On 19 Kislev 5743 (1982),1 the Rebbe said:
First and foremost, with regard to trusting the Creator (“the Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers”2) — one must make efforts to strengthen Torah learning and the performance of mitzvos. This must be at the top of the priority list.
Simply bolstering Torah study helps strengthen the security of the Jewish people. When a young man engages in the learning of Torah, to a certain extent he guards the land more than a young man placing his life in danger at the border. On the other hand, though, there is a definite advantage to defending the land from the border — because of the actual self-sacrifice involved.
Each of them, then, has his advantage: Whether it be the student learning Torah, or the soldier guarding the border.... Since this is the case, those in authority must first and foremost be concerned with the safety of those who dwell in the Holy Land — by both adequately funding yeshivos and implementing a sound security policy.
