
For the past year, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, the esteemed posek and rov of Ramat Elchonon, has been deeply involved in supporting the families of the hostages taken captive. With unparalleled compassion, he met with them privately, strengthening their trust in Hashem and sharing in their anguish. Often, he would burst into tears alongside them, embodying the Torah ideal of sharing in the pain of another Jew.
These families not only visited his home but also participated in his shiurim, where his words of emunah and chizuk had a transformative effect. Many were inspired to strengthen their commitment to Torah and mitzvos. In every encounter, Rav Zilberstein would cry out from the depths of his heart: “We are partners in your unbearable pain, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that your sons and daughters are freed from captivity.”
On Thursday morning, as the news of the anticipated release agreement broke, Rav Zilberstein arrived to daven at neitz with a radiant expression.
Following davening, Rav Moshe Michael Zoren, editor of the Kol B’Ramah bulletin in Ramat Elchanan, approached Rav Zilberstein for words of inspiration. The Rav offered a profound insight, dispelling any illusion that natural causes had brought about this turn of events.
“There are those who think Hamas agreed to the release because of their military weakening, the elimination of their senior commanders, or fear of international pressure,” Rav Zilberstein exclaimed. “All of this is nonsense!”
The Rav explained: “The Torah explicitly describes Yishmael as a perei adam, a wild man, whose hand is against everyone, and everyone’s hand is against him. This eternal truth defines their nature. It is unfathomable that they would suddenly abandon their wild, cruel behavior and return captives of their own volition. What has occurred here is nothing short of a great and open miracle, orchestrated solely by the will of Hashem. No other explanation suffices.”
Lessons in Hashgacha
Rav Zilberstein illustrated this point further by referencing the inexplicable and senseless behavior of the Houthis in Yemen, who continue launching missiles at Israel despite heavy retaliation. Even their presidential palace in Sanaa—a national symbol—was destroyed. Still, they persist in their aggression, knowing full well the futility and self-destruction it invites.
“This is the irrational perei adam nature of Yishmael,” he concluded. “It defies logic, reason, and gain. Yet, despite this, Hamas agreed to a hostage deal. This is a clear and undeniable miracle. It was not achieved by might or strategy but by the hand of Hashem.”
The Rav emphasized that the ultimate takeaway is the Torah’s timeless wisdom: true deliverance will not come through human efforts alone. The Gemara in Sanhedrin teaches that redemption hinges on teshuvah: “If the Jewish people repent, they will be redeemed; if not, Hashem will bring about circumstances that force them to repent.”
This lesson is particularly resonant in the current wave of spiritual awakening. The horrific decrees of the past year have inspired countless Jews to return to Torah, demonstrating the power of even the darkest moments to ignite a flame of emunah.
A Sign of Hope
Rav Zilberstein pointed out the profound symbolism in the timing of the agreement, coinciding with Parshas Shemos, which begins with the enumeration of Bnei Yisroel entering Mitzrayim. The Baal HaTurim notes that the initials of “V’eileh Shemos Bnei Yisroel Haba’im” spell “shviya”—captivity. Even in exile and suffering, the Jewish people retained their identity and faith, an eternal source of hope for redemption.
The Responsibility to Care
Despite the joyous news, Rav Zilberstein urged continued tefillah and solidarity with the families, who now face a grueling process of gradual release. Week after week, only a few captives will be freed, leaving families in agonizing uncertainty over whether their loved ones are alive or among those to be released.
“This too is part of the perei adam nature of Yishmael,” he lamented. “We must share in their pain and storm the heavens on their behalf. As Jews, the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, we cannot remain indifferent to such suffering. This is our duty.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Releasing terrorist murderers who want to continue killing Jewish lives is not the will of Hashem.
everything that happens in this world is the WILL OF HASHEM you just don’t realize it
If it’s not Hashem’s will it won’t happen. When things don’t make sense I always tell my children to sit back and watch the show. Hashem’s plan is far superior to anything we could imagine.
To, Chas V’Shalom, NOT do this deal and thereby greatly increase the chances of the current hostages of being killed and greatly increase the chances of more soldiers being killed — on top of the over 800 already killed — and greatly increase the heavy accusations against us (that we are trying to genocide the Palestinians) and thus greatly increase the growing massive Sinas Yisroel against us and thus greatly increase the threats of death to every Jew in the world, Rachmana Litzlan, is certainly not the Will of Hashem.
Shalom I think he (* Izzy) meant “not the will of Hashem” as in the NOT the correct action in Halacha.
Not correct to allow a Murderer to live.
Not Correct to give up on a Milchemet Mitzwa.
Not correct to pay too high a price for a captive.
Etc. Etc.
It is certainly Ratzon Hashem, but it will be for punishment later…of course unless teshuva is done.
My respect for this tzadik satisfies my emuna peshuta that this “deal” is the right thing. However, my emuna sichli requires an explanation as to why this is good.
If it’s not Hashem’s will it won’t happen. When things don’t make sense I always tell my children to sit back and watch the show. Hashem’s plan is far superior to anything we could imagine.
We don’t “sit back and watch the show”. That in it of itself is not toradik.
“…as perei adam”. The word as “pere” as in wild, not “perei” as in fruit.
Some of the comments don’t understand what bitachon is and to say that we base our decisions or support of an issue on “everything is Hashgocha Protis,” is not in the spirit of Torah at all. Hashem wants us to choose right. In the end, the final outcome is based on zechusim and how much we ask. This is basic.
A rov who is a fine rov and posek is also not the final Daas Torah. Rav Zilberstein specifically did not release a formal statement for a reason (no, answering a reporter isn’t a formal statement and the context could have been “the fact that they’re being released,” which is good and not “the deal,” which seems not to be). Rav Zilberstein is also doing his holy tafkid by supporting the families, not looking to pasken for the government. When statements were made formally before (the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Avigdor Miller, etc.) they were meant as horaas derech for the government and encompassed or addressed all sides of the issue. That wasn’t what Rav Zilberstein was trying to do and this portrayal isn’t fair to him. That’s aside from the issue of Dor Yosom and machlokes chochomim even when not a dor yosom. Everyone needs guidance from a rav moreh horaah, but the stature given to a casual statement that one posek made is not in keeping with how such issues are supposed to be addressed hashkofically. The asking of a formal statement is required before assuming a full position.