In this week’s Torah portion, we learn about the Cohen, the priest, who has the task of preparing the Jewish people for war. This Cohen stands before the soldiers and encourages them to go proudly into battle against their enemies, to be strong and unafraid, for G-d is going into battle with them. 

These words are clearly meant for us to take to heart today. Today we are at war against our enemies. The enemies who brutalize our people, our Land and our spirit. Today we must stand strong and proud. Today we must recognize that G-d is with us every step of the way.

This week we entered the month of Elul, the month preceding the high holidays. During this month we return to G-d, heart and soul, and take account of the year gone by. As we look in the rear-view mirror at the year that has passed, we feel the tremendous pain and loss, the suffering that we have endured collectively as a nation. We remember the sense of unity, the way the Jewish people have come together, strong and proud, and stood up against our mortal enemies. 

However, this year, this period of uncertainty, pain, fear and suffering has not ended. We do not have clarity about how life, that has been thrown into chaos, can regain some normalcy and balance.

In the reality that we knew before, Hersh Goldberg-Polin would have grown old, surrounded by cute Israeli grandchildren, in our reality that was shattered, Israel’s sovereignty would be unquestioned, the world would gather around us, supporting truth and goodness.

We have lost that reality and are freefalling into another year.

Our Sages teach us that as the current year departs and the new year enters, a new light is drawn into the world. This is a light that the world has never experienced before, a light that the world has been waiting for since the moment of creation. This light is a new revelation of G-d’s glory and love, an expression of His relationship with us as His people and His creations. The Jewish people spend the month of Elul in preparation so that they are ready to stand before G-d on Rosh Hashana and receive this light.

In this moment of chaos, as the year draws to a close, let us reawaken our faith, courage and Jewish pride. Let us become the vessel that can draw down the light of redemption into a world that so desperately awaits it.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zushe Cunin

We are all mourning the tragic murders of the six hostages, Hersh Goldberg-Polin being one of them.

Please join us this Shabbat for services when we will say a kaddish and special prayer for the souls of the hostages and a prayer for their families. 

(Schedule: 10:00am morning service, 11:15am first kaddish and Torah reading, 12:00pm prayer for the 6 hostages and their families, prayer for the release of the rest of the hostages, prayers for Israel, peace and our country.)

Doing mitzvot (this can be done at home as well), saying kaddish, coming together as a community, and celebrating our Jewishness is meaningful for their souls. For Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino to know and feel that we are dedicating our Shabbat and many mitzvot in their memory will certainly be appreciated and the same goes for their families.

As individuals and as a community our coming together will bring us comfort and help us during these trying and challenging times.