How to Add to the Jewish People's Merits in This Time of Difficulty

The Talmud reveals a spiritual secret to us: "All Jews are responsible for one another" (Shevuot 39). This means that we are all spiritually connected to each other, which implies that every mitzvah we perform — and every sin we commit — directly affects not only us but also the entire Jewish People. This is one of the reasons why Torah scholars immerse themselves in Torah study with greater intensity during times of danger, because the Torah they learn creates protection for the entire Jewish People.

The Torah teaches us that in the Jewish people there is no "I" and "you" — there is only "we." We are all one body. This can be imagined, metaphorically, as a joint bank account of the entire Jewish People. Every time someone performs a mitzvah or enhances their connection to the spiritual, they deposit a certain amount of money (dependent on the greatness of the mitzvah and the intensity with which it was performed) in the Jewish People's bank account. Similarly, every time someone commits a transgression, they withdraw a certain amount from the bank account, in accordance with the severity of the transgression.

The more laxity there is in observing mitzvot, the worse the state of the bank account, and the Jewish People becomes spiritually impoverished. This leads to lesser Divine protection, and disasters and tragedies, poverty, disease, and other hardships occur. Conversely, the more strengthening of faith and mitzvot there is among the Jewish People, the greater the balance in the bank account, and the Jewish People becomes spiritually wealthy. Then there is more Divine protection and blessing.

These are difficult days for the Jewish people. War has dragged on for months and our brothers and sisters are still held captive by the enemy. In this time of distress, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to invoke Divine mercy.

Following are some suggestions for those wondering: "What can I do?"

1. Organize a Torah class. You can take the initiative and organize a Torah class dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish People and the return of the hostages.
a. Contact a rabbi and set a date and place.
b. Approach the gabbai of the synagogue in your area and reserve the synagogue for the class.
c. Publicize and distribute information.

2. Observe the upcoming Shabbat. Shabbat is the heart of Judaism, and it is what connects us to Hashem. Observing Shabbat is essentially testimony by the Jews that we believe Hashem created the world and everything in it. The Torah states: "The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as an eternal covenant. Between Me and the children of Israel, it is a sign forever that in six days Hashem made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested" (Shemot 31:16-17). Hashem defined Shabbat as the sign of a covenant between the Jewish people and Himself, and therefore keeping the Shabbat covenant determines the Jew's loyalty to Hashem.

3. Discard the least modest clothing in your closet. Many girls and women have already taken upon themselves to strengthen their modesty, and they film themselves cutting up immodest clothes, while praying to Hashem that just as they are tearing up their immodest garments, so too will He tear up the harsh decrees upon the Jewish people.

The Midrash reveals to us that Hashem decided to create the first woman, Chava (Eve), specifically from Adam's rib because the body part from which she was created would influence her essence, as well as the essence of all women in creation, since their souls are included in Chava's soul. Hashem specifically chose to create woman from the rib because it is a concealed and covered organ, and therefore modesty would be imbued in the essence of all Jewish women.

The Midrash adds that as Hashem created each part of Chava's body, He said, "Be modest." This was Hashem's only request of woman, even though there are many important mitzvot — but for the Jewish woman, this is the most important mitzvah of all.

4. Commit to putting on tefillin daily. Putting on tefillin is a positive commandment from the Torah, as it is said: "And it shall be for a sign upon your hand and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of Hashem may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Hashem brought you out of Egypt" (Shemot 13:9). Tefillin is a sign of the covenant between us and Hashem. When a Jew puts on tefillin, he is essentially testifying to his faith in Hashem, thereby binding himself to the Torah.

Start putting on tefillin while reciting the Shema; in just five minutes you will merit to fulfill an enormous mitzvah.

5.Separating challah. You can perform the mitzvah of separating challah for the welfare of the Jewish People, and pray at this auspicious time from the depths of your heart, beseeching Hashem to protect and defend all Jews, wherever they may be, and to return the hostages speedily to their homes, healthy and whole in body and soul.

6. Focus on one name for prayer. You can take the name of a hostage to pray for him or her, and recite a few chapters of Psalms for them every day, as well as pray with heartfelt intent that Hashem should protect them and return them to their homes whole and healthy, in body and soul.

On the powerful force of prayer, Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Asher writes in his book Kad HaKemach: "Great is the power of prayer even to alter the course of nature and to be saved from danger and to nullify what has been decreed ... the Sages of truth have explained to us that prayer cancels what has been decreed in the constellations."

7. Study the laws of lashon hara (forbidden speech) every day. During such difficult times, focusing on guarding one's speech can bring additional protection and defense to the Jewish People.

The Chafetz Chaim explains in his book Shemirat HaLashon that when a person speaks lashon hara, he gives power to Satan to prosecute the Jewish People. "And if one speaks lashon hara about his friend and stirs up strife against him, he arouses thereby above the matter of accusation against the Jewish People and gives power to Satan to prosecute them ... Woe to those who arouse that evil side, and do not guard their mouths and tongues and are not concerned about this and do not know that the awakening below depends on the awakening above, whether for good or for evil ... He arouses the power of accusation against the whole of the Jewish People, whereby Satan comes and prosecutes them for their sins and demands judgment against them and, as it were, is compelled to punish them for this, and who caused all this? The one who speaks lashon hara from below."

You can study two laws a day from the book Guard Your Tongue - A Guide to the Laws of Lashon Hara, which is written in easy-to-follow language and is accompanied by examples.

8. Torah study –the fundamental mitzvah. Torah study is not just one mitzvah among others, but the most significant mitzvah of all. The Talmud stresses that the reward for Torah study is given both in this world and the next: "These are the things that a person does and enjoys their fruits in this world while the principal remains for the World to Come, and they are: honoring one's father and mother, acts of kindness, making peace between a person and his fellow ... and Torah study is equivalent to them all combined."

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Everyone can find at least one mitzvah to take on, one challenge to surmount, in order to add to the merits of the Jewish People and ensure that we survive and thrive not only physically but also — and more importantly — spiritually.