Rabbi Chaim Kneievsky, this generation’s preeminent Torah leader and known among the Haredim as “the Prince of Torah,” passed away ten days ago. Approximately one million mourners attended his funeral, making it the largest funeral in Israel’s history. And his passing may have taken with it a blessing of protection of his hometown, Bnei Brak, after a gruesome terror attack hit the central city for the first time ever.

The day that Rabbi Kanievsky passed away was Shushan Purim. Shushan Purim is the 15th of Adar when the people in Jerusalem celebrate Purim, one day after the rest of the Jewish nation. Rabbi Amram Vaknin, known for his deep connection to the Prophet Elijah and his prophetic visions, passed away on the same day Rabbi Amram Vaknin, known for his deep connection to the Prophet Elijah and his prophetic visions passed away. One day later, Rabbi Grainom Lazewnik, universally recognized for his piety, passed away at the age of 106 in Flatbush, New York. 

At the time, Rabbi Yosef Berger, a former member of the Sanhedrin and the son of the Mishkoltz Rebbe, warned that the passing of such a great and revered holy man would pose a threat to the nation. Rabbi Berger cited the Talmud (Sanhedrin 97a), which states that in the generation before the Messiah reveals himself, Torah scholars will decrease in number.

“The righteous of the generation, especially one as great as Rabbi Kanievsky, are taken to save the generation from trials and tribulations that are coming,” Rabbi Berger said. “In the last generation, no rabbi spoke about the imminent Messiah-like Rabbi Kanievsky did. He requested from me that since the Messiah is about to be revealed, anyone who wants to be spared from the birth pangs that precede the Messiah should immediately begin learning Torah and performing acts of loving-kindness. He told me to shout this from the rooftops, to announce it on loudspeakers, anything to get the people to listen.”

Rabbi Berger’s warning seemed to have materialized as this week; five terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 11 Israelis in the past week.

Rabbi Yehoshua Gerzi, the head of the Pilzno community in Ramat Bet Shemesh, explained that the ability to protect is inherent in every person.

“Yes, the righteous who work on themselves and improve themselves in service to God are always praying for the protection of others, and God hears their prayers. If everyone on this planet worked on themselves, improved in caring and sharing, prayed more deeply, we would all be protected on a much higher level.”

Rabbi Gersh related a story about Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, also known as the Chazon Ish. Rabbi Karekitz, recognized for his piety and acuity in Torah law, was Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky’s uncle. Before he left the world in 1953, Rabbi Karelitz walked around the entire city of Bnei Brak, where he lived, drawing a line on the ground as he walked. 

“He said that Bnei Brak would be protected,” Rabbi Karelitz related. “During the Gulf war or any times rockets fell nearby in Tel Aviv, people in Bnei Brak carried on without any worries. We knew we were protected.”

Rabbi Gersh recounted that Rabbi Kanievsky had assured the people of Bnei Brak in 2012 that no rockets would fall in their city.  An estimated 2,257 rockets were launched at Israel from Gaza in 2012. No rockets have ever fallen in Bnei Brak.

“Until this week, there was never a terror attack in the city either,” Rabbi Gersh stated. “Our shield has been removed.”