Posted on 11/01/23
I had in my mind to speak about something else, but when we got up in the middle of the meal to dance, I thought to myself, " How is it possible to dance in such a place? It's a place of death. How can we possibly get up and dance? " King Solomon in Kohelet Chapter 3 There is a time to cry, a time to laugh. There is a time for tears and a time for happiness. When we read this chapter, we think it comes to tell us that there is a separate time for each event. When we cry, we aren't happy. And when we are happy, we dont cry. The Baal Shem Tov says that this is something unique about Jews. We are able to cry and to laugh at the same time. One heart can feel the tears. It can feel the absolute tragedy that has befallen us. The Midrash says that When the Mabul came, it didn't touch Eretz Yisrael. And now we feel that that on Shmini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah, this Mabul was ONLY in Eretz Yisrael. This is the Mabul of our generation. And our heart is broken into a thousand pieces. And we are broken. When we got on the airplane a few days ago, we alighted broken, dejected and mourning. And we came to this Land. We came and we met men and women, precious soldiers. We have the privilege of having the Rav with us as well. And now we understand what the Baal Shem Tov meant. We can cry. We can cry about all the losses of Am Yisrael. And at the same moment, we can dance. Because how can we not dance, with a Nation like ours? With people like these? How can we sit down at a table when we see in front of us נצח ישראל לא ישקר? How can we just sit when we see the continuity and the tremendous spirit and the holiness and the unity of the Nation? I told my community that what I fear the most is not Hamas. We have Hashem protecting us. I am afraid that after we finally defeat the enemy, we will once again be divided. (The Rav interjected with a joke- He was speaking and said he was also concerned that after the war, how do we know there won't be any more disputes? And the response he received was - ok so we'll have another war! ) I have another suggestion. The other suggestion is to not let ourselves once again get to such a divided place. Not to lose the unity. It is so exciting to come to a place like this and feel the unity, it is the best situation to find ourselves in- one where we are completely connected and together. It is like a piece of Olam Haba in this world. So why go back from that after the victory? May Hashem bless the Rav, all the people of Israel, all the soldiers. And Hashem should give us a victory and health. Hashem should return all of the soldiers to their families safely soon. And Hashem should return the hostages to their families soon. And Hashem should grant a refuah shleima to all those in need. And Hashem should give us the strength to continue to live with unity until Mashiach comes.