Heartbreaking…yet so heartwarming at the same time.
Somehow, heartwarming doesn’t mitigate heartbreak. It’s in its own domain requiring its own sensitivity and reflection, borne out of a rawness and vulnerability that opens us up to something more vast.
Earlier this week, amidst the maelstrom of news coming out of Israel —the sad notice of the passing away of lone soldier Jordan Cooper hit the news. Jordan died due to an allergic reaction. It wasn’t the 200 days of reserve duty on the front lines that took his life but that’s beside the point.
As a lone soldier, without family in Israel, his family sent out a request for people to attend the funeral for the honor of their son. You know the ending because you know the Jewish nation …
Multitudes arrived from all corners of the country and from all corners of the wide spectrum of Jewish life. The full charismatic blend of personalities, affiliations, religiosity, whatever, were there.
On the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’av. A day that both the glorious Temples in our illustrious history were destroyed — a day the the Talmud speaks of “baseless hatred” being the root cause of how Gd allowed the destruction of his Divine abode — the transcendent and indivisible nature of the Jewish nation was on display.
Why does it take moments like these to bring it out? Are shattering moments the only way to access the depth of our souls?
No. A definite no!
Yet it does take work. Hard work that is — to allow our essence to rise to the surface eclipsing all the mundane distractions that steal the limelight. It takes setting aside time constantly for spiritual experience and the recalibration of our priorities.
Do we do that enough? How about Shabbat?The day that is designed to help us recharge, recalibrate, transcend and rejuvenate. Do we carve it out for ourselves and our families adequately? Questions like these are rhetorical but a necessary exercise that requires brutal honesty if we want to grow.
Jordan Cooper, you’re a hero both in your life, with your voluntary dedication to the defense of Am Yisrael — and in your passing with your inspiration that continues to inspire in a timeless and eternal nature. May your soul be bound in the bond of life and may we all live our lives bound to Gd, our Holy Torah and the great unifier —one another!
With best wishes for Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor
P.S. Our community will have the great honor of unifying with prayer and Mitzvah with Brothers Daniel and Neria Sharabi, SUPERNOVA FESTIVAL survivors.. don’t miss this unique moment.