In this tense time, we stand firmly with Israel and her citizens. We stand firmly with the brave soldiers of the IDF as the carry out their sacred task of defending Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael. Our hearts are filled with tefilot for the safety of Israel and all of its inhabitants. Our hearts are with many members of CBAJ and their family members in Israel. Our tefilot are with those who have been injured by Iranian counterattacks, with gratitude that, Baruch Hashem, as of this writing, have been relatively minor. It is with great gratitude that Israel is a strong and safe country with a powerful military and with defensive infrastructure and bomb shelters.
Above all, we place our trust in HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the Holy One, Blessed be He. As it says in Tehilim:
הנה לא ינום ולא ישן שומר ישראל
Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers. (Psalms 121:4)
Aside from our absolute trust in Hashem who neither sleeps nor slumbers, I want to share three points that can guide us with how to react:
1) First, it is important for us to reach out to those we know and love in Israel or with family in Israel to remind them that they are in our tefilot and that we love them. These connections are powerful, important, and help provide strength and hope.
2) Our dear friend and teacher, Albany native Rabbi Sam Shor shared with me and with Rabbi Bomzer that because of Home Front Command instructions, many many people will not be able to daven with a minyan this Shabbat. Rabbi Shor therefore requested from me that I urge everyone I know: FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE IN ISRAEL UNABLE TO DAVEN WITH A MINYAN THIS SHABBAT, PLEASE MAKE EVERY EXTRA EFFORT TO COME TO SHUL THIS SHABBAT!
3) As Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon, a major leader of the Religious Zionist movement in Israel today, wrote (my translation of his words):
"Aside from the physical means, our very Parshah (B'ha'alot'cha, which we will read this very week) teaches us that we must pray, to cry out, and to engage in repentance and good deeds ("כי תבאו מלחמה בארצכם על הצר הצורר אתכם והרעותם בחצוצרות ונזכרתם לפני ה׳ א-לוקיכם ונושעתם מאויביכם - When you go to wage war in your land against an enemy who oppresses you, and you shall be remembered before Hashem your G-d and you shall be saved from your foes," see Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Fasts 1)."
For a final point on the Israeli strike on Iran, some words of blessing: Parshat B'ha'alot'cha, which we will read this very Shabbat, we read the following verse, recited as part of regular services every time we read from the Torah:
ויהי בנסע האורן ויאמר משה קמה ה׳ ויפצו אויבך וינסו משנאיך מפניך
When the Ark would journey, Moses said, "Arise, Hashem, and let Your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from before You." (Numbers 10:35)
May we soon merit to see this prayer come to reality!
Of course, in this difficult time, we must also keep in our hearts the 53 hostages still being held in Gaza, who, please G-d, should all come home soon. Our hearts are with the families of three hostages whose bodies were retrieved from Gaza by the IDF this past week: Thai national Nattapong Pinta, z''l, returned to Israel last Friday; Yair Yaakov, z''l, returned to Israel on Wednesday, whose partner Meirav Tal, and two sons, Or and Yagil, were also taken hostage on October 7 and were released in the November 2023 hostage; and a third slain hostage, also retrieved Wednesday, who name has not yet been announced.
Even as we think about the challenges that we as a Jewish people face and that Israel in particular faces, we also celebrate together this Shabbat all of our graduates and celebrants! Mazal tov!
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean
