39. Machshavah

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchot Bein Adam L’Chaveiro

In Parshat V’zot Habrachah that we read on Simchat Torah, the Torah tells us how Hashem is “coronated” as King (Devarim 33:5): “ויהי בישורן מלך, בהתאסף ראשי עם, יחד שבטי ישראל”. “And He [Hashem] was King in Yeshurun [i.e., Israel], whenever the sum total of the people were gathered, and the tribes of Israel were together.” The Sifrei explains that when the entire Jewish people gather together in unity, then Hashem is fully crowned as King. But when the Jewish people are split into different groups and fragmented, then His kingdom is not complete.

This message is a critical one for us this year on Simchat Torah, as we mark one year since the terrible events of the attack on our people last year and continued fighting against our enemies. The more united we are as a people, and the more that we can express our love for our fellow Jew (ahavat Yisrael), no matter his or her background, what he or she looks like, or thinks, the greater that Hashem’s influence will be visible in the world and the more He will strengthen our people and be recognizable to the other nations. 

We have spent the yemei ratzon of Elul and Tishrei learning halachot pertaining to our interpersonal relationships and strengthening our fulfillment of mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro. As the chagim come to a close, let us take this opportunity to consider how we can further our feeling of, and demonstration of, love and unity with other Jews this year, especially those who are different from us. May Hashem, in turn, bless us all with a year in which we experience only joy, salvation, and happiness.