The Friday, when I heard about the news of a terrorist attack on a Kosher Supermarket in France, I had lots to do. After all, it was Friday. But it was difficult to do anything but pray and worry...
As I intended to make challah for shabbat, I decided to double the mitzvah I was engaged in, and in the merit of the hostages, make two batches instead of my usual one. At a time of crisis, we are enjoined to pray and do good deeds, so this was going to be mine.
Hafrashat Challah, the separation of challah, is the ritual of separating a piece of dough when baking bread, to be set aside and burnt. It is an act that teaches humility: that every creative act needs blessing from G-d; it teaches gratitude, that having the blessing of bounty is not something we can ever take for granted; and it teaches connection: this ancient mitzvah is one we have inherited from our forebearers, all the way to the time of the Temple in Jerusalem. We are part of an eternal heritage, a long chain that will never disappear.
As the challah is separated, a blessing is recited, and it is considered an auspicious time for prayers. As a Jewish woman, this is especially poignant for me, as hafrashat challah is one of hallmark mitzvot attributed to the Jewish woman. So, as many Jewish women were doing that Friday, while kneading the dough, I whispered psalms and prayers and I fought back tears, as I imagined the pre-shabbat shoppers being accosted by the terror and hate in a kosher supermarket, of all places.... And as I did, my computer was tuned into Radio France as I listened for developments in the standoff in Paris. I prayed, listened and watched my dough rise and performed the hafrashat challah. Finally, I shaped the dough into beautiful loaves to grace the shabbat table.
And just as the loaves took shape, came news about the end of the standoff, the news about the dead, the rescued and the injured.
As as I looked at those beautiful challahs which has just taken shape, it hit me, this sharp juxtaposition staring me right in the face:
Here was a mitzvah that thousands of women were doing this morning.. a mitzvah that teachest humility... in face of the the arrogance of those who take life... A mitzvah that reminds us to be grateful, counter to those who show everything BUT gratitude. A mitzvah that connects to an eternal heritage, to a path that seeks a meaningful life, and enjoins us to choose life, in face of those who enthusiastically embrace a path of senseless death.... And, finally, the realization, that here I was, performing a mitzvah that had outlived the brutality of the Bablylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Crussaders and the Nazis. Here I was, in grief for the dead, in concern for the injured, knowing that our eternal truth will survive this evil day in Paris.
Knowing that our truth will endure forever, until there will be a time that the world entire will embrace the path to love and peace.
Knowing that our truth will endure forever, until there will be a time that the world entire will embrace the path to love and peace.
May it be soon, speedily in our days.