At least 700 Israelis are dead, over 2,000 wounded, and probably 150 taken as captives. 260 brutally murdered at a music festival. Rockets continue to fall; marauding terrorists continue to roam the country. The numbers are staggering and the entire series of events inconceivable.
We are a people in pain, in mourning, in anguish. Joyous festival days were taken from us. The peace of Shabbat and Yom Tov was shattered with heart-wrenching news. On Saturday morning, I found myself in tears during the joyous psalms of Hallel.
While we gathered for Simḥat Torah, the Rejoicing of Torah which concludes the festive season, Congregation Beth Shalom chose a more muted celebration of Torah. We did not dance, but carried the sifrei Torah around the room for seven perfunctory hakafot. At morning minyan on this otherwise-ordinary Monday, there was a heavy sense of grief.
In times of mourning, and also in times of joy, our words of daily prayer are the same. It is the constancy of our spiritual framework which carries us through good times and bad. The liturgy is the same from day to day; it is we who change. We bring our whole selves into tefillah, channeling whatever is in our hearts and minds, and allow the ancient words to lift us up and console us and challenge us and help us reflect.
Nonetheless, the words of certain prayers resonate with us more at certain times, and sometimes we need to supplement to speak to the moment. This morning, we added Psalm 121:
שִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי׃
עֶ֭זְרִי מֵעִ֣ם ה’ עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
אַל־יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ אַל־יָ֝נ֗וּם שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
הִנֵּ֣ה לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
ה’ שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ ה’ צִ֝לְּךָ֗ עַל־יַ֥ד יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
יוֹמָ֗ם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַכֶּ֗כָּה וְיָרֵ֥חַ בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃
ה’ יִשְׁמׇרְךָ֥ מִכׇּל־רָ֑ע יִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
ה’ יִשְׁמׇר־צֵאתְךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃A song for ascents.
I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come?
My help comes from Adonai, Maker of heaven and earth.
Adonai will not let your foot give way; your Guardian will not slumber;
See, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps!
Adonai is your guardian, Adonai is your protection at your right hand.
By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night.
Adonai will guard you from all harm; God will guard your life.
Adonai will guard your going and coming now and forever.
As our hearts turn to Israel at this moment, we pray that our help from the Shomer Yisrael, the Guardian of Israel will come soon. May the hands of those who protect our sisters and brothers in the Holy Land be strengthened to expel the enemies in their midst.
We mourn grievously for those murdered by terrorist infiltrators, and we seek comfort for their families where little can be found.
We urge the Maker of Heaven and Earth to guide the hands of the medical professionals who are tending to the wounded.
We pray that those who are cowering in fear for their lives be safely liberated and regain a sense of security.
We implore the Kadosh Barukh Hu to impart wisdom and speed to the authorities, so that they might find their footing and restore balance and stability to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
And we pray with utmost fervor that those who are captive are soon set free and returned safely to their homes.
Amen.
Rabbi Seth Adelson
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has set up an emergency relief fund for Israel. Click here to donate.
The Modern Rabbi 