Various thoughts based on various sources and contemporary Rabbis
On a recent occasion, Rav Tauber commented on general situation in the world as it relates to this generation. He noted that in most of the preceeding generations, K'lal Yisroel (the Jewish people) as a whole was under constant attack. Jewish history has many, many examples of real discrimination, persecution and attacks against whole communities, whether it be the conquest and exile of the Jewish people (Beis Rishon - first Temple, Beis Sheni - second Temple), the Inquisition, the Crusades, the Mongol invasions, the Arab conquests, the progroms, the Holocost. In each of these cases, the main thrust of the attack has been against the Jewish community or the Jewish people, as a collective entity. The "test" was a test of survival on the community level, to hold together collectively to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people.
Today, the situation is much different. In general, a Jew is free to be a Jew, no matter where he lives. He is free to believe what he wants to believe; he is free to observe the mitzvos (commandments)as he sees fit; he is free to pray, to study, to teach as a Jew; there are no "laws" against Judaism, against observing the mitzvohs - in fact there are many places that even have laws to specifically protect the rights of Jews to observe Shabbos (Shabbath) and Kashrus (dietary laws). The "test" for today's generation, is therefore a test for the individuals as individuals. Each one must make his own (free) choice to observe a mitzva, to be a Jew, to ensure the continuity of Judaism.
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