NPCs

In Jewish history there are no coincidences.
—Elie Wiesel

We need to be courageous and stand for our values, even when it is difficult.
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg

If we want to fight antisemitism, let us walk tall and proud as Jews, and let us work with all humanity to banish hatred forever.
—Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

By reaching out to others, by giving help to the needy and companionship to those who are alone, we bring freedom into the world, and with freedom, God.
—Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

There is no happiness without freedom, and no freedom without happiness.
—Theodore Herzl

For several years now, our family has implemented the custom of having a 'theme' for our Passover Seder. While not engraved in stone, participants are encouraged to speak about the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the redemption of our people according to the agreed upon theme. One year, it was the number four (four glasses of wine, four sons), one year it was Jewish celebrities (Groucho Marx, Henry Kissinger). Last year, it was the '11th' plague and two guests came with a long list of life's difficulties that included mismatched socks and not finding the good peeler. I related.

This year's theme was NPCs. NPCs, for those who are not familiar (everyone over the age of 16), is the abbreviation of Non-Playable Characters. Non-Playable Characters are those characters in video games who seems to have no role, they just give out weapons or shout something or otherwise get in the way.
I, myself, am not a video game player, and so while not familiar with the term, am completely familiar with the concept.

But hey.

I entered the challenge with gusto and came up with three different NPCs in the Pesach story.
And so, with no further ado, I give you my NPCs 2025:

1.  The Bread of Affliction - Ha Lachma'anya

I chose for my first NPC the passing hungry dude we invite at the beginning of our seder to come eat our matzah.

Matzah had just been described as the ‘bread of affliction” or the “bread of oppression”. Why would we invite hungry people to come and eat affliction and oppression? Why do we want to share our poverty, our despair, our suffering?
What has this dude done to us to deserve getting fed cardboard?
It’s a bit rude.
On the other hand, matzah is the bread that was eaten as we left bondage, thereby symbolizing, not only our affliction, but also our redemption.
Much has been spoken about the dichotomy of the symbols of Pesach, and the dichotomy of the Jewish people. Many of the symbols we have tonight have a dual meaning. The karpas, the maror, the salt water, the wine, all have double meanings.
Same goes for the matzah. It’s both, simultaneously, the bread of affliction and the bread of redemption.

Which brings me back to the dude we just invited to join us in our misery, or is it to our redemption?
Well, that depends on us.
Victor Frankl, in his Man’s Search for Meaning, said “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
A true slave thinks only of himself, and it doesn’t matter what kind of slave one is – a real slave to the Egyptians, or a slave to social media, or to work, or food, or shopping, or a million other things – a slave will think only of himself and his immediate needs.
Only a truly free person can put the needs of another before his own. Only a free person – in attitude, in emotion, in love – can share the little that he might have.
Rav Jonathan Sacks, in his Haggadah, said "Matzah represents two things: it is both the food of slaves and also the bread eaten by the Israelites as they left Egypt in liberty. What transforms the bread of oppression into the bread of freedom is the willingness to share it with others."

We’ve already made kiddush – the start of the meal. Nobody is going to come knocking on the door saying they are hungry. It seems a bit superfluous to invite people at this point, but the idea is that we are proclaiming our freedom – taking on the responsibilities of freedom! – of sharing, of caring for others, of being a united people.
Our invited dude is vital to our rejection of (the concept) of slavery and to our acceptance of freedom. 

2. Korban Pesach - Pesach, Matzah, Maror

My second NCP is the sheep that was sacrificed just before the exodus, the blood of which was painted over the doorpost.
Nobody ever talks about the poor lamb.
What did he do to deserve to be slaughtered?
He was a god, that’s what he did.
Bnei Yisrael took a sheep, which was sacred to the Egyptians, killed it, splattered its blood about, roasted it, and had a picnic. All in front of the eyes of the Egyptians.

What made them take such a chance? Bnei Yisrael were slaves. And while the institution of slavery was run by the government – there wasn’t private ownership of slaves – the Egyptians were, by no means, innocent civilians.

Killing a sheep and eating it in public is akin to going to Jenin or Ramallah or Tehran and eating a ham sandwich in the public square at noon during Ramadan.

Why did Bnei Yisrael do it?
Because God told them to.
But why did God tell them to?
Did God really need blood-splattered door posts to know where the Israelites lived? Couldn’t He have just read the nameplates and passed over the ones with Goldberg or Applebaum on the doors?
It wasn't God who needed that particular show, but, as usual, it was the Nation who did.
Because now, surrounded by miracles, Bnei Yisrael had the pride and confidence and, most important of all, the faith to follow God. Painting the doorposts with the blood of a lamb gave them the opportunity to stand up, to not be ashamed of doing what’s right in the eyes of God, even when it’s not particularly popular or goes against what other people (erroneously) think or believe to be correct.

Not to cower and hide.

Eighteen months ago, the Jewish Nation, globally, were given the opportunity again, to stand up, to speak out, to defend, and to take pride in their people and their heritage and their God. On campuses, in workplaces, in the spotlight, on the battlefield, and even (most incredibly) in the terror tunnels, so many did – acting with a bravery and a courage seldom seen.

Another element of the Korban Pesach – the sacrifice of the lamb is that it was meant to be eaten in public, everyone together, sharing, as one People, united in their faith in God.
Korban Pesach means that we stand up and be Jews, together, sharing a common history and a common destiny.
That lamb was vital in uniting the people and giving them the strength needed to walk out of slavery.

  3. Changing History

My third NPC is not actually mentioned in the Hagaddah at all. In fact, he’s not really a part of the Pesach story, per se, but only in the set-up to the Pesach story.

It’s the dude who finds Yosef, the son of Yaakov – he of the coloured coat – wandering about in a field and is asked if he knows where Yosef’s brothers are.

‘And a certain man found him (Yosef), and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying: What are you looking for?' And he (Yosef) said: 'I‘m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me please, where they are feeding the flock? And the man said: 'They left here and I heard them say: Let us go to Dotan.' And Yosef went after his brothers and found them in Dotan.’ (Genesis 37:15-17)

And that’s the story. We don’t know the guy’s name, we never hear from him again, a total NPC!
Our sages say that the man might have been Elijah the Prophet (Eliyahu HaNavi) or perhaps an angel.
But let’s say he wasn’t. Let’s say he was just a random dude.
What would have happened if our random dude hadn't found Yosef in that field at that time. What would have happened had he been in the field an hour later, or the day before?
If our dude hadn’t told Yosef where his brothers were, chances are Yosef would simply have gone home. He wouldn’t have been sold, he wouldn’t have interpreted Egyptian dreams, he wouldn’t have become viceroy of all Egypt and in charge of their food stores, and he wouldn’t have been able to bring his family to Egypt.
Instead, the sons of Yaakov might have all died of starvation.

But none of that happened because some guy, who happened to be in a particular field at a particular time was nice enough to stop Yosef as he was wandering around and ask if he needed help.

Our random dude actually plays an extremely pivotal role in our history.
He changes history. 

We don’t always know the impact we can have on the world. By being kind or generous, helpful, or smiling, (or the opposite) we have no idea what butterfly effect we might be having on human history. Our nameless guy didn’t – and yet there he is, though nameless, in our holy Torah.

4.  Epilogue

In the end, in real life, I don't think NPCs actually exist.

It seems that there is a vital importance to our place in the world.
Sometimes, we don't realize it right away. Sometimes, too often, we will never realize it.
But we are all part of God's plan.
Walk tall.

עם ישראל חי!

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 our 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

 

  

A Future Chanuka

But Judah said to the men who were with him, “Do not fear their numbers or be afraid when they charge. Remember how our fathers were saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh with his forces pursued them. And now let us cry to Heaven, to see whether he will favor us and remember his covenant with our fathers and crush this army before us today. Then all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeems and saves Israel.”
—1 Maccabees 4:8–11

For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest, but which contained sufficient for one day's lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days.
—Gemara Shabbat 21b:

For deliverance has too long been delayed; And the evil days are endless.
O Reject the enemy into the shadows of idolatry and set up for us the seven shepherds.
—Maoz Tzur

Many people are not aware that there is a book that was not included in our Bible but WAS included in the Christian Bible – the New Testament. The Book of Maccabees (I, II, III, IV) was written some years after the wars of the Maccabees ended, when the Land of Israel was under the rule of the Hasmonaeans. We don’t know who wrote it or exactly when. We know it was written in Hebrew, and then translated into Greek and Latin, eventually to English, and from there to other languages. However, the original Hebrew was lost. We don’t have it. What we have today is a Hebrew translation of the translation – usually from the English. We also know, that when our books were translated into other languages, much was changed, sometimes because of a simple lack of a good translation, but very often for political or theological reasons. In any case, a great deal is always lost in translation. Therefore, today, we don’t rely on the Book of Maccabees as an authentic source, but nonetheless, we can still learn a lot from it.

This is what we know:

• The wars between the Maccabees and the Greeks were, in fact, wars between a group of Jews who revolted against the anti-Jewish laws of the Hellenists, and the Seleucids – the followers of Hellenism – who ruled in what is today Syria and were assisted by other Jews who enjoyed the Hellenistic way of life.
• The purification of the Holy Temple took place in the third year of the wars and that first Chanuka (which, after all, means 'dedication') after the purification was actually a late celebration of the autumn Holiday of Sukkot, which had not been celebrated at the right time because of the war. This is the original reason why Chanuka is eight days.
• The miracle of the jar of oil lasting for eight days is not mentioned at all in the books.
• The wars lasted over 30 years and Yehudah the Maccabee was killed in the seventh year of the wars.
• The Festival of Chanuka was officially declared only after the wars ended and a certain amount of sovereignty and independence in the Land had been attained.
• Of the five sons of Mattityahu, only one, Simon, survived.
• 80,000 Jews were killed in these wars.
• Sovereignty, unfortunately, was short-lived. The Romans ruled the Land, eventually destroying the Holy Temple, and exiling the inhabitants within 150 years (give or take a decade or two).

Fast forward about 2200 years (give or take a decade or two).
Here we are. Sovereign in our Land once again.

Despite the destruction, despite the exile, despite the persecutions, the forced conversions, and the mass murders, the Festival of Chanuka is still being celebrated, marking Jewish independence in the Jewish Homeland and Jewish values according to Jewish Law.

And here we are again, battling against enemies who claim our Land as their own, claim our very history as their own.

And again, we are battling against Jews who enjoy the Hellenistic way of life, who wish us to give up on our Land and our values and our Laws, to cease being ‘different’ and join the ‘enlightened’ world.

And like in the days of the Maccabees – who did not mention the miracle of the oil – in the midst of war and destruction and death, today, we don’t always see the miracles all around us – those lives that were saved, the damage that did not occur, the miraculous victories of the few over the many.

The miracle of the oil lasting eight days is recorded only in the Gemara, written about 500 years (give or take a century or two) after the events.
It will be interesting to see how the events of the last few years will be recorded and memorialized in the future.

Will there be a dance held to commemorate those slaughtered at the Nova Festival? Will there be mass planting of fruits and vegetables to remind us of the kibbutzim that were attacked? Will there be a Festival of Beepers and Walkie Talkies?

There is a lot we don’t know and might never know.

But this we do know:

We will emerge from these wars – even if it takes thirty years – victorious, resilient, and just.

Today is the last day of the eight-day Festival of Chanuka, still celebrated more than 2000 years after brutal wars rocked our Land. We celebrate with festive prayers and readings from our Holy Torah, and with special foods and songs and vacation from school.

We will continue celebrating our sovereignty and independence, our values and our peoplehood. No matter what, and no matter how long it takes.

Make no mistake,
The People of Israel live and prosper.

עם ישראל חי וקיים!

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 our 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

 

  

Superheroes

There is a right and a wrong in this universe. And that distinction is not hard to make.
―Superman

A hero can be anyone.
―Batman

אחרי החגים יתחדש הכל יתחדשו וישובו ימי החול
 האוויר, העפר, המטר, והאש גם אתה, גם אתה
תתחדש.
After the holidays, everything will be renewed.
Ordinary days will return, be renewed.
The air, the earth, the rain and the fire -
Also you, you too, will be renewed.

―Naomi Shemer

הֵמָּה, כָּרְעוּ וְנָפָלוּ; וַאֲנַחְנוּ קַּמְנוּ, וַנִּתְעוֹדָד
They are bowed down and fallen; but we are risen and stand upright.
―Psalms 20:9

It is finally, officially acharei hachagim – after the holidays. 

The Jewish holidays of the Hebrew month of Tishrei are the cornerstone of our calendar year. 

And after the holidays is the time when the kids go back to school for a long stretch (two months until the next holiday of Chanuka!), a new semester of college/university starts, and after school activities such as judo and robotics get underway. Homeowners begin their renovations and redecorating projects that waited until the family and friends they hosted for three weeks went home, and many people take a much-needed vacation after the stress of the holiday season. Doctor appointments, job interviews, cleaning out the junk drawer or the space under the stairs are all tasks often postponed until after the holidays – acharei hachagim.

The holidays of Tishrei are structured so as to be inspiring, soul-searching, solemn, majestic.

They are meant to be joyful. 

Inspiring, soul-searching, solemn, majestic, are, as I said, built-in. 
This year, however, joyful was far more difficult to attain. 

Last year, Israel did not experience the acharei hachagim period. The kids did not go back to school. The universities did not begin a new semester. Home renovations were not begun. People did not leave on vacation and those who had already left rushed back home as fast as they could. Instead, teachers, college students, builders, lawyers, doctors, air conditioner repair-people, tour guides, barmen, and everyone in between donned their uniforms and superhero capes to defend their People and their Land.

A year ago, on the last day of the holiday period, Israel was attacked in a monstrous, brutal pogrom that took the lives of more than 1200 people, and wounded thousands of others. Over 250 men, women, children, and babies were dragged into the terror tunnels as hostages. Even as we were reeling from the savagery, we were not only attacked with missiles from both the north and south, but also by a thick wave of antisemitism emanating from campuses and newspapers and even governments across the globe.  

And every day, for the past year, we wake up dreading to hear the news, dreading to read the names, dreading the day. 

And yet. 

We have also been witnesses to acts of heroism, selflessness, bravery, altruism, and unity on a scale not witnessed in decades. 

People volunteer to pick fruit, to grill hamburgers, to do laundry, to babysit, to give lifts, to sort socks, to bake cookies; anything to help those who are struggling. 

We have watched couples marry, and babies born despite the hardships and the uncertainty. 

We have watched a nation rise up and step up to do everything it takes to help and to grow and to survive, notwithstanding the hatred and hostility flung at us from all corners. 

And in it, we find moments of joy: in a Eurovision song, in the latest medical miracle discoveries, in announcements by the lifeguard at the beach, in perfect holiday weather, in sipping coffee with friends, in the laughter of children.

We clutch at these moments to balance the anguish, and sometimes - in exquisite moments - even to override it. 

And this is our true superpower: our ability to dance while weeping, to laugh while mourning, our capacity – born of necessity – to simultaneously hold in one hand the joy and the love and the blessedness of our lives in our Land, and in the other hand to hold the sorrow and the anguish and the fear; to be able to banish some of the dark, even with the smallest of lights. 

And though the war rages on, and our losses and sorrow seem bottomless, though the hate is still heavy in the air, we will enter this year's acharei hachagim period with our capes on, as we simultaneously cry and dance, weep and sing, and go forward, growing, creating, loving, and maybe even cleaning out the stuff from under the stairs. 

Happy acharei hachagim to the Nation of Israel. 

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 our 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

 

  

 

  

 

Soon

Israel was not created in order to disappear – Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and the home of the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy, and it honors the sword of freedom.

–John F. Kennedy

וזה לא משנה אם באמצע החיים או באמצע משחק כדורגל
כולם יעזבו את הכל בשנייה אם יקרא להם הדגל
And it doesn't matter if in the middle of life or in the middle of a soccer game,
Everyone will drop everything in a second if the flag calls out to them

–Assaf Peri and Omri Glickman - Tikvah 6 

אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי, אֶל-הֶהָרִים-- מֵאַיִן, יָבֹא עֶזְרִי
עֶזְרִי, מֵעִם יְהוָה-- עֹשֵׂה, שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ

I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

–Psalms 121

I waited until after October 7 to write again. 

I dreaded the day - a day of agony and loss and fear. 

Most days, I get up early in the mornings, before daybreak. I watch the sun rise over the houses and trees from my front yard. I listen to the songbirds sing and the crows caw.
I wait for the garbage truck that passes my house every morning at precisely the same time, and I know the day has truly begun when the second bus of the day passes full of early-morning workers.
I've been getting up this early since I retired, more or less, which seems to be contradictory, but I love this time of day. I don't have to rush anywhere, nobody needs my attention, my coffee remains hot while I'm sipping it. 
Yesterday morning, however, I didn't hear the birds or crows. I didn't notice the garbage truck or bus. All I heard were far off booms and up close sirens. 
Of course, all the booms and sirens were in my head. I knew that they were but echoes, but they were very loud and very clear. 
And so, I decided something that, in fact, I had decided long ago. 
I was not going to memorialize October 7. 

I did not watch any of the scores of videos that peppered my Whatsapp, Facebook page, or email inbox. I didn't watch any of the specials, or 'newly released footage', or documentaries. I didn't listen to any interviews with soldiers, released hostages, or the families. I didn't read newspaper articles, or editorials. I didn't look at pictures of the murdered, or of hostages, or of fallen soldiers. I didn't pour over lists of names. 

Neither did I go to any of the half dozen memorial ceremonies held in various places around the city, nor to any prayer meeting, or reading of Psalms, or sad-song concert.
Nor did I go to either of the two funerals held in Beer Sheva yesterday of two victims of two separate terrorist attacks. 

Instead, I watched really dumb sitcoms, and a Youtube video of bloopers on Gilligan's Island, and Facebook reels of laughing babies. I talked to my sons - home on leave from the Northern front (and all that entails). I read a book about siblings, and played games on my phone, and wrote a few emails to old friends. I washed dishes, put away laundry, filed away some recipes, hung up some clothes.  
I scrolled through pictures of family vacations (where was this taken?), and of past Purims and remembered the time I sewed four different capes for four different costumes. 

Soon, hopefully soon, I'll get through these mundane chores without checking the news in the middle, without stopping to breathe, without forgetting to breathe.   
Soon, hopefully soon, I won't jump at every passing motorcycle or panic when someone knocks on the door. 
And soon, hopefully soon, I'll stop weeping in my sleep and crying in those wonderful early mornings.

אָמֵן, כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן
Amen, May it be Your Will. 

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

 

On Briskets and Honey

Let us proclaim the mighty holiness of this day, for it is awe-inspiring and fearsome.

—from the Unetaneh Tokef Prayer

And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.

— Deuteronomy 30:6

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the Lord weighs the hearts.

— Proverbs 21:2

Some foods will improve your meal, your mood, your day, your buttered noodles. Brisket will improve your life.
— Stephanie Pierson, in “The Brisket Book”

In another week, the Jewish year 5784 will end, and the year 5785 will begin. 

As in every other year, I'm busy checking things off my various multi-hued to-do lists; some are excel files, some word documents, and one or two are in pencil scribbled on the back of a bill from the grocery store. 

Shopping lists, cleaning list, baking lists, cooking lists. 
I like to be organized. 

The truth is that, despite this year's holiday being, in practice, three days (because it is adjacent to Shabbat), I don't have that much to do BECAUSE it's three days and most of my kids can't take being home for so long. Another truth is that I don't know if I could take them being home that long either.

Unfortunately, this year's Rosh HaShana is different from other years in more than just being three days. Almost a year after the Hamas pogrom on October 7th, we are still facing a fanatical, brutal, blood-thirsty, brainwashed enemy, bent on our destruction. 

How do we walk leisurely to 'shul' showing off our holiday outfits when our cities are still under missile attack (though in the south, it is MUCH reduced)?
How do we eat our brisket and tzimmis when our people are still being held, starved and tortured, in the airless terror tunnels of Hamas?
How do we dip an apple in honey, wishing each other a good and sweet year, when our sons and daughters are still fighting in the bloody battlefields of Gaza (and soon Lebanon) with a determination and heroism that is unimaginable and indescribable?

Can we simply munch on honey cake as Israel is being vilified around the world, and Jews around the globe are being harassed, attacked, and defamed simply for existing? 

It is so terrifying and seemingly hopeless. Yet, all we can do is hope (and pray) that this will be a better year. 

Another truth is that to have a better year is within our power. 

In this week's Torah reading, Nitzavim, we read "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart..."

How can a heart be circumcised?

A child is circumcised on the eighth day of life as part of the covenant between God and His people. Why couldn't he just be born circumcised? why go through the whole ritual? The answer is that God wants us to be partners with Him in this world. In the same way that cookies don't grow directly from trees, rather we take the God-given flour and eggs and water (and chocolate chips) and create something even greater ourselves; so too the circumcision allows us to take what God has given us and heighten our spirituality and connect us directly to God. 

On the Shabbat right before Rosh HaShana, we ask God to circumcise our hearts. In the same way that a physical circumcision heightens our spirituality, we ask God to remove any impurities from our hearts – the bad thoughts, the impatience, the hate, the evil inclinations – so that we can be kinder, softer, more loving, thereby heightening our spirituality and connection to God.

Rosh HaShana is not only about brisket and honey and forgiveness. It is about standing up and promising to do better. 

Years ago, I was told that we don't need to try to be perfect. All we need to do is to concentrate on one good trait and to work on it to the benefit of others. If you are creative and love to craft, be more creative and design and create for others. If you are a funny person, use that to cheer others up. If you like to drive, look for opportunities to give lifts to those who need. If you are good at business, make sure to help out others by employing them or teaching them. 

And always, search for opportunities to be kind. 

Let God circumcise your heart so that you can be kind—always. 

Evil is surrounding us, threatening to engulf us. We need to replace that evil with good—with kindness, with hope, with love.
Our sages teach us that every person should see the world as a scale, equally balanced between good and evil. If he does one good deed, the world will tip to merit blessings, but if he commits an evil deed, the world will tip and be cursed.
And so, we all need to do a bit more; give more, pray more, reach out more, love more. Be kind.

Wishing all of the People of Israel a good and sweet year.

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