Rebbetzen Tziporah – Berashis I

Berashis

Dear, Dear friends,

People keep on asking me two questions, “What’s happening?” and “What should we do?” If I want to stay honest, I can’t answer either one of them.

“What’s happening” is still evolving. Initially, no one had any idea or concept of what actually happened on Simchas Torah. The scope of the atrocities slowly emerged. Mutilated bodies kept on being found, reflecting images of the holocaust. I saw the clip of the young woman, a girl of maybe 19 being lifted on to a Chamas man’s motorcycle. I wonder if she is still alive, and what horrors the next hours held for her. I heard about corpses of babies. I saw the 85 year old woman forced on to a golf cart and ride into the south, to Gaza. The “dry news” of thousands of missiles which somehow didn’t kill us all, a miracle that we are used to from previous wars. The overwhelming number of people touched by the war is unique. There never was a call up of so many men and the subsequent confusion and hollow fright which with their wives, parents, a children will have as constant companions.

I also know that the movement towards Israel from Gaza has stopped, and that the border cities are no longer under direct siege. I also know what you know before you continue reading anything more from me.

HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW

I know that Hashem is conducting the war.

I know that the miraculous American intervention (much as Nixon’s intervention in the Six Day War) is His signature.

I know that we are too small to know, and too beloved to forget that this incomprehensible episode in our ongoing reality is leading us to where we want to be.

As it was in Egypt.

And in Persia.

And maybe, maybe, now. In few days. Or not yet.

I also know that it is not a coincidence that the hostilities (what an artificial and civilized word) began just as we begin the next cycle of learning. When you look at the first few Parshiot in Breishis one theme can’t be ignored if your eyes are open. Tefilla is far more important than you can be begin to imagine. The next few thoughts that I am writing came via Rav Baruch Rosenbaum, one of Israel’s most powerful and erudite speakers.

In Parshas Bereshis, although the world was created day by day, its potential had to be explored and exploited by humans who were only created on the sixth day. 

The third day was the one in which all vegetation came into being. Everything (he said quoting various Midrashim) was miniature. Tiny fruits. Tiny vegetables. They couldn’t grow until there was rain, and no rain would fall until there was a human being, Adam, to pray for rain. Prayer created a partnership between Adam and his creator, and gave Adam the ability to turn the world into a bridge that connects him to Hashem, and allows Hashem to find His place in the world.

In Parshas Noach you find a similar story but tragically reversed. Hashem informed Noach that the world would be erased - Noach saw things as they were. He knew that the only direction it could go at that point was downward into a spiral of unending evil. Noach’s only question to Hashem was ‘what can I do to save myself.’ He worked on the ark for 120 years and didn’t make a dent in what the fate of the rest of the world would be. When the flood was over, and he saw the countless bodies of humans and animals, he was overwhelmed with grief and despair. He knew that things could have been different had he davened.  He wanted the forgetfulness that wine can give you, and planted grape seeds, which Hashem caused to ripen immediately, and similarly caused the juice to ferment immediately. He had the wine but didn’t have to pray for it… he felt the pain of the loss of connection both for him and for the world.

In Lech Lecha Hashem promised Avraham that he would be a brachah, meaning not only that he is blessed, but that he would be a source of blessing. Words count.

In VaYeirah we find that Hagar, who gave up everything (imagine her as the Princess of Dubai) to become Avraham’s co-wife, rejected her role – she wanted a child who would be hers, who would not have what only Sara could have given – tznius, ruach hakodesh and more. She ran away and was told that she would miscarry the child she was carrying, but that there would be another child, and that his name should be Yishmael. Hashem revealed to her that he was destined to be a wild donkey in the guise of a human, a giver of hatred and one who would receive it back in return. Avraham still prayed on behalf of this child, that he still retain awe of Hashem and his prayers were answered. Yishamael’s descendants are one of the most numerous and powerful nations. His deepest wish may still be fulfilled. The actual person, Yishamael, eventually did tshuvah. So far, his descendants have not chosen this path (and there is no promise that they will). When the child was born, Avraham didn’t know about Hashem’s instructions to Hagar to use this name. He chose it because in a flash of prophecy he saw that Hagar’s child would be so cruel that his own future descendants will cry out to Hashem in tefillah to escape from his indiscriminate bloodshed, and that Hashem will listen to them (the literal meaning of the name Yishmael).

Today we face Yishamael who according to Daniel’s prophecy will be our last oppressor. As predicted, descendants of Yishmael know no kindness. The step we need to take is to pray; Hashem has promised to hear the prayers we say in the moments of conflict with Hagar’s child.

If you are already davening,

Daven more! Better! With more faith and more hope and more closeness to Hashem

Everyone here knows that the One we can rely on is Hashem. Find ways to express your faith and trust in Him and His mitzvot. My husband’s son, Elozor, went down to Gaza last war (I think we are up to number 3, but who’s counting). He wanted to be with the soldiers and do something for them. He and his friend took down a car full of food that guys like and tzizis if anyone would want a pair. They were overwhelmed with requests/demands for tzitzis. In the end they distributed 600. They are there again. If any of you want to donate, his email is elozorg@gmail.com. There are also many other ways of concretely helping via ezer m’tzion and other well-known tzedakas, some of which are having people send specific times that are needed. A particularly moving thing (at least to me) is that the army sent call up notices to Israelis who are abroad. They are called “tzav 8”. The response could have been “Thank G-d I’m safe here (wherever here is – NY or Thailand).” It wasn’t. They are coming back to face the violence and horror knowing that this is what they will face. A chareidi man came to the airport with a credit card with $250,000 on it to pay their fares. These are all acts of faith, and they all have a message of commitment to being Hashem’s chosen people.

The coming days will take us to places we have never been. It may take you further in faith than you ever knew you could go.

Love,

Tziporah