The Watchful Eye

The pandemic restrictions are slowly easing, and more and more Americans are once again taking to the skies to travel and explore Hashem’s glorious world. When you gather your family to board the aircraft, you may smile and greet the pilot, but would it ever cross your mind to ask the captain if they have a license?

A typical traveler would find their seat and buckle up, placing full and unwavering trust that the aviator has complete control. Similarly, Hashem calculates everything that takes place and He is always watching over His children. Our job is to follow Hashem’s rules and regulations. We adhere to the Torah, follow the halachot, and we stick to what is correct. Everything else we place in Hashem’s hands. So what is everything else? Health, livelihood, and family, amongst other ideas are all managed by our pilot – Hashem. All we need to do is follow life’s safety instruction card and buckle up!

In late February of 2015, Rabbi Avraham Goldschmidt, a father of four from Yerushalayim spoke to the national Israeli media from his hospital bed. He reported that he was headed back home from a lecture when suddenly he was stabbed by an 18-year-old terrorist originating from Bir Zeit, West Bank.

“He came from behind me,” said Goldschmidt. “I felt a blow to the stomach, and I saw an Arab teenager holding a knife!” Caring for the people in his midst, Goldschmidt began yelling, “Stabbing!” in the hope that everyone would clear. “Without warning, the boy came up to stab me once again. I hit him with my tefillin bag, and he fell backward.” For a moment Goldschmidt thought he was in the clear, but then the menace rose and charged forward. “I ran to the pedestrian crossing and shouted that there was an ongoing stabbing, begging whoever would listen that they must find a weapon to neutralize the terrorist.”

As it so happens, one very powerful man also in the crosshairs. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, along with his personal security guard managed to apprehend the extremist. “Thank God they were there!” exclaimed Goldschmidt as he chose that moment to deliver thanks to his saviors. “Barkat and his protector showed remarkable resourcefulness, seeing as the terrorist still held a knife,” noted Goldschmidt. It was only after the radical no longer posed a danger that Rabbi Goldschmidt became aware that he was full of blood.

“I had just finished learning Torah and came from prayers,” said the rabbi as he gave credit to these actions for still being alive. “Hashem watches over us, and always will.”

By Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi