Rabbi Hillel Skolnik
For two years, we have prayed, we have hoped, we have shouted, we have begged, we have demanded, and we have wished for all of the hostages to be brought home from Gaza and for God’s canopy of peace to once again be our view of the world when we wake up each morning. Now, as we enter Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot, that dream is as close to being reality as it has been since that fateful day. As I sit here writing this “Thought Before Shabbat” on Thursday morning, it is hard to believe that by the time you are reading these words, a signed agreement might actually exist. Ken Yehi Ratzon – So May It Be God’s Will.
Our nervous anticipation and excitement is filled with more questions than answers. When will the hostages be released? Will they all be released at the same time or in stages? What will the line of withdrawal be for the Israel Defense Forces? And on the list goes. But what we do know is that those who have within them the power and ability to choose between being peacemakers or instruments of war, including President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and whomever constitutes the leadership of Hamas, have for this moment chosen to be peacemakers. All that has happened to bring us to this moment is not forgotten, nor would we ever allow it to be. But for right now, this Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot, this sacred time between October 7 and Shemini Azeret/Simchat Torah, there is hope, positivity, and a door that seems to lead to resolution and the possibility of peace.
At shul this coming Shabbat, we will read about the most intimate moment that takes place between Moshe and God. Moshe humbly requests to behold God’s presence and to see God. God responds by saying that no human can see God and live. But then a middle ground is found. God places Moshe in the cleft of a rock, and Moshe is able to perceive God’s back, never getting the full experience but understanding enough. I do not know that we will ever have for ourselves the full understanding or appreciation of how the many nations and leaders in support of this deal came to the table. But just as Moshe was satisfied by beholding even the back of God, if this deal becomes a reality and the hostages are returned home, we too should be delighted and overwhelmed with relief simply from the fact that this has come to pass, however it happened and whomever made it happen.
Sukkot in Jewish tradition is known as “Z’man Simchateinu/The Time of Our Rejoicing.” In fact, we use a special greeting during the intermediate days of Sukkot. We say “Mo’adim L’simcha” – may these times be ones of joy. When we consider that, at this point in the week, we also wish each other “Shabbat Shalom,” I can think of no better words to express the wish and prayer that is bursting from my heart.
Shabbat Shalom – may this be a Shabbat when we finally know peace; be it the peace that comes from an end to war or the peace of mind and spirit that we pray comes from the hostages being released from Gaza and returned to the loving embrace of their families.
Mo’adim L’simcha – may these festive times of Sukkot truly be ones of joy that we have craved and yearned for since October 7 forever changed our lives. Ken Yehi Ratzon – So May It Be God’s will.