Hassidic rabbis see Gaza rocket as sign to observe Shabbat
The Sadigora Rebbe called on Israelis to observe Shabbat and stop desecration of the sabbath.
By JPOST.COM STAFFWomen light candles for Shabbat(photo credit: REUTERS)
A number of rabbis are musing about the possible spiritual meanings behind Tuesday night's rocket fired at Israel and have called upon residents in the area to strengthen their observance of Shabbat as a means of ensuring the area's safety.According to a report from popular haredi news website Kikar Hashabbat , the Sadigora Rebbe, who heads that hassidic dynasty, said Wednesday that "we have merited to see miracles since the rocket did not injure anyone or cause damage to property," crediting this to the "thousands of Jews that observe Shabbat and the right to prayer [in Ashdod]."The Sadigora Rebbe also took the location of where the rocket fell as a sign, since it fell close to the Big Fashion shopping mall, which is open on Shabbat. He called on Israelis to strengthen their observance of Shabbat, and to "do everything necessary to stop the desecration of Shabbat that is threatening the safety of the city's residents.""It's now upon the residents to see this as a sign from heaven that Shabbat is the Mezuzah and the city's protector." Mezuzahs, which are placed on doorposts of buildings, are sometimes thought to protect buildings and their inhabitants from harm.Meanwhile, the Rebbe of the Shomer Emunim hassidic dynasty weighed in on the rocket attack, saying that "Shabbat is the source of blessing and there is no doubt that in the merit of those on the stricter side of Shabbat observance, ... as well as the prayers of thousands of the city's residents...we merited to see God's goodness directly."
