ETERNAL AND ETERNITY

  Both title words have to do with measurement of time, both describing or hinting at eons and eons of    time. There are times though that the connotative meaning takes precedence, underscoring the difference between eternal and eternity.  At times there is no apparent difference; however, there are times when there is much daylight between the two as inferred emphasis enters the game.   

When one says, "OMG, it went on for an eternity," there is often a hint or more than that which tells us the duration was difficult, if not impossible, to endure, its time never ending. An eternity of suffering, of fear, of murder and pillage. On the other hand, there is a reassuring aura around the term eternal. Judaism has a history of an eternity of violence, hate, and bloodshed being inflicted upon it. The situation appears to be hopeless, all survival impossible, an eternity of pain and anguish, of bewilderment as to why this eternity of awfulness has been 'gifted' to the Jewish nation.   

On the other hand, eternal means or carries a better note, inserts an element of 'good' feeling, a sense of   hope and optimism far beyond the realities of a   situation. That situation has been ongoing for an eternity. Somehow, for some unfathomable reason, that eternity of woe is met head-on with a powerful wave of a surety of eternal connection, an agreement, a bargain between the Almighty and His people.  These people are stubborn, gutsy, daring to challenge their Lord over apparent discrepancies in activation and fulfillment of the terms of said pact.  Too often sealed by blood, the people protest, bare anger directed at the CEO of it all.  Answers, alleviation re the coinage of the day, the year, the decade, the century, are demanded. The people punch way above their weight class and do well.  

It all balances out in the long run of an endless eternity of woe via an eternal faith in promises made and promises kept.   The eternity of existential challenge is met by a wave of faith eternal, never ending, challenged, but intact.  Promises made and promises kept, albeit a tad too long delayed at times. Always a bout, at times a gentle sparring, at others a beatdown.  Hope and help come at a very expensive price, but there it is.

A well-known author wrote this:

"... the story of the Jewish people – a small and lonely people, wanderers and beset by inner disloyalty and external persecution – which nevertheless is optimistic and vastly influential in a manner that belies its physical numbers and temporal power...."

Now take an evaluative look around and see the truth of these words. We Jews have a secret weapon: the surety of a valid contract, a prophecy of truth, an assurance that no matter the situation, how much of an eternity it is, the eternal shall conquer, be the decisive winner.  

So yes, we will do what we must to win, to beat back and down these Hamas animals. We will bring home our people. Why? Because we must. Because if we do not, no one else will. No one else will feel their loss nor care. What are a few more dead Jews in the scheme of the entire situation.     Because if we hesitate or give in to pressure for a ceasefire, we are lost. We would have to fight again, this time against a restocked, reenergized Hamas, a never go there option. Their fate is to join the rest of the enemies of Israel, of the Jewish people, who found out that our eternity of woe has an eternal guardian who will finally step in and honor His side of the treaty.

 One soldier said, "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will be victorious." 

Nor is there any right of others to forgive and forget for us.

I add to that the prayer that we do not suffer too many losses of our people - held captive, members of our defense forces. or our civilian population.    My prayer is that we never, ever, ever go through this again. My prayer is that the world finally, rightfully, recognizes the truth, the historic imperative, our right - this is the land of the Jewish nation. I reiterate -this is the homeland of Israel. Period.

 In the meantime, it is upon us to finally regather and rejoin all of world Jewry. Only together can we raise a mighty fist to our enemies, the creatures of our eternity. The call is loud and urgent. World Jewry has never been more frightened since the Holocaust. Never did I think to see my children, my grandchildren, in a dangerous reality, here, within the United States of America.   

  We are all Jews, all in the same situation, on the same road, no exit ramp providing a way out. We will turn their words and intent of their vow back on themselves, ridding the world of them.        

Together, strong, united and determined, enlightened to the truth, we can beat them down, support Israel and do what we must. 

We will be held within the hands of the Eternal One. The world will learn once again, the eternal truth, that the Eternal One and our treaty with Him are eternal. Period. The timing is not always to our liking, but that is out of our control. But we do know deep inside, an integral part of every atom within, that there is an Eternal Being who does have our back, who will honor our treaty. So it has been and so it will remain.     

WE. ARE. HERE. TO. STAY. We do not intend to disappear. We do not agree to allow the world to determine our fate. 

So remember. And pray.

   HEAL OURSELVES.

• HEAL THE WORLD.

  HEAL YITZY!

  Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

  May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu.

  AMEN. AMEN

  AM YISROEL CHAI.

"May the Omnipresent One have mercy on our brothers the whole House of Israel who are in distress or captivity, whether on sea or land. May He lead them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, and from oppression to redemption, now, swiftly and soon - and let us say: AMEN. 

Always together. Only together.