I still have no words.
A journalist asked me how I felt about the situation in Israel. All I could muster was, “Imagine your sister was kidnapped, violated and paraded down the street with hundreds of residents jeering at her, how would you feel? Can you put it into words?” He could not.
While we must find the words to describe the atrocities and the horrors that occurred and define it for sheer evil it is, the desire some have to contextualize it is dehumanizing and pathetic.
The story of October 7 is still unfolding and it will become a source of countless stories of tragedy, horror, miracles, heroism and strength. Although words are now being used to at least preserve the facts on the ground, we have no words to contextualize it rationally, and we never will. It’s like explaining the Holocaust - I’d rather not hear any explanations.
With that being said, certain types of words can provide us with much-needed strength and the power to overwhelm and crush our enemies.
In this week’s parsha we learn how humanity had devolved into a bottomless pit of corruption, thievery and evil. G-d instructed Noach, the only righteous person of the entire generation, to “come into the ark” that he built so that he, his family and the representative animals could survive the flood that would wash away all life from earth. The Hebrew word used in the Torah for Noach’s Ark is “Teivah” which literally means a box, but “Teivah” is also the Hebrew word for “word.”
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the instruction “come into the Teiva (the ark)” can also be read as “come into the words.” When you realize the world around you is awash with the stormy waters of corruption, misinformation, hatred, fallacy and terror - protect yourself by engaging in the “Teivah” - the words of Torah study, prayer and acts of goodness and kindness.
Especially in times like these when we encounter so many words describing the horrible crisis in Israel in ways that outrage us, there is no need to wallow away in despair that the world doesn’t get it. Recite a prayer, a chapter in psalms or read some verses of Torah. Share an encouraging message of faith and hope with a friend and seek ways to share words of love and kindness with others. Be sure to fill your “box” with charity every day.
These are the words we need and these are the words that will work.
And just as Noach emerged from the ark after the storm to rebuild a better and more resilient world, may we merit very soon to emerge from this current crisis stronger and more united, and graced with the arrival of Moshiach who will usher in an era of true peace and tranquility for all.