3 minute read
From the Rabbis’ Desks
Countering Darkness by Counting
A few weeks ago, we were all treated to the remarkable partial eclipse of the sun. Though we did not quite manage totality, 92% is quite close. The world was filled with a kind of hush as the moon’s shadow passed over its much larger solar neighbor.
For at least a few minutes we were all filled with a sense of wonder and awe, sensing our smallness in the scheme of things brought to the fore. But we did so without complaint. The universe can be a marvelous place. The words of our prayers felt true and powerful: How wonderful are your creations eternal God.
The eclipse provided momentary relief from the enduring pain of the war with Hamas and all of its deep agony. In a way, the eclipse is still with us.
One of the most powerful reminders of Israel’s pain is the ever growing number of days the hostages have been held in Gaza. 207, 208, 209… and onward it goes.
As the numbers grow, it is tempting to succumb to the darkness, the eclipse of hope.
But there is another set of numbers that might help us cope. We are now in the period of the counting of the Omer – each day is counted, and the listing also goes up, not down. But here we are linking the experience of Passover with the holiday of Shavuot. The power of freedom with the embrace of Torah at Sinai allows us to become a truly free people blessed with a path and a purpose.
Each day is counted with joy and anticipation, with the sense that redemption can move forward, and we can be gathered as a collective to come to know the true mission we have as a people – to be witnesses to what is good and important in this world.
We count the days to echo the ideal of the book of Psalms that says, “Let us number our days that we might gain for ourselves a heart of wisdom.” Heavenly eclipses are rare, but the blocking of hope is a daily challenge.
We are urged, especially now, to remember the hostages, to count the days they have endured captivity, and to remind the world they are not yet free. And we number our days in Jewish tradition at the very same time to remind ourselves to continue the march, to retain the hope. We are confident that our people will thrive and that the entire region will know the promise of peace.
