Category — Pikudei

In the memory of the Yeshiva students killed in the sanctification of G-d’s Name. And in merit of a speedy recovery to the injured. Dear G-d, please send us Moshiach, when evil will be history, and we will dwell in peace in our Homeland.

Clip on the synagogue bulletin paper:

Judith remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Rabbi David’s sermons.

***

Just a few short weeks ago, I visited a perfect community.

In this community there is no hate.

No one talks ill of their neighbor.

No jealousy.

No murder and theft.

No shouting and beating.

No hurtful words are said; hence no apologies are ever necessary.

No relationships are strained and torn.

No war, no strife.

Visitors come by the thousands, yet no one has a bad word to say about the community.

As I strolled through this perfect place, I contemplated this phenomenon; wow, this is the ideal! If only I could take it as an example…

After walking around for quite some time, I sat on a bench to rest, and opened the weekly Parshah, to catch up on ‘what’s going on’.

Whew! Time flies. This week we conclude the book of Exodus. Anxious to find out the “end”, I grabbed a peek at the final verse.

This is what I read: “When the cloud would rise from atop the Tabernacle, the Jews would know that the time had come, to continue on their journey”.

What a depressing finish. G-d leaves us. Shouldn’t we be ‘wrap it up’ with how G-d is always with us? Why conclude with His departure?

I studied the commentary, who shared a beautiful insight; the Torah is teaching that a person must remember that his mission in life to move on, even when G-d is not there.

The Jewish mission is accomplished when the cloud of G-d has lifted i.e. exile, and nevertheless the Jew goes on, he pushes forward. Falls down, and rises. Up and down the ladder he goes. But he forever keeps on trying.

That is the community that G-d loves and dwells in.

I closed the book.

And without looking back I walked out of the cemetery.