These have been and continue to be challenging days for the entire Jewish people. Another week, when Israel has been under attack by a ruthless enemy that deliberately targets civilians and hospitals. But once again, they’ve underestimated us. And we’ve seen those who need to be strong – our brave soldiers, the hostages and their families, and those who must run to bomb shelters under fire – blessed with a strength that runs deep.
As the Torah declares: הֶן־עָם כְּלָבִיא יָקוּם – The nation rises like a lion. We refuse to hide from our enemies. We won’t cower in fear before those who hate and want to hurt us. Instead, we rise up, we stand tall with pride, with purpose, and with unwavering spirit, even in our pain. We believe that better days are coming. That G-d protects us, and will bring safety, security, and peace. Our joy will return, deeper and greater than ever before.
And in these moments, when we see Jews singing as their plane lands back in Israel, when we hear of the unbelievable lengths Israelis have gone to in order to get home, we feel pride, more than ever, what a privilege it is to be part of this unique people. A nation built on faith, resilience, and eternal hope. Am Yisrael Chai!
These past months, and especially these past days, have tested the heart and soul of the Jewish people. The constant stream of news from Israel – the sirens and uncertainty – weighs on us – it should – because we’re one people, and their pain is our pain.
People often claim that we don’t see miracles anymore, that the open hand of Divine intervention – the splitting of seas, collapsing of walls, is no longer.
But we just have to look to see, no less miraculous – the IAF flying hundreds of sorties and, not only do they deliver decisive blows to our enemies, deep in their country, but BH they all return safely.
When Colonel Richard Kemp, former British Army officer and military and Middle East expert says, that this was a “miraculous, defensive operation…” we should listen.
www.youtube.com/live/dPZUcDmENB4?si=nrKeU7YzcZrW3ep2 (38:01)
To have full control of the skies over a country that’s 75 times larger than Israel, 88 million to 8 million citizens – it’s unbelievable – they are the giants that the spies saw and we’re the grasshoppers?! But even grasshoppers can do a lot of damage!
Of course, we’re pained to hear of the loss of life and casualties and damage that we’ve suffered but, a nation that’s tried to annihilate us before in the times of Haman, has failed to inflict the predicted devastation. It defies logic!
עָלֵֽינוּ לְשַׁבֵּֽחַ לַאֲדוֹן הַכֹּל – It’s our obligation to praise the Master of all, to ascribe greatness to the Creator of the world. He has not made us like the nations of the lands, and has not positioned us like the families of the earth; that He has not assigned our portion like theirs, nor our lot like that of all their multitudes.
Those words should be familiar to us but I want to share with you some that might be less well-known even though we say them twice a day, morning and afternoon the middle of our weekday prayers.
They’re not flashy or musical. But they’re raw and real.
In Tachanun, we say these lines:
שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל – Guardian of Israel, guard the remnant of Israel, and let not Israel perish, who say: Shema Yisrael…
שׁוֹמֵר גּוֹי אֶחָד – Guardian of the unique nation, guard the remnant of the unique people, who proclaim: Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad…
שׁוֹמֵר גּוֹי קָדוֹשׁ – Guardian of the holy nation, guard the remnant of the holy people, who repeat the threefold sanctification to the Holy One.”
It’s a call to arms. Not with weapons, but with words.
In the face of danger, what do we do?
We say Shema. We declare Hashem Echad. We make a Kiddush Hashem by living proudly as Jews.
Our strength lies not only in our soldiers, but in our soul. Not just in our weapons, but in our words. We’re a people who rise each morning and say: “Modeh ani – I thank You”. Who declare: “Shema Yisrael”. Who live with a mission: to sanctify G-d’s Name in how we act, how we love, and how we live.
There are many things that we can’t control, even though there are some who still claim that we control everything! Halevei! We can’t control what our enemies do, what decisions governments make or what the media reports. But we can control our response.
We can show up to Shul and show our support for Israel. We can wear our Magen David not just on a chain but in our hearts. We can say Shema not just in prayer, but in pride. We can make a Kiddush Hashem.
The world watches the Jewish people and how we act now matters. Because every mitzvah, every moment of unity, every kind word to each other, it all counts. It all strengthens the people of Israel and the soul of the Jewish people.
And it’s in this merit that we see miracles.
So what can we do?
Let’s take the words of Tachanun and turn them into a mission.
Whilst the people were crying, two unexpected heroes, Calev and Yehoshua, cried out: טוֹבָה הָאָרֶץ מְאֹד מְאֹד – The land is very, very good
אִם־חָפֵץ בָּנוּ ה – if Hashem desires us, He will bring us there
What was their message?
The strength of the Land of Israel doesn’t lie in its walls or fortresses.
It lies in its people. In their faith. In their courage. In their connection to Hashem and each other. And that remains true today.
So say Shema Yisrael with extra kavanah – morning and night. Say it on behalf of a soldier, a hostage, a child in a shelter. Do one mitzvah, one act of Kiddush Hashem – because every mitzvah is a brick in the spiritual defence of Am Yisrael. Reach out to another Jew – here in our community or in Israel – offer a word of love, of support, of unity and remind them: You’re not alone. We’re one people – because our greatest shield is achdut, our oneness.
Let’s be like Calev and Yehoshua – standing with faith, not fear.
Let’s remind the world that our power is not just in our army, but in our emunah, in our achdut, and in our eternal connection to Hashem.
Let’s remind ourselves that the words of our prayers aren’t poetry, they’re power.
May Hashem, שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל – the Guardian of Israel – watch over His Land and His people.
And may we be worthy partners in that protection.