We are now in the week of Rosh Hashana.
The last two weeks have been a whirlwind with each day bringing another difficult-to-believe feat by the IDF.
The whole leadership of the most advanced and well funded terror organization in the world, crumbling like a cheap suit.
We ought to pinch ourselves to make sure this is true. Truly miraculous!
Yet, this past year has been anything but easy. So much pain yet so much beauty. So much loss yet so much opportunity. So difficult to make sense of it all yet the need to march forward with pride and determination.
We rarely get to choose what’s thrown our way but we are entirely empowered to choose how to respond.
As I prepare sermons and collect my thoughts for a Holiday that will be inspirational, joyous yet reflective and empowering — I reread the story of Rachel Edrie the mother and grandmother in Ofakim who staved off terrorist with coffee and cookies for 20 hours till she was saved by Israeli security forces.
Rachel quickly became a sensation. Her clearheadedness and immense faith helped saved her and her husband’s life.
By popular request, she later shared the recipe for her cookies. Here’s a link to it. You may want to integrate some deep feelings into your Rosh Hashana meal — this is one way to do so.
How about this for a topic. Thousands of non-Jews order mezuzahs after a pro-Israel Christian puts one on her door in solidarity.
Or researching one of the remaining hostages in captivity and sharing a quality of theirs at the Rosh Hashana meal.
It’s been well documented by released hostages that the knowledge they had of the public support whilst they were in captivity was a tremendous source of strength to them and sadly they won’t be celebrating — we need to do so for them at a minimum.
I wish just to end with the last words of the Israeli Prime Minister at the UN last week which rang so powerfully from a podium that rarely represents anything good for Israel.
With strength Bibi declared —Am Yisrael lives — Now. Tomorrow. Forever!! AMEN!
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