It's what we do

Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
No, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live, and I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive, I will survive
–Gloria Gaynor

אנחנו עם של גיבורי-על
We are a nation of Super Heroes
–Omri Glikman, Hatikva 6

Lately, despite the fact that I have tried to stay away from the news, it chases me.
The headlines are so dark and difficult.
The world seems to be so hateful and so determined to destroy the Jewish nation.
I admit, that sometimes, I feel that maybe, this time, we'll run out of miracles.  

We are almost two weeks into the 'three weeks', the time between the 17th day of the month of Tammuz and the 9th day of the month of Av called ‘zman bein ha’meizarim”, literally the time between the straits – meaning the times between the troubles.

The 17 of Tammuz is the day the sin of the Golden Calf took place, of which we read in the book of Exodus. Moshe (Moses), having ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from the Hand of God, did not return at the precise time that it was calculated that he should. The men of the Nation of Israel panicked and decided to craft another god – a calf made of gold – to hurry Moshe's return. But when asked to give up their gold and jewelry for the making of the golden calf, the women of the nation refused. They knew that Moshe would return. They knew that God had promised to bring them to the Land.

Instead, they gave their wealth to the building of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle).

The 9th of Av is the day that the Sin of the Spies took place; the episode when 'spies' were sent to 'spy' out the Land of Israel and return with a report to the people and is related in the Book of Numbers. Upon their return, the 'spies' reported that the Land could not be conquered and that the people should return to Egypt. Contrary to the men, however, the women didn’t cry and tear their clothes at the 'spies' report, rather they demanded to go up to the Land.
In last week’s Parshat Pinchas, and in this week’s Matot-Masei, we read about the daughters of Zlophchad who demanded their inheritance in the Land, because the Land was so important to the women.
The women didn’t die in the desert as the men did.

Women did not participate in either of these sins.

The women had greater faith than the men.

And for that reason (among others), Rosh Chodesh – the first day of each month – was given to the women as ‘their’ day. I’m not sure how we are supposed to celebrate Rosh Chodesh; some women wear new clothes or a special piece of jewelry, some take the day and go on an outing, and some don’t iron (me - but that doesn't really make it any different than the other 29 days of the month) or do other tasks they dislike.

Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Av - the beginning of the month of Av; a woman's holiday.

Rosh Chodesh Av is a very special Rosh Chodesh. It is the only Rosh Chodesh on which you are allowed to fast. Indeed, it is the only day on which Hallel is said that you are allowed to fast. This is because it is the anniversary of the death of Aharon HaCohen (Aaron the Priest) – one of the very few people in Tanach for whom the exact date of death is known. We read of his death in Parshat Masei, almost always read the Shabbat preceding Rosh Chodesh Av.

“And they (Bnei Yisrael) left from Kadesh, and pitched in Mount Hor, in the edge of the Land of Edom. And Aharon the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Yisrael were come out of the land of Mizrayim, in the first day of the fifth month. And Aharon was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.” (Numbers 33, 37-39)

With Aharon's death, the Clouds of Glory, which, our sages tell us, had protected the Nation of Israel from the hot sun and wild animals and even flattened mountains that were in their way as they travelled in the desert, left the camp, and suddenly the Nation of Israel was alone in the wilderness, unprotected for the first time.

 Aharon is described as a lover and pursuer of peace (ohev shalom v'rodef shalom). It was he who stopped the cycle of sibling rivalry so prevalent until then in the Torah. Unlike Moshe, and even Miriam, Aharon never blamed or put down others. He brought angry husbands and wives together; he reconciliated quarreling neighbors; he brought peace within all of the Nation. Our sages tell us that Aharon loved God, and therefore he loved God’s creations. Aharon would greet everyone that he met. A person wishing to sin would refrain, thinking “If I sin, how would I look Aharon in the eyes again.” Through his great love, Aharon brought God and Torah to the nation.
He was beloved of the people, even more so than his more famous brother, for it says “And they wept for Aharon thirty days, the whole House of Israel,” (BaMidbar 20:29), but for Moshe, upon his death it says 'the house of Israel' mourned him, leaving out the word 'whole'. Such is the sacrifice of leadership.

It was in his merit that the Nation of Israel was protected by the Clouds of Glory because it is kindness, and mercy, and love – most especially love – that ultimately protect us.
It is love of one another that protects the Nation of Israel.

It is only when we learn to live together, when we seek harmony and respect – despite differences in customs, colors, opinions, or shoe size;
when there is no reason to love, yet we love anyway – we are protected and undefeatable.

When we fight amongst ourselves, when we refuse to listen to or respect each other, when we put our own needs above the needs of others, God’s Clouds of Glory cannot protect us.

During these terrible times for the Nation of Israel, when we are surrounded by so much dark and baseless hate, it is more critical than ever to emulate these qualities of Aharon; To love peace and pursue it, to love our people, and to treat all with respect and kindness and in peace.

Faith gave us the Land. Kindness and Love protect us in it.

And, the headlines notwithstanding, I know that we will survive, that miracles don't, in fact, run out.

Our faith is strong. 

Despite the darkness around us, we will survive and thrive, continuing to be a light unto the nations. 

Because that's what we do. 

Because we are a nation of super-heroes.   

And to you women out there, this Rosh Chodesh, let us celebrate by loving our families and friends and our people, even when we don’t like them, and be extra kind, always.

May these days of destruction become days of joy quickly and in our time.

Please, take a moment to say a prayer for our Holy Land, our Holy soldiers and for our hostages, may they return home quickly and in health:

Our Father who is in heaven, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel, the dawn of our deliverance. Shield it beneath the wings of Your love; spread over it Your canopy of peace; send Your light and Your truth to its leaders, officers, and counselors, and direct them with Your good counsel.
Strengthen the defenders of our Holy Land; grant them, our God, salvation and crown them with victory. Establish peace in the land, and everlasting joy for its inhabitants. Remember our brethren, the whole house of Israel, in all the lands of their dispersion. Speedily bring them to Zion, Your city, to Jerusalem Your dwelling-place, as it is written in the Torah of Your servant Moses:
Even if you are dispersed in the uttermost parts of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather and fetch you. The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your ancestors possessed, and you shall possess it; and God will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your ancestors.
He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea. 

אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ, בָּרֵךְ אֶת מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, רֵאשִׁית צְמִיחַת גְּאֻלָּתֵנוּ. הָגֵן עָלֶיהָ בְּאֶבְרַת חַסְדֶּךָ, וּפְרֹשׁ עָלֶיהָ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ, וּשְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ לְרָאשֶׁיהָ, שָׂרֶיהָ וְיוֹעֲצֶיהָ, וְתַקְּנֵם בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ. חַזֵּק אֶת יְדֵי מְגִנֵּי אֶרֶץ קָדְשֵׁנוּ, וְהַנְחִילֵם אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְשׁוּעָה וַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן תְּעַטְּרֵם, וְנָתַתָּ שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ וְשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם לְיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ.
וְאֶת אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל פְּקָד-נָא בְּכָל אַרְצוֹת פְּזוּרֵיהֶם, וְתוֹלִיכֵם מְהֵרָה קוֹמְמִיּוּת לְצִיּוֹן עִירֶךָ וְלִירוּשָׁלַיִם מִשְׁכַּן שְׁמֶךָ, כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת משֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ: “אִם יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲךָ בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם, מִשָּׁם יְקַבֶּצְךָ ה’ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּמִשָּׁם יִקָּחֶךָ. וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ ה’ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יָרְשׁוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ וִירִשְׁתָּהּ, וְהֵיטִבְךָ וְהִרְבְּךָ מֵאֲבֹתֶיךָ.
וְיַחֵד לְבָבֵנוּ לְאַהֲבָה וּלְיִרְאָה אֶת שְׁמֶךָ, וְלִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָתֶךָ. וּשְׁלַח לָנוּ מְהֵרָה בֶּן דָּוִד מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֶךָ, לִפְדּות מְחַכֵּי קֵץ יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ. הוֹפַע בַּהֲדַר גְּאוֹן עֻזֶּךָ עַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵּבֵל אַרְצֶךָ, וְיֹאמַר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר נְשָׁמָה בְּאַפּוֹ: “ה’ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֶלֶךְ, וּמַלְכוּתו בַּכּל מָשָׁלָה”. אָמֵן סֶלָה.

  

May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them.
May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלֹהֵינו מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל עַד לְבוֹא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם. יִתֵּן ה’ אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמֹר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וִיעַטְרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחון. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי ה’ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם אֹיְבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם: וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:

 

May it be the will of our Father in heaven,
Who brought His people Israel out from the suffering of Egypt
That He bless and save our abducted brothers and sisters.
Bound with iron chains,
May He strengthen their souls and faith,
Protect them from all harm and disease,
Have mercy on His sons and daughters awaiting His salvation.
Nullify all cruel decrees from upon them
In His great kindness, may He hasten their redemption,
And may they quickly emerge from darkness to light,
And from the pit of captivity to the freedom of the world.
And return in peace to their families and to their homes,
Please, plant brotherhood, peace and friendship in the hearts of all
Remove envy and baseless hatred,
And spread over us the Sukkah of Your peace
And may we merit to soon sing before You a ‘New Song.

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלִּפְנֵי אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם
אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיא אֶת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרַיִם
הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וְיִנְצֹר אֶת אַחֵינוּ וְאַחְיוֹתֵינוּ
הַחֲטוּפִים הָאֲסוּרִים בְּכַבְלֵי בַּרְזֶל
,יְחַזֵּק נַפְשָׁם וֶאֱמוּנָתָם
,יִשְׁמְרֵם מִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה
,יַחְמֹל עַל בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו הַמְּצַפִּים לִישׁוּעָתוֹ
.יְבַטֵּל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם כָּל גְּזֵרוֹת אַכְזָרִיּוֹת
בְּחַסְדּוֹ הַגָּדוֹל יָחִישׁ פְּדוּתָם וְיֵצְאוּ מְהֵרָה מֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה
וּמִבּוֹר הַשְּׁבִי לְחֵרוּת עוֹלָם וְיָשׁוּבוּ לְשָׁלוֹם אֶל מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶם וְאֶל בָּתֵּיהֶם
,אָנָּא, נֶטַע אַחֲוָה שָׁלוֹם וְרֵעוּת בְּלֵב כֻּלָּם
הָסֵר קִנְאָה וְשִׂנְאַת חִנָּם וּפְרֹס עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ
.וְנִזְכֶּה בְּקָרוֹב לוֹמַר לְפָנֶיךָ שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה