As I write this note and prepare to usher in the Shabbos, most of Boston and many of its suburbs are under lockdown as 9,000 members of our law enforcement agencies launch one of the biggest manhunts in the nation’s history. Major thoroughfares and large swaths of Boston remain desolate and eerily quiet as residents peak from behind their windows at the happenings on their street. Even in our own small town of Sudbury, many banks and businesses are closed and the roads are visibly quieter.
Like everyone else, I am full of admiration for all of the people who have not rested and have been putting their lives on the line for the last few days. I am praying for their success and for the recovery of the injured officer, and sincerely hope that this ordeal ends very soon.
If Monday’s events were a shock, last night’s shootings and the lockdown of over a million people have shaken the Boston area even further. At the same time, the spirit of unity and resilience that has been shown by people across greater Boston and the acts of solidarity that have been shown across the nation have been a source of tremendous encouragement to all of us in the face of such evil.
Thank G-d it is rare that we encounter such terrible evil face to face, but when it hits we often struggle to come to terms with its viciousness and ferociousness, and it makes us wonder about the amount of evil that exists in our world. We begin to question our society and wonder if evil is rampantly abundant, our minds begin to fear that the world we live in is going to change forever and Boston as we know it won’t be the same, and we become fearful that are the many more evil people out there like the perpetrators.
Yet truth to be said, we live in a country that is a both a great place and made up of a good society. If anything, the last few days have revealed many more instances of the truly good nature of humanity as so many heroes and valiant people risked their lives or tremendously extended themselves to help their fellow person who they did not even know. Our country and communities have repeatedly proven themselves that we are a society and environment that promote values of goodness, freedom, equality, and living a purposeful life. This is true both in actions and even more so in potential as we have seen so clearly over the last few days.
One crazed gunman has managed to paralyze millions and draw the attention of hundreds of millions of people around the world and it may take 9,000 dedicated members of Law Enforcement to end the rampage of this attacker. On the surface the evil is in our faces and it is certainly the dominant force of the day, and as we face the lockdown the tendency to give in to our fears and cave in to the belief that evil is rampant becomes a more likely and normal option. Yet we must remind ourselves that while we may have some real evil in our midst, inherently our society is good, our country is good, and each one of us is and can become a beacon of light to the world around us.
One man may have been able to shut down Boston and draw the attention of the world, but let us turn it around and show the world that Boston is strong and Boston is a beacon of light that embodies humanity’s inherent goodness.
In Judaism, we firmly believe in the inherent goodness of man even if much of it may still only be in potential, and we are mandated to work together make it the reality that we live by. While it may be a difficult job and process, ultimately will we succeed, and the world in which we live will be in sync with the way G-d envisioned for this world, and together we will achieve the ultimate Tikkun Olam.
When I moved to Massachusetts I noticed that on the license plates of cars its states “The Spirit of America”. I have always wondered about the deeper meaning of the message that is on my car and that I drive around each day. However, today I know that we must live by that very message as we show the world that Boston is a resilient place, a beacon of goodness and a place that is an example of man’s inherent good.
This evening, at 7:13pm we will be lighting the Shabbat Candles and ushering in the Shabbos, the day of peace, reflection, and focusing on our deeper purpose in life and connection with G-d. As we do so and pray for peace and tranquility, I am sure that many of us will be praying for Boston and our communities and asking G-d for a bloodless end to this saga and the strength to go forward and be that positive Spirit of America and light to the world.
With best wishes for a peaceful and good Shabbos
Yisroel