Shabbos War Strategy From (General) Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman
Sholom Aleichem
Revach, My chavrusso has
just told me that his son in law recently went to visit his Rebbe Harav Aharon
Leib Steinman shlita. While he was waiting, the gabbe related to him an
incredible story.
On Erev Shabbos,
day seven of "Operation Cast Lead", the telephone rang in Rav Steinman's home,
very close to Shabbos. On the line was a representative of the army who asked
to speak urgently to the Rav. When the gabbe explained that all messages must
go through him, the caller explained that the army was poised to launch the
ground offensive tomorrow- on Shabbos – and they were calling for the Rav's
brocho. When the Rav questioned the reason for going in on Shabbos, he was told
that for strategic reasons – most of them highly confidential – they could not
wait till Motzaei Shabbos. The Rav did not accept this, and declined to give
his blessing. The gabbe suggested to the Rav that since they would be going
ahead to follow their military directives regardless, perhaps he should give
them a brocho anyhow. The Rav replied "Shabbos is Mekor Habrocho –
how can I give a brocho for chilul Shabbos?!"
Minutes after
Shabbos the following night, the telephone rang – it was the army again, to say "Tell the Rav
that we listened to his psak, and we deferred the operation. We are going in
right now and we need his brocho!" The Rav responded very warmly with a
generous heartfelt brocho.
Twenty four
hours later, the Rav received a call from Gabi Ashkenazi, the Commander-in
chief of the ground forces. He wanted to thank the Rav for his brocho – the
army had achieved all its objectives in the first 24 hours. Furthermore, they
had anticipated that the cost of the first day's operation would be in the
region of 50 fatalities (r'l). among the Israeli troops. In the event they
suffered only 1 (Hyd). They are
convinced that the Rav's brocho played a crucial role in the supernatural
success.
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