Rav Ganut (and Rav Chaim Kanievsky) on the Matzav

Rav Shmuel Baruch Ganut Shlit"a wrote an article that appeared in AnashNews on 9/28 (between Yom Kippur and Sukkot).  Even though it's already a few days old, I'll translate it.  Compare with Rav Dovid Soloveitchik's view.

With Hashem's help, we have merited atonement, pardoning, and forgiveness, and behold, we are ready to enter the Sukkah, as is the will of Hashem - our G-d, our Father, our King.  The president of Iran this week expressed scary declarations, as was his custom in recent years, regarding the physical destruction of the inhabitants of the Land of Israel.  And behold, we are not concerned, we are not worried.  Why is this?  Because we are presently in the midst of the best security possible - the missile protection program of HKB"H in His glory and His essence Himself.

One of our city's important Avreichim, Harav Hagaon Y.S. Shlit"a, sent a letter to my master and rabbi - Rabbeinu Maran Hagaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit"a, whereupon he wrote that he has the possibility to prepare British passports for his family since his parents are British citizens.  His question was: due to the Iranian threat, is it advisable to do so because of the frightening danger that is coming from the direction of the Yishmaelim?  Maran Hagaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit"a replied in a letter using the following words: והיא שעמדה לאבותינו ולנו שלא אחד בלבד עמד עלינו לכלותינו והקב"ה מצילנו מידם.

Also, Haza"l in Yalkut Shimoni said:

Ribbi Levi said: anyone who fulfils the Mitzvah of Sukkah in this world, HKB"H says, "He fulfilled the Mitzvah of Sukkah.  I will protectively cover him from the heat of the day that is to come. ... In the future, the nations of the world are destined to enter the Land of Israel and wage war against them, as it says, 'For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.'"  And what does HKB"H do?  He goes out and fights against the nations, as it says, "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fighteth in the day of battle." This means: as in the day of Par'oh.  And what does He do?  He protectively covers the heads of Israel, as it says, "Who hast screened my head in the day of battle."

And it says in the Pesikta (Parsha 15) and it is also in the Yerushalmi (Rosh Hashana 1:3):

On the verse "This month shall be unto you" - it will be given over to you.  Ribbi Yehoshua Ben Levi said: [This is compared] to a king who had time-pieces and when his son grew up, he gave him his time-pieces.  Ribbi Yosi Bar Hanina said: [This is compared] to a king who had a vineyard watch-tower hut and when his son grew up, he gave him his vineyard watch-tower hut.  Ribbi Aha said: [This is compared] to a king who had a ring and when his son grew up, he gave it to him.  Ribbi Yitzhak said: [This is compared] to a king who had treasuries and when his son grew up, he gave him the keys.  Ribbi Hiya Bar Abba said: [This is compared] to a king who had a professional tool ... The rabbis say: [This is compared] to a doctor who had a bag of cures and when his son grew up, he gave it over to him...

And the Arvei Nahal writes:

And we need to understand the idea of these parables.  Because regarding the time-pieces, it is possible that it is analogous to Kiddush HaHodesh, which has to do with time.  But what is analogous to the vineyard watch-tower, ring, keys, professional tool, and bag of cures?  Rather, the idea is like what it says (Mishlei 13:12) "but desire fulfilled is a tree of life", which refers to the words of Torah, i.e He gave over to Israel the statement of "This month shall be unto you" and said that He gave over the vineyard watch-tower.  This is similar to the statement we say: "We are Your vineyard and You are our guard" - i.e that Hashem Yitbarach is guarding Israel, as it says כִּי יִצְפְּנֵנִי, בְּסֻכֹּה [For He concealeth me in His Sukkah] ... where Kevayachol, Hashem Yitbarach is sitting in a Sukkah - a Sukkah for guards.

For indeed it is true - on the one hand, we are obligated to increase our prayers - to scream and shout - and also to go through the proper Hishtadlut via the state and the military in order to preempt the face of the Iranian evil.  However, on the other hand, we have to review and remember that "For He concealeth me in His Sukkah in the day of evil; He hideth me in the covert of His tent; He lifteth me up upon a rock" - that HKB"H in His glory and His essence Himself, our merciful Father, is guarding us, cares about each and every one of us, and will save us from their hands - in the merit of our great joy in fulfilling His Mitzvot, in the merit of the Sukkah, which surrounds us with strong and wonderful fortifications of protection, which will easily defeat the bad winds of war and bad dew.

Menahot 62a, Sukkah 38a:

Rav Hama Bar Ukva said in the name of Ribbi Yosi Bar Ribbi Hanina: [one waves a Korban] to and fro in order to stop the bad winds; up and down in order to stop the bad dew.  Ribbi Yosi Bar Ribbi Abin said: this proves [that even] remnants of a Mitzvah can prevent punishments because waving [the Korban] is merely remnants of a Mitzvah and it stops bad winds and bad dew.  Rabba said: And the same applies to the Lulav.

A Kosher and joyous holiday of Sukkot!