“From the darkness, we plead — to arise tomorrow morning and start again from ‘In the beginning.’” ~ from a popular song by the late Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer
Over the past two weeks, we have finally been privileged to witness the return to Israel from Gaza of the remaining living hostages.
Not all of the deceased have been returned, and it is our obligation to continue to demand their return, so that they can have a proper burial and the circle can be closed for their families and for all of us.
Even if the war has yet to be concluded, a long and painful chapter that began on October 7, 2023 has come to an end, and after two years we have been able to rejoice on Simḥat Torah with hearts more nearly whole.
Now we begin again, at Genesis, which finds us each year at a different place. This year everything feels more palpable. We have come to know what the primordial chaos feels like, and what it is like to encounter a flood that knocks us off our feet – and also what it is like to see the light of dawn break through the darkness.
It will take time for the wounds to heal. We will not go back to being who we were before October 7, but we can choose to channel everything that happened to us into taking responsibility for one another and enhancing all that is good.
