There comes a point in time when the arms wielding the Battle ax of the day must be granted a rest, put down, at least for a while. The very atoms, the molecules that go into making a person demand that rest, that quietness of soul. However, much to our regret the weapons of war, the words of war, the tragedies of war, are too powerful at times, too overwhelming to enable us to think that, yes, soon very soon, maybe, hope fully, not likely now, or maybe there will be a cessation of hostilities in all places. When will the olive branches of peace reach more people, with an air of security and sincerity, when the words of all can be trusted as imbued with the truth.
But that is not to be, certainly not now. Certainly not when dealing with a perfidious enemy refusing to obey the strictures of a cease fire. In fact, of any kind of agreement. Certainly not when the enemy is one who will gladly consume its own as long as along with that tasty tidbit it can ingest others, of their sworn enemies.
We can no longer allow this. We must demand our day in the sun, our rights to be recognized as innately granted to us even as they are granted unto all human beings. Certainly not when we are constantly asked through the ages, through the Millennia of the world, to justify our existence, to prove, always, to others, that to impose upon us the impossible task of justifying one's own existence is malevolent and evil at heart and there is no way in which to ameliorate or soften the innate evil of such requests.
Even at times as we delve deep into the morass of ugliness with which we are surrounded, almost desperate in our need to find something positive about all this bloody negativity, the hurt and the inherent fear remain, along with the knowing deep within, to our very core, that it is a nigh unto impossible to, in reality, ever reach that point. When sanity rules the day and peace of mind is taken for granted.
The writers and thinkers and leaders of our times try to comfort us. They answer difficult questions with positive replies and scenarios. They tell us the truth, that yes, when asked if we Jews will dance again, wherever we are, we are answered with an, of course, we certainly will, and we already have. But those moments are accompanied with tear dimmed eyes and a stone of pure defiance within our hearts. We are reassured that we are a people who, throughout history, has learned defiantly to dance again, who celebrated Jewish holidays immediately upon being liberated from the horror of the concentration camps. We speak of faith reaching the imprisoned, granting them a light forbidden to them. So yes, we will dance again but always with the added memory of yet another moment of horror, another moment of attempted genocide. Another close call, too close.
It is not easy to dance, to celebrate, to look past the never dying nor fading scenes in our mind that shake us to our core. We wonder how much more can we withstand and still remember to dance again, to step out with a confidence that we can meet and overcome any obstacle on the dance floor. Will we always be able to say, be, in fact, in dark humor, that almost every Jewish holiday is composed of this. We were doing fine. We took missteps. We reaped the consequences as enemies tried to disappear us. We repented, recognized our errors and G-d heard our prayers and pleas and came to our rescue yet again. Yet again, we beat back those enemies so desirous of our demise. And now - let's eat!
Funny, yet not so funny. Bitter in its truth, but proud that we can still find the inner strength to dance again, to feast and rejoice and be thankful that we have passed through and survived yet another cauldron of fire meant to reduce us to smothered embers.
When we cried to the heavens, asking when we will be able to look around and see a friendly face, a nation reminding all that they indeed have our backs, that they are watching out, not only for us, but with us. In tandem, with shared goals and a mutual appreciation of each other. When, how quickly, can we anticipate a time when we will no longer have to dig within rubble to find our lost, to return them to their people, to their families. When, Lord, when will You deem it enough that Your people understood the lesson, understood the whys and the wherefores, though that indeed be a difficult asking.
The Jewish people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Sarah, Rifka, Rachel and Leah, are yes, a difficult argumentative people. It is the spirit that keeps the juices flowing within, despite all that has faced them throughout history. But note that internal dissension is wrapped around questions as to how to contribute to the betterment of this world, always part of their quest.
You, the Father who watches over us for all time, look down upon us with a generous heart. Deem it enough. Enough!! Let us meld once again into a single entity, the same, yet different and tolerant of all who struggle. We, Your people, are tired, exhausted by all that has been asked of them. Stained by the filth thrown at them. Wounded by the rocks and stones heaved at us by the enemy.
Yes, Lord. We will dance again. We will always dance again. A stubborn nation we are and we will remain so. Strong enough to pick ourselves up and really learn the steps to those dances. Strong enough, trusting enough, in their destiny, and with confidence and certainty can use shorthand in this forever true summary.
Indeed, we came. We saw. We conquered. And we ate. As we will eat, always, and then dance always.
So it was in our turbulent yesterdays. Always.
So it remains in our troubled todays. Always.
So it shall always and forever be in our blessed tomorrows.
Amen, Selah.
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