A Word of Torah

Sixty-eight days ago, as Shabbat ended and Tishah B’Av began this year, I jumped into my car and drove down to Kiryat Gat where the members of the Nir Oz community were going to have their weekly rally, followed by a conversation between the social worker who was assigned to their community after October 7th and a member of their community who forged a bond with her. The culmination was the reading of Eichah – the Megillah written by Jeremiah describing the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in the year 586 BCE, including our ancestors’ forced exile to Babylonia. Toward the end of the program, the floor was opened to questions, and the woman sitting two rows directly in front of me asked the final question. She started by turning around and introducing herself to everyone present with the words, “I am Silvia Cunio. Two of my children are being held hostage.” That night, as we read Jeremiah’s ancient lament of captivity and loss, his words carried the weight of a mother’s living grief.

Fifty-three days later, on the second day of Rosh HaShanah, we returned to Jeremiah with the Haftarah. It talks of hope in the face of adversity – promising Rachel that as a result of her unrelenting advocating on their behalf, her descendants will be returned from enemy lands to their own lands. It is eerie how this prophecy that was written 2,600 years ago, and that we read just two weeks ago, feels like it was written for today:

 

יד כֹּה אָמַר ה’ קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע נְהִי בְּכִי תַמְרוּרִים רָחֵל מְבַכָּה עַל־בָּנֶיהָ מֵֽאֲנָה לְהִנָּחֵם עַל־בָּנֶיהָ כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ: טו כֹּה אָמַר ה’ מִנְעִי קוֹלֵךְ מִבֶּכִי וְעֵינַיִךְ מִדִּמְעָה כִּי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ נְאֻם־ה’ וְשָׁבוּ מֵאֶרֶץ אוֹיֵב: טז וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָה לְאַֽחֲרִיתֵךְ נְאֻם־ה’ וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם: (ירמיהו ל”א)

14 So said the Lord: A voice is heard on high, wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, she refuses to be consoled for her children are gone. 15 So said the Lord: Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 16 And there is hope for your future, says the Lord, and the children shall return to their own borders. (Jeremiah 31)

The Talmud recounts a fascinating interaction between rabbis witnessing the aftermath of the destruction of the Second Temple. In Makkot 24b, we find a story where Rabbi Akiva laughed at seeing foxes roaming amongst the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem, while the other rabbis present wept. When they inquired about his perplexing reaction, Rabbi Akiva responded by telling them that he had seen the prophecy of destruction come true, and he therefore had confidence that he would get to see the prophecy of redemption come true as well.

Just as Rabbi Akiva saw destruction and therefore trusted in redemption, we who have witnessed these months of anguish can now prepare ourselves for consolation. We have all seen the prophecies of destruction and captivity come true. We have seen the mothers, fathers, family members, and friends of the hostages – as well as countless others – fighting hard to keep the plight of the hostages in the forefront of our thoughts. Soldiers have sacrificed their lives, families have given up formative time with their loved ones, as well as their support, in order to bring the hostages home.

Today, as I am writing these words, we are on the precipice of Jeremiah’s other prophecy coming true. As we stand ready to welcome the hostages home, our tradition offers us the language for this moment. In our tradition, we recite the blessing שהחיינו (Shehecheyanu) at a variety of occasions – including on Jewish holidays, and when we hear good news that relates to us as individuals. However, we are taught that when we hear good news that relates to us and others, we recite the blessing הטוב והמטיב (HaTov v’HaMeitiv). On Simchat Torah at night, I will recite שהחיינו over Kiddush and a new fruit. I am looking forward to reciting הטוב והמטיב over the news well before then.

May this be the year when we finally get used to hearing good news!

 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַטּוֹב וּמֵיטִיב!

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who is good and does Good!

 

Shabbat Shalom! Chag Sameach! V’rak b’sorot tovot (only good news)!