As I write these words, the first hostages including a few children, their mothers and a few elderly people have been released and returned to Israel, in exchange for 39 terrorists who have been prosecuted for stabbings and other assaults.
It is a day of intense mixed emotions, as on the one hand, we are overjoyed at seeing these innocent hostages finally being returned to their loved ones even as we have paid a terrible price to do so. Yet at the same time, the obstacles Israel faces and the global antisemitism and bigotry from political leaders, journalists, colleges, students and so many others, continue to present great and huge challenges.
We are reminded at times like this, to look inwards and gain strength from the teachings of Judaism and the Torah and see how that can provide us with a relevant message to take away and apply to the realities of today.
Tomorrow, we will read the Torah portion of the Jacob's dream about the ladder and his journey from Be'er Sheva in Israel, to Charan in Mesapotamia. Jacob was extremely nervous as he embarked on this journey, as he thought about the many very daunting challenges that he faced in his journey ahead which would include dealing with people who hated him and would try to kill him, as well as dealing with those who rejected the values that he stood for and who represented the polar opposite of the values of Abraham that he was seeking to live by.
Yet as he stops at Bet El just north of Jerusalem, and lies down to rest, G-d appears to him in a dream and tells him, not to fear and that this land on which you are right now is for you and your descendants, and that he will take care of him and his children in the long journey ahead even when it gets challenging.
Jacob arises from his sleep and realizes that importance and the power of this message and the blessings that G-d had just given him and his people. At that moment he knew that G-d's message would enable him and his descendants to succeed throughout history, no matter how difficult the challenges they might face, would be.
Jacob then makes a promise that he will make this rock and place, a home for G-d, as he realizes that G-d had promised him that he will not only survive, but he will thrive. G-d was giving him a blessing and guarantee that he will play a huge role in helping convey the values of G-d to mankind, and help bring humanity and the world to a better place, that reflects its purpose, and due to that, he need not be afraid of the challenges ahead.
Last year while on a visit to Israel, I visited this very spot that many think was the place where Jacob lay, when he had this dream and made this promise. As I stood on this hill and looked at the hills of Jerusalem 20 miles away, Tel Aviv at a greater distance, and the Hermon and so much more of Israel, I reflected and thought back to thousands of years ago, and what Jacob had been promised at this very spot, and along with that, all the history that had played out on the horizon all around me.
Moments later, I was jolted out of my thoughts when I was stung by a large hornet along with another family member, and with that, we decided to leave the spot and move away as we saw others flying around.
It was perhaps a metaphorical and stark reminder that reflecting on our dreams and thinking about this vision of our people and what we need to accomplish, is not always quite as easy as we wish for, and sometimes we are jolted by the pain of the difficult events that have shaped our history and cause hurt, yet nevertheless we cannot lose sight of the goals and we can do so with the knowledge that we will prevail and succeed in our mission.
Indeed, the promise of protection and blessings that G-d gave to Jacob and the Jewish people on the top of Bet El, are what have given us the sustaining power to know that G-d will protect us and help us overcome all of our challenges again and again, until we eventually help the world become a place, where such challenges will no longer exist, because humanity will want to be better.
Let us remember the eternal promise and keep focusing on our goal of making the world be the place G-d wants it to be, a place of kindness, empathy, peace and unity, and a place that truly reflects its Divine design and may the coming days see the return of all of the hostages to their loves ones.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
VeShavu Banim LiGvulom
#bringthemhome
Yisroel