Who can’t shudder over the last two weeks of horror that has befallen our nation?
However as the Navi says עת צרה היא ליעקב וממנה איוושע it’s a time of calamity — but from the calamity itself we will see salvation and we already see salvation. The Chidush of ממנה איוושע is that from the צרה itself we can see great salvation.
In our case the salvation is screaming out to us. We all know the incredible divide that existed prior to Yom Tov and there is no point in finger pointing, because when there is division in Klal Yisrael we are all responsible for it. As the Yerushalmi in Nedarim relates, the Jewish people are one body. As the Ramak in his powerful Sefer Tomer Devorah explains, we are actually so connected with each other that each one of us has a part of their soul in everyone else — which is why if you didn’t make Kiddush I can make Kiddush for you even after I was already Yotze. If you didn’t make Kiddush, then I didn’t either — for that part of me which is in you has not yet heard Kiddush.
It sounds complicated, but it is quite simple: we are one flesh and soul, and we affect each other directly. We are responsible for each other both for physical needs and especially for spiritual needs. Hence the next obvious call from heaven was the Chizuk that Am Yisrael needs in Shmiras Shabbas.
How scary it was to discuss the fact that this year we didn’t blow the Shofar the first day of Rosh Hashana? As is well know that can be an opening for a very dangerous year. We see now clearly what that can mean. Nevertheless, through this great Tzara we have seen unity and concern for each other like we haven’t seen in years— the soldiers putting themselves on the line ready to give up their lives for the Jewish people. The rest of the Jewish people running around day and night with whatever needs that the soldiers have — including the best kosher food, music, dancing, camouflaged Tzizis, vests and helmets, undergarments... you name it. The brothers and sisters were running to help each other — מי כעמך ישראל?
There has been a great thirst to keep Shabbas too. May we be Zoche to see the words of Chazal fulfilled this Shabbas אם ישראל שומרים שבת אחת כראוי מיד בן דוד בא.
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
