Last week's terrorist attacks are being reported, analyzed, and reacted to in many ways throughout the world. In Yerushalayim, Rav Moshe Shapiro described the proper Torah perspective with the words of the prophet Yona (1:12) "B'sheli", on my account. A tragedy of biblical proportions is a message from Hashem. We must find the lesson in Nevi'im, which include only prophecies for all generations (Megilla 14a), and learn it well.
In Sefer Yeshaya, Yeshaya Hanavi chastises Am Yisroel for abandoning the good deeds which made them a special people (2:6, Rashi), they content themselves with foreign ideas and not following the Torah's way of thought (2:6 Metzudos). The land of the nations became full of silver and gold, with no end to its treasures; it became full of horses, with no end to its chariots (2:7). Am Yisroel absorbed the foreign ideas of limitless wealth and military power, which lead to haughtiness.
Hashem has a day against every proud and arrogant person, and he will be lowered (2:12, Radak); against all the lofty mountains, symbolizing pride and perceived invulnerability associated with great heights (2:14, Radak); against every tall tower, and the conceit of great wealth accumulated by overseas trade (2:15, Radak). Humankind's haughtiness will be humbled and men's arrogance will be brought down, and Hashem alone will be exalted on that day (2:17).
The destruction of the Twin Towers, the World Trade Center, is a fulfillment of this prophecy. In this pre-messianic era (Rashi 2:5), a wealthy and powerful nation will be humiliated. On that day, people come to understand that only Hashem is exalted. As long as man is high and mighty, Hashem is not "allowed" to rise above all others, and "that day" cannot occur.
The lesson for the Torah Jew is crystal clear. We must recognize our vulnerability. We dare not allow affluence to lead to arrogance. This unprecedented attack is a message from Hashem that He alone is exalted. We dare not ignore it.
The navi is confident that Hashem will not forgive the arrogant (2:9, Rashi). Selichos are introduced by the prerequisite of shamefacedness (Daniel 9:7). We knock on Hashem's door as paupers (rashim), who have nothing (Shmuel II 12:3). The only thing that we have is the understanding that we have nothing.
Based on a passage in Devarim (11:12), indicating that in Egypt agricultural success is guaranteed by the abundance of river water whereas Israel is dependent upon rain, and Hashem who provides it, the Gemora explains that every year that is poor at its beginning becomes prosperous at its end (Rosh Hashana 16b). That means that when Yisroel make themselves paupers (rashim) at the beginning of the year by praying to Hashem brokenheartedly, divine mercy and forgiveness are forthcoming (Rashi, Tosfos).
Egypt was the center of wealth and power in ancient times. When Hashem took us out, and destroyed Mitzrayim, He was "mashpil gai'im", he lowered the arrogant. The lesson to us, in Eretz Yisrael or elsewhere, is that we avoid arrogance and realize our dependence on Hashem for life and sustenance.
When cataclysmic events take place just before Rosh Hashana, the message is even more powerful. The books of life and death are open before Hashem. Our very existence hangs in the balance.
On the very first Yom Kippur, we were threatened with extinction ("va'achalem") because of the sin of the Golden Calf (Shmos 32:10). Atonement was achieved only by the lengthy prayers of the humblest of men, Moshe, to whom Hashem's attributes of mercy were first revealed ("le'anov mikedem"). Only through humility is forgiveness, and survival, possible.
When Bilam wished to destroy us by saying "Kalem" ("destroy them"), Hashem transformed (a literal reversal of the letters) the curse so that it became a blessing by saying "teruas melech bo" (D'varim 23:6) (Bamidbar 23:21) (Tosfos A.Z. 4b) The reversal is not merely in the order of the letters. Extinction is avoided only by proclaiming Hashem's kingship.
Hashem created us only for His glory (Avos 6:12). When a year ends, so does our lease on life. Only by proclaiming Hashem's kingship, as we do on Rosh Hashana, is our lease on life renewed because we declare our readiness to fulfill the singular purpose of creation, namely the service of Hashem. "Teruas melech bo" is found in Malchuyos, and must be said sincerely to reverse the threat of extinction ("kalem").
The headlines of last week were written in heaven last Rosh Hashana, as were the terrorist attacks in Eretz Yisroel. Apparently, the year 5761 was not poor enough in its beginning. In these biblical times, we can achieve atonement and hasten the redemption only by realizing our poverty, our nothingness, before Hashem. In these Aseres Y'mai Teshuva, we dare not ignore Hashem. s thundering message which teaches precisely this lesson.