I asked AI to tell me about the past year that the Jewish people faced. I am sharing with you some of the response that I received.
“This past year has been incredibly challenging for the Jewish people worldwide. Since October 7, 2023, Jewish communities have faced unprecedented adversity, hardship, mourning and ongoing challenges. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key issues:
-Rise in antisemitism globally. Incidents skyrocketed to record levels in several countries across multiple continents.
-Online antisemitic posts increased from 171 million in 2022 to 1.1 billion in 2024.
-Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe, avoiding Jewish organizations and changing their behavior. Some faculty members have promoted anti-Jewish sentiment and hostility.
-Jewish employees have faced stereotypes and hostility in the workplace, feeling uncomfortable expressing their Jewish identity.
-Jewish communities have felt increasingly vulnerable, with many reporting feeling unsafe in public places.”
What is there to say?
We stand in Chodesh Elul on the cusp of a New Year.
Am Yisrael is hurting.
We are still at war. Hostages are being held in unthinkable conditions underground as the world marches for those murdered and violated us, lacking any sense of shame. The calls for our destruction are met with silence and acquiescence. Blood libels, lies that manipulate the truth, and open hatred in common places, have become the new norm.
How many beautiful souls have given their lives for Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael as their seats remain mournfully empty? How many broken families, and broken hearts?
In our personal lives, we all know someone who is hurting, waiting for a yeshua. There is pain and suffering all around us. My mother would say “ain bayis asher ain bo mes – there is no house where there is not the pain of death.” That pain translates into a million languages; each person’s suffering consumes their lives and the ones who love them. Waiting for a refuah, shalom bayis, a shidduch, a baby, a way out of a financial mess, nechama from loss – to each person their tza’ar is all consuming.
How can we find a way to enter Yomim Noraim with hope?
If the name of the month of Elul stands for ‘Ani Ledodi Vedodi Li’, then there must be a sense of love that comes with these days. And with love, enters hope.
The words of Dovid HaMelech give us direction. From the very first day of Elul, we recite Tehillim 27, “LeDovid Hashem Ori V’Yishi – Hashem is my light and my salvation.” Elul is a time of ‘eis ratzon’, when there is an extraordinary desire that is aroused between the Jewish nation and Hashem.
This psalm will be our lighthouse, showing us the path towards building our kesher with HaKadosh Baruch Hu during these days.
Dovid HaMelech continues “Lulei he’emanti – were it not for my faith to see the good of Hashem in the land of the living.” Lulei is Elul spelled backwards.
There are times in life when we live without understanding, everything feels backwards, chaotic, out of control. When going through difficulty it becomes easy to lift our hands up and scream, ‘I’m done!’
Dovid urges us to live with our emunah and remain in the land of the living.
Sometimes you hear something that stirs your soul. I came across a most extraordinary clip. I heard a beautiful voice, singing “Zeh hayom asah Hashem nageelah v’nismicha vo – this is the day that Hashem created, let us be happy and rejoice in it.” The scene, in Eretz Yisrael, was an outdoor chuppah surrounded by flowers and greenery. The melody, the sound, and something about the one who was singing made me pause. I then discovered that I am watching Rabbi Tamir Granot head of the Orot Shaul Yeshiva officiate at the chuppah. But this was not just any chuppah.
Rabbi Granot is the father of Captain Amitay Granot, who was killed fighting on Israel’s northern border. Amitay had become engaged, as he spoke over the phone, to his beloved Roni. It was just days before the October 7 massacre. The couple had agreed to marry during Amitay’s first leave from duty. He was killed later that day.
At his son’s funeral, Rabbi Granot urged Roni not to give up on life.
“Dear Ronilah, it will be slow. It will take a long time. Choose life! Choose life! Choose life!” He urged in his eulogy.
Rabbi Granot was singing to Roni and her new chassan as they began their life together. He sang with all his heart. He closed his eyes as his words carried his strength into the air. From where does one have the koach to officiate and sing at the wedding of his lost son’s intended?
Lulei He’emanti. It feels backwards.
Liros betuv Hashem. But I hold on to my faith and see Hashem’s good.
B’eretz Chaim. Remain in the land of the living. Never give up.
Dear friends, choose life! Never despair.
We conclude with the words of Dovid HaMelech.
“Kaveh el Hashem – hope to Hashem, strengthen your heart.” And if you do not see your prayers answered, what then?
“VeKaveh el Hashem – hope again, daven again, knock on heaven’s door again.
A Jew never gives up.
Shana Tovah filled with blessing and geulah.