“Is there any good? Reflections on another very difficult week in Israel”

Until this past Tuesday, Malchei Yisrael street in Geulah was the place I used to go to get the best Garinim (sunflower seeds) before shabbat. Malchei Yisrael street will never be the same. This past week, there were many stabbings, shootings and car rammings but one will stay in my mind forever. It happened on Tuesday morning on Malchei Yisrael street and it was caught on video so you can see it all online. A Bezek (Israeli phone company) car driven by an Arab sped into a bus stop right into a number of people waiting for the bus. At least 2 people literally went flying upon impact. I have never seen anything so horrific. The terrorist then got out of the car with a meat cleaver and started hacking away at his victims. Even after a security guard came and shot the terrorist in the leg, he got up two or three times with such rage just to continue killing. If they say that a picture is worth a thousand words then a video will be with me forever. I have read about terrorist attacks. I have even seen some pictures after the fact. But to see video footage of such evil, of such hatred, it really impacted me.

I want to share with you my emotional response to watching this video. First, I was angry. I was angry at the terrorist. How could he do this. This wasn’t even a disgruntled employee who was attacking his coworkers. He did not even know these people. They were just jews in Israel. it could have been me or you or any of our children who were visiting Israel waiting at that bus stop after buying some sunflower seeds. I was angry at his family. The name of this terrorist was Alaa Abu Jamal. He was the uncle of Uday and Muhammad Jamal, the terrorists who used knives, meat cleavers and guns to murder 4 jews in prayer and the Druze policeman who tried to save them last November in Har Nof. The uncle (or cousin according to some reports) was actually interviewed last November on Arabic Israeli TV. He was asked, Are you happy [with what they did]? He said, “Thank Allah. Someone who dies a martyr, that is a great thing.” How could one family create these three terrorists. What kinds of sermons did their Imam give? My first emotion was anger.

My second emotion was to be very worried. Worried about my two nephews who live in Jerusalem. Worried about my friends and Beth Sholom families who have made Aliyah. Worried about our children from Beth Sholom who are spending the year studying in Israel. Many of them are scared to even walk out of their dormitories. I am so worried about all of them and their safety in a city and country where there aren't even sirens warning you about a stabber.

Then the third emotion I had was the most disturbing. It was a deep sense of Ye’ush (giving up hope). it was the feeling of “will this ever end”? It seems like every other summer there is a war. Every few years another intifada. Will we ever be able to go to Israel to visit or study or make aliyah and not have to worry that there are people who want to kill you? And over the week a deep sense of despair, giving up and depression around this issue took hold of me.

This depression or despair was scary. Rav Nachman of Breslov, a man who was prone to depression, taught over and over again that despair is not just a bad emotion, it is dangerous. Despair leads to anger which leads to violence.

All you have to do is look around this country at the many young people who are in a sense of deep depression and despair. All too often, the depression turns into anger and violence either, G-d forbid at themselves, or sometimes it turns into mass shootings. Despair is in fact a very dangerous emotion.

So I turned to the parshah for some guidance and I was shocked to find the following description of G-d, right before he brought on the flood. It is actually in the second to last verse of Bereishit. The posuk says that G-d saw all of the evil, ויתעצב אל לבו - “He was sad / depressed in his heart.” How could G-d be depressed? This is obviously a metaphor to teach how we are supposed to act. The verse before says וינחם ד’ כי עשה האדם - “G-d regretted making Humans.” Remember in last week’s parshah, G-d tries an experiment called “Humanity.” He creates us with not only a יצר הטוב (inclination towards Good) but also with a יצר הרע (an inclination towards evil). Why? so we can have free will and choose to be Good. But how do we act. Adam and Eve sin. Cain kills Abel. The powerful abuse the weak. There is theft and robbery and a complete disregard for others. G-d gave us free will and we chose to be Evil. G-d sees this and gets “depressed.” He gives up on the world. And then we have the scariest verse in all of the Torah: ויאמר ד’ אמחה את האדם - “G-d says I will destroy Humanity.”

Depression leads to giving up which leads to Violence and Destruction.

But how can we overcome this? How can we view the video that I described, how can we be the victims of so much hatred, violence and terrorism and not despair? How can we remain strong and not have Ye’ush (loss of hope)?

I think the answer lies in a very powerful teaching of Rav Nachman of Breslov. It is called Azamra (Likutei Mohoran #282). Rav Nachman is answering our question. How do we not succumb to despair when everything seems so bad. He quotes a verse from Tehillim that says עוד מעט ואין רשע (“in just a bit there won’t be evil”). The simple explanation is that we shouldn't worry about Evil people because in just a bit of time, G-d will get rid of them. But Rav Nachman has a different interpretation. When you see someone who is so bad, ask yourself if there is a מעט (a little bit) of good. There has to be some good, focus on it and then you can elevate the entire person and there won’t be any evil left.

Rav Nachman then says that we have to apply this to ourselves. When we are feeling full of despair and worthless, and it feels like we get nothing right, at that moment, we have to find the עוד מעט (the little bit) of good and focus on it and we can lift ourselves up with it.

The same is true of society in general. When everything seems so bad and so evil and that there is no hope, we must focus on the עוד מעט (the little good) and lift our hopes through it.

I think this happens at the end of the flood story. G-d tells Noach to leave the ark. The first thing Noach does is bring a sacrifice. He transcends his selfish needs and engages in worship. The verse says that G-d smells the sacrifice and says, “I will no longer destroy the world.” G-d is saying that he will no longer focus on the overwhelming majority of people who are evil, but He will focus on the עוד מעט. He will focus on Noah and his family. He will focus on Avraham and Sarah. He will focus on the עוד מעט that is good and elevate the world through them instead of giving up and destroying. G-d is of course teaching us a lesson.

In that spirit, I would ask us to look back at the last two weeks, and focus on the עוד מעט (the little bit of good). I would point to at least 3 examples of עוד מעט (the little good).

First - Let us go back to the gruesome video I opened with. It was not all bad. You see after the terrorist attack but even before the terrorist was taken down, you would think that everyone would run away as fast as possible. But if you watch the video, you will see that people did not run away. They ran towards the victims. Some with guns but others just with their hands to try to protect and save the victims. And then on the video, you see Magen Dovid Edom and IDF rushing towards the scene to protect. And people are still running towards the victims. Organizations like Operation Embrace and so many others are running towards the hospitals. All of these people are עוד מעט. They are bringing a little light into such darkness. They are bringing a little comfort into so much pain and little love into so much hatred. Let us all dig a little deeper into our souls (and wallets) and support these efforts.

Second - This is a little political but it must be said. There have been lies coming out of the Palestinian Leadership about Israel executing 13 year old innocent boys. First, the boy was not innocent as he tried to kill another 13 year old Jewish boy. Second, he is alive and being treated and spoon fed by Israeli nurses. These lies have to be stopped, not only because they are false but because they make it harder for Israel’s security forces to protect lives. This is another עוד מעט. In a world full of lies and distortions, find your favorite organization or form of political action to help Israel’s security establishment do its job.

Now the final example of עוד מעט, a little light in so much darkness. Just an hour before shabbat, I read an article from the Times of Israel about a group of 300 Israeli Jews and Arabs who made a human chain across Highway 65 at the Megido Junction in the Galilee. They were saying No to violence. They were committing to coexistence and peaceful living together. They condemned all forms of violence and inciting of violence.

I was very touched by this. I know what the cynics are going to say. Who cares if 100 arabs stand hand in hand with Jews. What about the thousands who support violence. I would respond that those 100 Arabs are very important. They are the עוד מעט (the little good). We must focus on that. Please understand that this is not a political or military strategy that I am offering. This is a spiritual solution to make sure we do not give up hope.

I was also touched to hear that on Thursday, Rabbi David Lau (Chief Rabbi of Israel) had lunch in a New York Kosher restaurant with Imams. This is עוד מעט.

I have to say that there is an organization in town that tries to “twin” Rabbis and Imams. They have asked me to participate in the program and I have always pushed them off. But on erev shabbat after hearing about the Jews and Arabs in the Galilee, I emailed the organization and said, “I am ready.” If there is an Imam who wants to meet me for coffee, if there is an Imam who wants to extend his hand to mine, I am ready to take it. I am ready to bring an עוד מעט - a little light into this world of darkness. A little brotherhood, in a world where everyone seems to hate.

On this week of so much evil, let us try to find and bring a little light to the world. Let us help the victims and bring them some comfort. Let us fight falsehoods that are so dangerous to our Chayalim and security who are doing everything they can to protect Am Yisrael. And in a world where it seems there is much hatred in the name of Islam, let us find the Muslims or Imams who are ready to extend a hand in peace, and let us shake that hand.

May Hashem bring a refuah shlaima to the injured and bring nechama to the families of the victims and to all of Am Yisrael.

In Memory of Rabbi Eitam and Na'ama Henkin Z"l - Shabbat Chol Hamoed 5776

Thursday started of as a wonderful day. I picked up my parents from the airport and then went to the Early Childhood Center Sukkah Party. I had a chance to shake the Lulav and Etrog with all of the kids and I was truly feeling a sense of Simchat Hachag (Holiday Joy) despite all of the rain.

I then went to my office and checked the news and I found out about two horrific events, one in Oregon and one in Israel. The first was yet another shooting at a University. When will this end?

The second was the brutal murder of Eitam and Na’ama Henkin. An act committed by Palestinian Terrorists right in front of their 4 children (Matan Hillel 9, Nitzan Yitzchak 7, Neta Eliezer 4 and

Itamar, 4 months old).

The attack in Israel has particularly consumed me. Maybe it is because Eitam was a young rabbi like me, Na’ama an artist, his children are roughly the age of my children. Also, Eitam’s mother is Rabbanit Chana Henkin, the founder of Nishmat. Rabbanit Henkin was here as a scholar in residence a few years ago speaking from this pulpit.

The funeral was on Friday at 11 am. Afterwards a number of clips from the funeral were put online. One clip was of 9 year old Matan saying Kaddish at the funeral. I don’t know why I do this to myself, but I kept listening to Matan’s kaddish over and over again on Friday. As I listened to his Kaddish, I kept thinking of a few questions.

How can we celebrate the rest of Sukkot, Zman Simchateinu, the time when we are supposed to be happy and at the same time hear Matan’s Kaddish?

How can we think of the pain and grief of Rabbanit Chanah and Rabbi Yehuda Herzl (Eitam’s father) and say today in Hallel, זה היום עשה ה’ נגילה ונשמחה בו - “This is the day that G-d has made let us sing and rejoice on it.”

How can we think of the hole in the hearts of Chanan and Hila (Na’ama’s Parents) and say אודך כי עניתני - “Thank you Hashem for answering me.” Were their prayers answered?

How can we pick up the Lulav and Etrog which represents all of our Blessings in life and say הודו לד’ כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו - “Thanks you Hashem, your Kindness is with us always.”

In short, how can we, on the one hand, think about Eitam and Na’ama, and on the other hand experience the joy of Sukkot?

These questions can never really be answered but I would like to teach some of the Torah of Rabbi Eitam Henkin and show you some of the art of Na’ama. I hope that this will help us to at least begin thinking of these issues.

Rabbi Eitam, despite his young age, was very prolific. He already published a number of books (both on Halacha and Academic studies) and many articles that are available online that I have been reading over the last 2 days. Rabbi Eitam also has a number of audio classes online and on Erev Shabbat, I was listening to his classes. There is something very sad but also very powerful about listening to someone who has just been killed. I think that learning his Torah is a way to keep his flame going so I will present some of his Torah now.

The essay that I would like to focus on is all about the bracha of Shehechiyanu. Whenever we perform a mitzvah which is only done during one time period a year, we say Shehechiyanu (“Thank you Hashem for bringing us to this moment”). We say Shehechiyanu when we blow the shofar, when we sit in sukkah, shake the lulav, have the seder and many other mitzvot. There is one exception. There is one mitzvah where we do not say Shehechiyanu. What is it? It is the counting of the Omer. Rabbi Eitam has an article exploring why is it that we do not say Shehichiyanu for the counting of the Omer. Rabbi Eitam first quotes Rabbi Zerachya Halevi (12th century Provence) who explains that we don’t say Shehichiyanu because nowadays we only count the Omer to remember the destruction of the Temple. We remember what the Omer sacrifice was like in the Temple. This doesn’t lead one to happiness but to sadness and sorrow. Therefore we do not say Shehechiyanu.

Rabbi Eitam had the following question. According to this logic, there is another Mitzvah where we should not say Shehechiyanu. The mitzvah of Lulav and Etrog, according to the Torah is only performed all 7 days of Sukkot in the Temple. Outside of the Temple, the Lulav is only taken on the first day. Why then do we take the Lulav all seven days? The same reason as the Omer. Zecher L’churban. To remember the destruction. To remember what was. What sukkot was like in the Temple. If that is the case then just as we do not make Shehechiyanu on the Omer we should not make it on the Lulav (especially if for whatever reason, the first time we take the Lulav is on day #2). Rabbi Eitam answers in the following way (without getting into the details). He says that there is a major difference between the Omer and Lulav. All 49 says of counting the Omer are only to remember the destruction. They are all sad. Therefore we do not say Shehechiyanu. However, when it comes to Lulav even though days 2 - 7 have an element of sadness but there is still day #1. Day #1 is pure joy and thanksgiving. We therefore say Shehechiyanu. Even if 6 out of the 7 days are sad but if there is even one day (or one aspect) of happiness, we say shehichiyanu. This is a very important lesson that can be generalised to many aspects of life.

This teaching of Rabbi Eitam reminds me of a beautiful insight of Rav Amital (the Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion who died a few years ago). Rav Amital was apparently asked by his students the following. Why do we say Shehichiyanu on Yom Ha’atzmaut. After all, the celebration is not complete. It is only Reishit Tzmichat Geulateinu (“The beginning of the flowering of redemption”). There is still war, terror, poverty and so many other problems. So how can we say Shehechiyanu if the joy is not complete? Rav Amital answered that we do not only say Shehichiyanu when the joy is complete. If we only said Shehechiyanu when the joy is 100% then we would never say Shehechiyanu. Who goes into their sukkah and doesn’t think about who is no longer there? Who picks up their lulav and etrog and doesn’t think about the struggles of life? Joy is never complete but yet we must say Shehechiyanu.

This is lesson #1 that we learn from Rabbi Eitam. The second lesson comes from a piece of artwork from Na’ama. But first I want to share a thought about Kohelet (the book that we are about to read) which relates to Na’ama’s art. Last night, I read the book of Kohelet. It is the most depressing book ever! The basic idea of the book is that life is meaningless. All of the problems in life will not be solved. There is nothing new under the sun.

Why would Shlomo write such a book. Is this really what Judaism believes?

I heard a beautiful interpretation. King Shlomo wrote this book from the perspective of someone else. Someone who he was not but was always worried that he could become. The word that repeats itself over and over again is the word “Ani” - I. Everything is in first person singular. “I thought to do this.” “I tried that…” אני אני אני - I, I, I. The word that is missing is אנחנו (“we”). There is no “we,” no family, no community and no nation. If there is only “I” if everything is about my life then everything is Hevel (meaningless). There is no purpose in accomplishing everything because at the end we will die and go to the same place as the animals. There is no legacy. No family to sacrifice for. No community to serve. No Nation to live or die for. Everything is truly meaningless. Na’ama’s artwork that she made this year for sukkot (and is now all around Israel as her parents asked people to put it up in their sukkot) is a depiction of the beautiful midrash that describes the 4 species as representing the 4 types of jews who are all brought together in the Sukkah. This is the אנחנו - this is the “we.” This is the “nation.”

Yesterday at the funeral, Rabbanit Chana (Eitam’s mother) said that we will raise the children in the same way that Na’ama and Eitam would have raised them. This is “we.”

Thousands came to the funeral. This is community.

The many chayalim are spending their shabbat searching for the terrorists to do their best to make sure other Israelis are safe. This is “Am” - peoplehood.

This is Na’ama’s art. Na’ama and Eitam’s lessons for all of us. Eitam taught us that we have to say the Shehechiyanu even when things are mostly sad if we can just find that one aspect of joy. Na’ama taught us that this might be possible through appreciating the blessing of family, friends, community and peoplehood.

This might be the key to recapture at least some simcha (joy) during this difficult time.

I opened by talking about Matan’s kaddish at the funeral. I would like to conclude by noting the prayer that will be said by Chana and Hila (mothers of Eitam and Na’ama) tomorrow night as Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah begins. Chana and Hila will light the Yom Tov candles. Then they will close their eyes and like mothers all around the world, they will pray for their families. G-d only knows how difficult this will be and what they will pray for. But I do know that then they will open their eyes. They will see the lights (which represent so much) and then they will say the bracha Lehadlik Ner shel Yom Tov (Kindling the Yom Tov candles). Then, as difficult as it will be, they will say Shehechiyanu, Vikiyimanu, Vihigiyanu Lazman Hazeh (Thank you for bringing us to this time). This year it will feel like a lie. The words will come out with much difficulty. But they will keep on saying them at every holiday and eventually there will be some joy. Those kids will grow up. They will have Bar Mitzvah, graduations and other celebrations. They will eventually grow up and learn their father’s books and be inspired by their mother’s artwork and while they will be sad not to have them, they will take great pleasure and pride in the amazing parents that they had.

This will all be possible because of the “Anachnu.” This will all be possible because of the community. This will all be possible because of the Shehechiyanu.

May Hashem look down at this beautiful family that has suffered so much and bring them and all of Clal Yisrael consolation.