Every good story finishes with the words, “and they lived happily ever after”.
What is “after”?
Well, that depends on what the before was and where our values lie.
I thought of this as I saw a moving photo of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu wearing the Tefillin of fallen lone soldier Sean Carmeli earlier this week on Yom Hazikaron.
“When I put on his tefillin, I feel the profound connection between the generations… between a quiet prayer and an act of self-sacrifice beyond compare,” he wrote, adding that he offered “a silent prayer… in memory of all our fallen, and for the future of our people.
After. Utterly meaningless without having a profound before and an enduring eternal tomorrow.
After. Continuity. Dor L’dor. Eternity.
Judaism is all about the after. We’ve been handed the amazing and transcendent Heritage that stretches back almost 4000 years and experienced with dedication, devotion and self sacrifice throughout the millennia in order to create the today which ensures an after.
After is in our hands whether we can quantify it or not. We’ve been graced with the opportunity and honor to create an “after” for our families, communities, future generations — we are the products of the after that preceded us!
Sean Carmeli was an American lone soldier. He electively joined the IDF defending the “after”, ultimately giving his very life — may his memory be for a blessing and continue inspiring.
After. What a powerful word not for its relativism rather for its ability to link the past with the future.
At the end of the day that’s what Am Yisrael has been doing for millennia — creating the “after”, today!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor
P.S. Hear the story amazing connection with Sean Carmeli Tefillin and Camp Gan Israel. Powerful!
P.P.S. Are you a golfer? Join our Golf Outing it’s a great time and a great cause— Here. Or support the event — here.
P.P.P.S. The name of one of this weeks Parsha is “Acharie “ which means after. It tells of laws given after the passing of the two sons of Aaron. Here’s a link to read more about the Parsha to connect with the timelessness of Torah .