The Encounter
THE BIG IDEA
For anyone that is feeling helpless during this time, hoping for it all to pass somehow— that isn’t gonna cut it. It is essential to understand that the war on terror must also being fought within. Seize this time to repair your attitudes to the various parts of yourself, your family and our nation— as if your life, and the life of the Jewish nation depended on it.
Before expecting understanding and acceptance from the world, we must find it within ourselves and model it with each other.
According to the Torah Energies this week is an important time to encounter various parts within ourselves and our nation, and find reconciliation, forgiveness, and trust in the divine within the current unfolding.
In ancient biblical times, no one exemplifies this better than Joseph and Judah- with the victim, Joseph, never losing his sense of connection to God during any part of his misfortune - and Judah who is able to embody accountability and deep transformation, earning forgiveness from the very brother he sold into slavery.
Take time this weekend to identify the Joseph part in yourself. The righteous warrior, unfairly judged, and unjustly attacked. See that part first in yourself, and then see it in the jewish nation.
Then find the Judah part of yourself. The messy part that makes mistakes - the part that judges others, that bullies (or wants to bully), the part that likely feels guilt or shame about certain past actions. See that part first in yourself, and then see it in the jewish nation.
Allow those parts to meet within yourself. The victim/righteous part and the messy part. Allow the messy part to take responsibility for misguided past attitudes and actions, and allow the righteous part to witness your internal changes and forgive. There are no “sides” in oneness, only the ability to trust beyond the smallness of any moment, and grow to a higher perspective.
No one embodies this week’s energy of finding forgiveness more then Iris, the mother of Yotam Haim Z"L, who sent a message to the fighters of Battalion 17 who accidentally shot her son in Gaza: "I love and embrace you from afar. What happened is not your fault or the fault of anyone but Hamas. Don't hesitate for a moment." "If you see a terrorist – don't think twice, shoot. Defend yourselves. Only that way you can protect us!"
We must all learn from her righteousness and ability to forgive, and mourn, accept, and find love beyond the pain of her loss.
It feels no accident on this week of reunion and reconciliation within the tribe, over 1000 soldiers, that have been in Gaza for over 70 days, have been given a chance to go home and recuperate for Shabbat.
May we heal our inner wounds, soothe and support our righteous warriors, and overcome the hatred that divides us - and replace it with acceptance of a higher truth and divine love.