From the earliest days of our long exile, the yearning for
Tzion has been a core element of our relationship with
HaShem. Generation after generation was inspired by the
love for Eretz Yisroel, and Jews were sustained through the
bitter years of golus by a firm emunah that our suffering will
ultimately end with the return to Tzion.

This core of emunah has become much more complicated in
these last periods of golus...

As in all generations, we have been blessed with gedolim who
provided guidance and clarity, even in the darkest of times.
This author had the privilege to hear many discussions about
these topics, and never ceased to marvel at the ability of our
leaders to shed light on what seemed to be the most confusing
and complex situations.

Rabbi Bentzion Kokis serves as a Mashgiach Ruchani
in Beis Medrash Govoha of Lakewood. He also was the mora
d'asra of Khal Zichron Mordechai in Monsey, New York, for
over two decades.

His years of learning in Yeshivas Be'er Yaakov in Eretz Yisroel
were an opportunity to absorb the teachings of the Mashgiach,
Harav Shlomo Wolbe ztz"l, one of the pre-eminent masters of
mussar of our generation. It is those lessons that are expressed
in these pages, and that illuminate a pathway through the
complexities that are so typical of our age.