Let Us Be Strong

Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazeik – Let us be strong, Let us be strong, and let us strengthen one another.  These are the words that we recite upon completing a Biblical book in our Torah scroll, that we said together on Friday night in joy while celebrating Simchat Torah.  That joy seemingly evaporated the next day as news from Israel poured in of the unfathomable attack by Hamas in Israel.

Like many of you, I watched the news, I felt inadequate in how to respond, I felt powerless to stop the violence and didn’t know how to help the victims.  I felt outraged at social media, and mainstream media, that seemingly defended Hamas’ actions – there is no defense for such evil.  I felt scared for those I know in Israel, those in and being called up for IDF service.  It was clear this was not “just” another war breaking out.  This act of terrorism, a week following the 50^th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, is unspeakable.

So what should we do in the face of such evil?  How can we go about our day to day lives, how can we still celebrate the babies, when we know what is going on in Israel?  I think one answer is to remember the phrase, Am Yisrael Chai, The Jewish People Live – to live – to balance the brokenness with things that make us whole.  Rabbi Chessin reminded us on Tuesday night that the Hebrew word for crisis, Mashber, is the same word for the birthstool, both from the root, ‘to break.’ This time of crisis, of despair, of anger is also a time for something new to come, and we don’t know what that will be.  To survive crisis, we need a healthy dose of joy and hope.  To be resilient, we must find and do the things that nourish our hearts and souls, to refill the proverbially pit this war is causing.

I pray for peace to come quickly, for tranquility throughout the Land of Israel, and for all her inhabitants.  I pray that we may once again all feel whole.  I pray that nation should not have to lift up sword against nation because they are under attack; I pray that we do not need to learn about wars anymore.  I pray that all will be able to sit under our fig trees at peace, and that none shall be afraid (Paraphrasing Micah 4:3).  And we will do what the Jewish People do best – surmount this attack to our freedom and being, and rise in strength and unity.