My sister-in-law spent the holiday of Purim in a bomb shelter. Her children, my niece and nephew, had been called up for reserve duty and were heading off to the Northern Front. But despite the dire mood across Israel, she, along with millions of Israelis, listened to the Megillah with a feeling of joy. This ancient story spoke directly to this particular moment, celebrating a reversal of fortunes we are very much praying for today. Set in ancient Persia, what is modern day Iran, the parallels were unmistakable.
The dire straits our people have faced the last few years are nothing new. As the story goes, they tried to kill us, God saved us, let’s eat. As such, we often find ourselves either amid a conflict or preparing for one. To this point, this week’s double Torah portions, Vayakhel-Pikudei, the final portions in the Book of Exodus, conclude with the description of an emergency response system equivalent of the Iron Dome today. Featuring a cloud of protection by day and a pillar of fire by night, God’s protection was with us always. So powerful is this image, our Shir Shalom ark is a depiction of this exact scene.
Israelis like my sister-in-law could end up in shelters for hours at any point day or night. While there they wait patiently for the “All Clear” or “Tzfirat Harga’ah” signal, a single-pitch siren. As a people, we hope and pray, as we have for thousands of years, for an everlasting “Tzfirat Harga’ah” that will bring an end to war and bloodshed for all people at all times. Until that time, let us send prayers for God’s protection for my sister-in-law and the millions of others in the region awaiting peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex