National Resilience

Friday morning I went to the nearby market (Mahaneh Yehuda) to do some shopping for Shabbat. Suddenly, among the stalls, young guys wearing kippahs started to appear. They raised flags, used a loudspeaker, made a circle within the crowd of passersby, and began singing “Am Yisrael Chai” (the people of Israel live).

A significant part of our national backbone has faltered two weeks ago. These are major backbones we relied on as a nation. Institutions that were meant to protect us, care for the wounded, tend to the bodies, failed in their mission and took days to recover.

But the people themselves have demonstrated an incredible resilience. Every day I receive messages about various needs of families who left their homes in the south or north and are left without shelter, food, clean laundry; of soldiers without equipment; of trauma and anxiety victims. I contact someof them immediately, and without fail, find that the need is met above and beyond. How? Countless initiatives that ordinary people, not government officials or some institution, take.

In the video, the guys sing, among other things: “Satiate us from Your goodness and purify our hearts to truly serve You.” Pay attention to the guy on the left with a red shirt and a water bottle in his hand. At a certain point, towards the end of the clip, he sprinkles water unintentionally on the dancing circle. Immediately I thought of God’s promise to pour pure water on us and give us a new spirit (Ezk. 36:25), and to turn our hearts toward Him.

Indeed, God, Am Yisrael Chai, for Your promises are alive and enduring. I ask that soon, in our days and at this time, You will pour pure water upon us. Use this current crisis and the hunger it creates to direct our gaze towards You and satisfy us from Your goodness.

Shabbat Shalom.