In the merit of Avraham’s telling the king of Sedom that he would not accept “from a thread to a shoe strap” as spoils of war the Jewish people merited to receive the two mitzvot of tzitzit (thread) and tefillin (strap).

(TB Sotah 17 AB – Bereshit 14:23)

In recent weeks, we have seen a tremendous interest among the IDF soldiers engaged in combat in receiving tzitzit and tefillin.

Many thousands of pairs of tzitzit have been made and sent to them to wear when entering into Gaza.

More than 2500 soldiers have agreed to begin donning tefillin on a daily basis even after the war, and in return they have received beautiful new pairs of tefillin funded by donors. In the merit of this wonderful interest in fulfilling these mitzvot, may Hashem protect all of the soldiers and have mercy on the entire Jewish people.

What does Avraham mean when he says (Bereishit 18:27) that he is ‘dust and ashes’?

Tosafot (Berachot 17a) write that just as the dust of the earth can never be destroyed, so too, the Jewish people should never be destroyed… We suffer in exile for thousands of years, but Hashem promises us that we will always survive.

In the merit of our fulfilling the mitzvot of tzitzit and tefillin, our prayers, and our standing in unity with the entire Jewish people, Hashem should save us from our enemies, just like He saved us in every generation from our enemies.

May He have mercy upon all the Jews living in the land of Israel, and may no harm or tragedy befall them. May He bring peace in the land and joy and salvation to its residents, and may He bring the coming of the messiah, speedily in our days.