The Lesson of the Yuds

In Chutz L'Aretz we wait for our Yom Tovim (the three main Jewish holidays) to receive this very special blessing, Birkas HaKohanim. In The Loneliness Is Overwhelming, I noted that the names of the three boys on trial in Japan all begin with a yud. 

Devorah sent me a reference from Rabbi Zev Leff's sefer, Shemoneh Esrei, The Depth and Beauty of Our Daily Tefillah, with translation and commentary of classic Torah sources, and on page 190 is a section on Honesty and Integrity in Securing a Livelihood. In part it says:

"The blessing of Birkas HaShanim contains thirty words, which correspond to the three yuds that begin each of the three blessings.

These three blessings represent the perfection of one's material needs; one's spiritual needs; and the perfect synthesis of both of these realms, which culminate in shalom, perfection and harmony.

The significance of the three yuds, adding up to thirty also represents the community in its three aspects:  Kahal, Adas and Yisrael ... not earning one's living at the expense of others."

Hashem has sent us a message, an aspect of our Klal that needs attention. This is the key to the yuds. It could be understood that the boys suffering in Japan are suffering for the Klal. What can we say or do to help them.

It might be appropriate for the person who sent them into this very tight experience (mei-tzar-im) to go to Japan and try to have the authorities release the boys because they are innocent and accept himself as the guilty party.

In the meantime, we continue to daven for 

Yoel Zev ben Mirel Reesa Chava; 

Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel; and 

Yosef ben Ita Rivka.