"Libi Bamizrach, Vaani Bsof Maarav "
"My heart is in the East, yet I am in the far West."
These evocative words, penned by the great Sefardic poet, Rabbi Yehuda Halevi of Toledo, Spain, undoubtedly express our unspoken thoughts and feelings as Israel faces war; as we witness Israel's brave soldiers, some still in their teens, courageously going forward to protect Israel's population from rockets and terrorists attacks. As Jews living outside of Israel, we can only watch and wait.
Or not.
Tomorrow is Shabbat. As usual, in the millennia-old Jewish tradition, when the Torah is removed from the Aron Hakodesh (the Ark) for reading, we will chant: Kuma Hashem Veyafutzu Ovecha, Veyanusu Sanecha Mipanecha. "Rise up, O G-d, and Your enemies shall disperse and Your enemies will run away from You".
Think about it: We are about to read the Torah, and we invoke Israel's safety. When we pray for Israel's security, we hold up the Torah. The two are bound up with each other.
No matter where we are, there is an inherent connection between every Jew and the Land of Israel and the people of Israel ; between the safety of Israel and our connection to the Torah.
Intuitively, we know this truth. Whose heart is not stirred when we see an Israeli soldier on the battlefield wrapped in a Talis. Who is not moved when we witness a soldier wearing tefillin?
We are connected. One land, one Torah, one people.
So let's not just watch and wait. Let's connect to the Land of Israel and to the people of Israel through the Torah of Israel. Our merit becomes their merit. Our mitzvah becomes their mitzvah, because we are one people, with one land and one Torah. So, women, take a moment to light shabbat candles. Men, put on tefillin. Lets get our children to give some tzedaka and to say a prayer. If you already do these, pick another mitzvah. For some suggestions on mitzvot,read here.
Wishing us and all of us Israel, a true Shabbat Shalom in the full sense of the word: a Shabbat filled with peace. Amen.