Preparing for the End of Days

by Mrs. Chana Krasny

Many people today who are concerned protecting themselves during the time of  Gog Umagog (the war of Gog and Magog). Many Jews died during the plague of choshech, (the plague of darkness), and never made it out of Mitzrayim (Egypt). How do we know that we will be protected during the times of Gog Umagog?
 
In Sefer Daniel, Hashem promises that during the times of Mashiach, those who keep the Torah and mitzvos will merit supernatural protection. Hashem’s ahavah (love) for this generation is so great that He will protect us in a way that has never happened before. The war will literally pass us over. Even if we are standing in a place of chaos, where people are dying all around us, we Yidden will not be harmed at all

How do we merit this Heavenly protection? The key to meriting Hashem’s protection can be found in the bracha (blessing) of Ahava Raba right before Krias Shema. The bracha says, “Ahava Raba ahavtanu Hashem eloikenu, chemla gedola viseirah chamalta aleinu — With abundant love You have loved us, Hashem, You have shown us great and exceeding compassion.”
 
We then thank Hashem for giving us His commandments, and ask Him to unify our hearts in love and fear of His name. We then say “velo nevosh le’olam va’ed — so that we should not be ashamed.” It is clear that we will merit the blessing of not being ashamed precisely because we are attached to Hashem and His commandments, and our hearts are unified with our people who strive to come closer to Hashem. We therefore offer our thanks to Hashem for granting us this opportunity. The last sentence of Ahava Raba says that this was the purpose for the creation of Klal Yisroel.

We will merit the blessing of not being ashamed precisely because we are attached to Hashem

“Uvanu vacharta mikol am velashon –  and You have chosen us from among from all other peoples.” The passuk (verse) then states that Hashem has brought us close to His great name, “lehodos lecha uleyachedcha be’ahava” to offer thanks to You and to proclaim Your Oneness with love. Hashem created Klal Yisroel in order for us to proclaim His oneness with love. This is what will provide us with protection during the war of Gog and Magog.
 
Rabbi Miller explains that "a person is obligated to foresee misfortune and do everything he can to avoid it" (Rav Avigdor Miller on Emunah And Bitachon, pg 88). Because there are so many signs in the world that we are currently approaching the end of days, it would make sense that we should all do whatever we can to bolster ourselves in the spiritual fight we are immersed in right now.

​If the passuk (verse) says that Hashem has saved us and created us in order that we should "thank him and proclaim His Oneness with Love," then that is precisely what we should be doing everyday right now with a full heart! In that way we can be confident that Hashem will save us always as our geulah (redemption) draws ever nearer"

[See also the end of Masechta Sanhedrin, where it states a Jew is saved from the war of Gog and Magog through Torah study, acts of kindness, and properly keeping & enjoying the Shabbas.]