Jews with Views – Tisha B’Av 5784
What has given you comfort since Simchat Torah?
BY RACHEL DRATCH
We made Aliyah this past summer and have been overwhelmed with gratitude by both the little things and the big things. Since Simchat Torah, this continues.
The ‘little’ and the ‘big’ things – like kindness between people in the supermarket, a song on the radio, flowers blooming, children singing in gan, Shabbat Shalom between strangers, the “only in Israel” moments, the emails, calls, and WhatsApps from so many friends and family all over the world checking in, sunsets, sunrises, Hallel, tears shared at too many funerals, hugs and moments of connection when eyes meet, coffee at the local bakery, Tanach coming alive each week in the garden and in the news, meeting new friends over kiddush in shul, sustaining old friendships over the phone, and perhaps, most of all, connecting with all kinds of Jews from all over the world to create meaningful learning experiences that promote resilience – a distinctively Jewish kind, through my work at the ANU museum in Tel Aviv. Come visit us and see what I mean, meet the people, and talk to them, share your stories, and listen to theirs.
At the end of the day, it’s the mifgashim, those moments of connection, that comfort, sustain, and inspire me, now more than ever.
Rachel Dratch is a proud new olah who lives with her husband in Jerusalem. She serves as Director of Global Education at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv and works as an educational coach and consultant. She previously served for many years as Director of Educational Innovation at Prizmah in New York.
BY RABBI MARCUS ROSENBERG
Since Simchat Torah, I have drawn comfort from the stories and examples of heroism, bravery, and selflessness exhibited by Israeli soldiers and civilians, as well as from the State of Israel itself. Soldiers, both religious and secular, are risking their lives not begrudgingly but with profound pride and a sense of answering the call of the hour.
Civilians, including mothers, wives, and parents of soldiers, are engaging in heroic efforts to raise families without their spouses present. Their struggle and suffering are also inspiring. So is that of the business owner, struggling to keep things afloat, pay staff, and carry on. These people are standing up for our nation in our time of need, and they give me hope.
As antisemitism has risen around the world, the existence of the State of Israel also gives me comfort. Many people have been drawing parallels and distinctions between now and the antisemitism that spread across Europe before the Holocaust, but the greatest difference now is Israel. Israel, though embattled and besieged, is still the home to return to where we can defend ourselves with our heads held high.
Thousands of miles from Israel, I draw comfort from the people of Israel and the State of Israel.
Rabbi Marcus Rosenberg is the Rabbi of the Hamayan Minyan and teacher at Mount Scopus Memorial College in Melbourne. He earned his semicha from the Rabbanut in Israel while studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion.
BY ADI SAMSON
Even just asking the question, and searching for comfort, is in itself a powerful statement.
In reflecting on the last nine months, alongside the pain, there are three significant anchors of comfort:
Firstly, this war exposed the strengths of love. This was expressed in the massive participation in the funerals of our soldiers, in condolence visits to the families of the heroes, in the citizens’ mobilization like Hanoch Daum’s project to help reservists’ businesses. We also saw the dedication of the Jewish Diaspora through donations and volunteering on missions.
Secondly, the war challenged us to reaffirm our religious beliefs. If until today, the belief that we are living a life of redemption was a matter of learned tradition, the events of this year invited me to relook at those prophecies. Not only in the reality of “each person under their vine and fig tree” but also in the reality of “plunder and devastation,” which affect my personal and professional life, my children and grandchildren growing up here in the Land of Israel.
Thirdly, admiration for the heroism: The heroism of the soldiers, the citizens, the families of the fallen, and especially the powerful women among us, who raise a voice of faith as the chosen people, in the struggle for our existence as a Jewish people in our land.
Adi Samson is the CEO of Aseh Lecha Rav, a community rabbinic training program, and an organization and community consultant.
BY RABBI BINYAMIN ZIMMERMAN
Part of the secret of Tisha B’Av is that in the depth of destruction, we recognize the source of consolation. At midday, we arise from our chairs, acknowledging that G-d does not allow the destruction of His eternal people without providing solace.
Amidst the Simchat Torah horrors reminiscent of past pogroms, a nation stands against tyranny in a way unimaginable the day before. On October 6th, characterized by infighting similar to the times before the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, Simchat Torah told a different story. The destruction reminded us of our deep-seated connection.
On October 7th, the barriers that viciously separated us throughout the year vanished overnight. Sometimes, we need our enemies to remind us who we are and what truly unifies us.
That unity brought reserve soldiers of all ages to the battlefield, risking everything for their people, land, and country. It united secular, religious, settler, and every other Jew to stand against evil on the battlefield and in the warzones in universities and neighborhoods worldwide. It is a unity of יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹרָיְתָא וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חֲדָא הוּא – the Jewish nation, the Torah, and G-d are one, even if not apparent to all.
After almost a year of fighting and hundreds of days on reserve duty, that unity still overpowers the pain. It contains the key to ending this war and all our troubles, and that is a true consolation.
Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman is Head of Mizrachi’s Musmachim Program. Rabbi Zimmerman is serving in reserve duty since October 7 as part of the Halacha Unit of the IDF Rabbinate and recently received an Outstanding Soldier Award.
BY ELLIE MENORA
Initially, the words בְּיַחַד נְנַצֵּחַ didn’t have such a powerful impact on me. On October 7th, I was on shlichut in Binghamton, NY with my husband Ben and five kids. Ben was immediately called up to miluim and boarded a flight on October 8th. I was left “alone” with five kids and hundreds of students in our JLIC community in Binghamton. But soon I realized I was never actually alone.
I received so much love and support from family, friends, colleagues, our students and even from complete strangers. Packages with toys began to arrive in the mail. Sweatshirts for my kids that read my Abba is a superhero from someone I had never met. An “Eishet Chayil” package of gifts for me, food for an entire Shabbat from some old camp friends, meals from Jewish neighbors in Binghamton, around the clock babysitting help from our students, and I can honestly go on and on.
So what gives me comfort is having actually felt that בְּיַחַד – the genuine feeling of knowing that so many Jews out there care about me, and knowing that only together we can get through this and b’ezrat Hashem bring Mashiach.
Ellie Menora made Aliyah from London. Ellie and her husband Ben are graduates of Mizrachi’s Shalhevet program. They recently completed 3 years of shlichut at JLIC at Binghamton University, and are the incoming Directors of JLIC Mizrachi at Reichman University, Herzliya.