha-type development.
The Question for Us
So, what must we do?
If there was ever a time when the words of the Mishnah at the end of Maseches Sotah apply, it is now: “Ein lanu al mi lehisha’ein ela al Avinu shebaShomayim — We have no one upon whom to rely other than our Father in Heaven.”
What does that mean for us? It means that we must daven—and daven in a way we’ve never done before.
We are living in a time when all bets are off and when there is almost no teva. That means that we could experience the greatest ha’aras ponim and life-transforming good—or, chalilah, this unpredictability could lead to far more troubling outcomes for Eretz Yisroel, New York, and Yidden everywhere.
All bets are off. Literally.
Every ehrliche Yid must utilize this time to transcend their petty issues, wants, and needs, and instead daven for Klal Yisroel, for the future viability of Torah learning and Torah life in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the world.
Nothing can be taken for granted. Nothing! During this period of ikvesa deMeshicha, Hashem is showing us that anything can happen.
We must daven to Hashem and beg Him for rachmanus as if our lives depend on it…because they do.
