This much we know; on October 7, at 6:30 in the morning that day Jerusalem time the attack began. Over 5,000 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza in a span of 20 minutes. 2,900 Hamas militants stormed the border, massacring 1,139 people and taking 240 hostages back into Gaza. As of this Friday, 245 days have passed since October 7. Over that time, 1000s of Palestinians and Israelis have died. The deadliest war since 1973 continues to unfold. 121 hostages remain in captivity.
This week’s Torah portion Bamidbar, the first in the Book of Numbers, reveals the futility of numbers. Preparing for an invasion of the Holy Land, the Israelites conduct an extensive census. According to the Torah there were approximately 600,000 men of fighting age. The Hebrew word for thousand, Elef, could also refer to a clan or tribe. Instead of more than a half a million, the numbers of soldiers would be closer to 50 or 60 thousand. Almost two full Torah portions are dedicated to the census, and yet, the size and strength of the Israelite army is still ambiguous.
What also can’t be qualified by numbers is emotion. For us is the suffering and pain felt among relatives and friends of all those who lost their lives or were kept hostage on October 7 cannot he accounted for. How what happened has forever changed us individually and collectively. How it has impacted our ability to fully feel safe again. Tonight, we dedicate our final “Jews of All Hues” service to the victims of October 7th. We are auctioning off different items to raise money for the families of the Israeli hostages. Click here to make your bid. No matter how much we raise, it will make a difference.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex
Last Updated on 06/06/2024 by Marc Slonim