The Pittsburgh Rebbe’s Secret for Jewish Protection in an Age of Terror
As threats to Jewish life intensify worldwide, a newly released English translation of Shield and Savior (Magen U’Moshiach) by Rabbi Avraham Abba Leifer zt”l, the Pittsburgh Rebbe, offers a clear and uncompromising directive, in which he calls the beard, payos, and traditional Jewish dress, “the great secret of protection, blessing, and success” • Full Story, Download
As threats to Jewish life intensify worldwide, a newly released English translation of Shield and Savior (Magen U’Moshiach) by Rabbi Avraham Abba Leifer zt”l, the Pittsburgh Rebbe, offers a clear and uncompromising directive. The Pittsburgh Rebbe lays out what he calls “the great secret of protection, blessing, and success” – the beard, payos, and traditional Jewish dress – not as mere cultural symbols, but as spiritual armor that defends the Jewish people and invokes Divine mercy in times of danger.
First written decades ago, yet resonating powerfully in today’s climate, the work outlines a Torah-based approach for how Klal Yisroel should respond spiritually to threats of terrorism and national danger.
In this stirring call to action, the Pittsburgh Rebbe addresses periods when Jewish lives are under attack, emphasizing the urgent need to arouse Heavenly mercy and strengthen the spiritual defenses of the Jewish people. Drawing from Chazal, classic Rishonim, and Kabbalistic sources, he reveals what he describes as “the great secret of protection, blessing, and success” – the visible, proud maintenance of the traditional Jewish image: the beard, payos, and distinctive Jewish dress.
The essay explains:
- The Historical Key to Jewish Survival – Separation from the nations, both physically and spiritually, has preserved the Jewish people throughout millennia.
- The Beard and Payos as Spiritual Armor – Rooted in the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, these visible signs of Jewish identity act as a spiritual shield, sweetening harsh decrees and invoking Divine protection.
- Warnings from Torah Leaders – Including the Chazon Ish’s chilling remark linking breaches in traditional appearance to vulnerability in times of danger.
- Jewish Dress and Modesty – Both men’s and women’s adherence to traditional modes of dress serve as protective walls against assimilation and moral erosion.
- A Sacred Call to Action – The Pittsburgh Rebbe urges all Jews, especially bnei yeshiva, to raise high the banner of Jewish pride through visible mitzvah observance, not to be ashamed before mockers, and to “clothe the Jewish soul in Jewish garments.”
The newly released English edition allows a far wider audience to access the Pittsburgh Rebbe’s profound and practical message, one that fuses deep Torah insight with an urgent response to contemporary challenges. Its lessons are not only historically grounded but intended for immediate application, aiming to inspire personal commitment and communal strengthening in the face of modern threats.
Shield and Savior can be viewed and downloaded at the following link: https://koshershaver.info/publications/files/Magen%20UMoshiah%20English.pdf
To view the original Hebrew publication, see: https://koshershaver.info/publications/files/Magen%20UMoshiah.pdf
מאמר מגן ומושיע (Hebrew Edition) https://a.co/d/2mFMnYV
118
Join ChabadInfo's News Roundup and alerts for the HOTTEST Chabad news and updates!
Related Posts:
Most Popular
New Videos
Editor's Picks
