Rabbis' Blog

They say reality is more bizarre than fiction, but this week I was genuinely surprised to see the insanity the world can offer. Israel was persuaded to engage in cease-fire negotiations, even though Hamas refused to participate, and the media reports progress was made. Surely this episode will feed comedic skits and parodies for generations, and I would laugh at it too if it did not impact the security of millions of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.

Without commenting on the substance of these negotiations, or whether Israel should negotiate with murderous terrorists in the first place, the fact that one side of a conflict could be dragged to the negotiating table and “negotiate” with the other side in absentia makes me wonder what the world has come to. When cynicism becomes the norm and reality no longer matters, one can wonder how it is possible to navigate such a world, let alone make it a better place for all.

But the teachings of this week’s parsha allayed my fears. We learn how Moshe reviewed the story of the “Giving of the Torah” at Mt. Sinai when G-d communicated the Ten Commandments. That pivotal event marked the beginning of the process of revealing the inherent divinity and goodness embedded in every detail of the universe. It was a once-in-history moment when everything was aligned with its creator and purpose, to show how with hard work and following the script it can become the revealed truth.

Several days ago I read a letter the Rebbe addressed to a Chabad activist in Israel from 1952 where the Rebbe invoked the difference between an Artesian Well and a regular well.

A regular well is a hole in the ground deep enough to reach water, which can be found everywhere. To access the water one needs to either send down a bucket or install a pump to bring the water to the surface. An Artesian Well is a hole drilled in an area of rock and soil that stores water under pressure. Once the water is reached, it flows to the surface automatically. As long as you remove the rock and soil holding it down, the water bursts forth with tremendous strength.

This helped me appreciate that at Sinai we learned our world is like an Artesian Well. We don’t need to change anything or introduce anything new. All the moral ugliness and cynicism are just rock and soil covering up the life-giving waters of divine goodness contained beneath the surface. By removing the “rock and soil” by living up to the Torah’s morals, ideals, and instructions the purpose of creation can be realized and the beautiful era of redemption can begin.

But you never know which rock or clump of soil removed will reach the water. We must therefore be vigilant to utilize every opportunity to do Mitzvot and encourage others to do the same. The much anticipated and needed global changes will flow on their own.

August 3, 2024, marked five years since the terrible shooting at Walmart that killed 23 people and injured 22. Based on my conversations over the last week, my observation of how the tragedy lives on in the collective memories of many is this. While the trauma and pain are still raw, and the consequences of that hateful crime continue to reverberate in the lives of so many, there is a focus on positivity.

Last week, an ADL panel discussion about hatred concluded with a suggestion for everyone to do more acts of kindness on August 3rd. A new play about the shooting debuted in El Paso entitled “Acts of Kindness,” a title meant to capture the phenomenal response of El Pasoans that day who lined up to donate blood and the many others who went above and beyond to support the victims and their families. At another event, a victim who shared her story emphasized the many miracles she experienced, her gratitude to G-d for the blessing of life, and her determination to leverage her suffering to help others.

All this tells me El Pasoans have an appetite to write the story of August 3rd with a positivity bias. It’s a good thing because focusing on the good is the healthiest way to heal from such a blow even without whitewashing the severity of the crime and its horrors, and ensuring that justice is done.

This week we will observe the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’Av. Starting Monday, August 12 at sundown through Tuesday, August 13 at nightfall Jews around the world will fast, wear non-leather shoes and recite lamentations to commemorate the destruction of our Holy Temple in Jerusalem and several other national Jewish tragedies.

Notwithstanding the excruciating pain and suffering we endured from all this destruction, our sages framed it with the following story. An elderly arab walked past a Jew plowing his field with his cow. When the cow mooed, the arab, who understood animal languages, said to the Jew, “Stop plowing your field and tear your garments because your Holy Temple was just destroyed.” A few minutes later the cow mooed again and the zoolinguist said, “Arise and rejoice, for your savior, Moshiach, was just born.”

This story illustrates that while the destruction of the Holy Temple was a historic disaster and must be observed as such, it can also be viewed as the demolition that precedes the construction of a much grander edifice than the previous one because the potential for redemption was born as the exile commenced. This is why the only prayer authored by our sages to be recited during the Amida service on Tisha B’Av, known as “Nachem,” concludes “Blessed are you G-d, the comforter of Zion and builder of Jerusalem.”

Instead of viewing Tisha B’Av exclusively as a sad day, we can apply a positivity bias and view it as Moshiach’s birthday. While we observe the mourning rituals with the memory of what was lost, we focus on the future and our ability to shape it. As Maimonides declared, one good deed, spoken word, or thought can tip the scales and bring salvation to the entire world through Moshiach. May this occur immediately, Amen.