This week, we are dedicating our Daily Kavanot to the people and the State of Israel. Our thoughts and our prayers are with them.
My wife was supposed to be in Israel right now for the wedding of the daughter of our dear friends, Leon and Bruria. I’ve known Leon since freshman year of college. He met Jacqueline in Israel a few days after I did through a mutual friend. After he and Bruria started dating, we all became fast friends. They danced at our wedding and we at theirs. We’ve known their first-born, Yael, since she was a baby. We attended her bat mitzvah in Jerusalem. She and her whole family are precious to us.
Jacqueline couldn’t travel to Israel this week for obvious reasons but yesterday we were able to attend the wedding together—online. Because so many loved ones couldn’t be present, including many who have been called up for reserve duty, they had a friend help broadcast it on YouTube and we felt almost like we were with them.
It was just what our souls needed.
The sun was setting in the backyard of the home of the groom, Harel. The light was majestic and as the camera moved around the gathering, we saw glimpses of our loved ones: Leon and Bruria, Yael’s four siblings, grandparents and friends whom we celebrated with over the years at Shabbat dinners, Jewish holidays, and family simchas. There was music and there were smiles and laughter and it made our spirits soar for a few moments.
The bride was radiant and the groom was handsome as family and friends, dancing, escorted them to the chuppah. The Rabbi spoke beautifully about love and about peace. Family members sang the Sheva B’rachot. The groom’s brother recited a special mi sheberach prayer for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. Yael’s sister, Yifat, read the prayer for peace for the State of Israel.
Yael’s aunt and uncle—joined by everyone in attendance—sang the last of the seven blessings beautifully. It’s based on verses taken from the Book of Jeremiah, words of hope written more than 2,500 years ago: We will hear yet again in the cities of Judah, in the courtyards of Jerusalem, the voices of joy and gladness, groom and bride!
Then the couple said these words from Psalm 137: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may I lose my strength!
Harel broke the glass reminding us (as if we needed the reminder now) that our world is not perfect, that we are holding a deep brokenness.
“Mazel tov,” Jacqueline and I shouted at the screen of my iPad, knowing that they couldn’t hear us but joining our voices with theirs nevertheless.
The past week has been filled with unspeakable sadness. There will likely be more to come. So we simply must find moments of joy in the midst of the pain, moments of hope inside the despair.
There is deep brokenness now but someday, soon God willing, we will hear the voices of joy and gladness, bride and groom. And then there will be peace. But first there must be victory.
Chazak v’amatz–be strong and resolute.
ביחד ננצח
(together we will triumph)
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Yoshi
