Those who try to see not just the trees, but the entire forest, see the divine hand that miraculously directs the steps for the benefit of the people of Israel. • Article by Rabbi Menachem Brod
On Rosh Hashanah, we gather with anxious hearts to pray for the new year that is coming upon us. We wish each other heartfelt well-wishes, eat foods that symbolize abundance and blessing, but there is always a sense of a great loss ahead. A new year begins, and we have no idea what it holds.
The prayer "And it shall be given to thee" expresses this sense of uncertainty well. On the Day of Judgment, the fate of the world will be determined. Who will ascend and who will descend. Who will enjoy rest and tranquility and who will experience upheaval. "Who will be afflicted and who will be enriched, who will be humbled and who will be exalted.".
More strongholds collapse
There are years when everything seems stable and calm, and yet we feel the sense of uncertainty, because even a calm sea can turn into a raging sea in an instant. But this year we enter Rosh Hashanah after two very turbulent years. We live in a space that is changing its face at an enormous speed.
News reports present isolated events, and we don't always manage to connect the dots and see the whole picture. But those who try to see not just the trees, but the entire forest, see the divine hand that miraculously directs the moves for the benefit of the people of Israel.
The threat of radical Islam has been troubling humanity for many years. Many countries in Europe are afraid to stand up to these crazy forces, because strong Islamic centers of power have been built within them as well. These are driving the waves of hatred for Israel and the various boycotts.
Governments give in to the voices of extremists, under the illusion that responding to them will bring them peace. They do not understand that in the end, their own countries will pay the price.
And now it is precisely the people of Israel who stand up to these forces of evil, and by the grace of God, manage to defeat them one after another. More and more strongholds of evil and wickedness collapse and fall, and the future for all of us seems much more secure and stable.
A tool for receiving blessings
It is precisely in this reality that it is essential to fortify the walls of unity of the Jewish people. On Shabbat, we read the parsha "You stand today, all of you," which presents the divisions that exist in the people of Israel. Indeed, there are "the heads of your tribes," and there is "the one who cuts off your strength" and "the one who draws your water," but they all stand together before the Creator of the world and create the mosaic of beauty and perfection of the people of Israel.
This parsha emphasizes the importance of unity as a means of receiving the Creator's blessings. The differences between Jews and between one community and another are intended to complement each other and create the wonderful diversity of the Jewish people. One color is not as striking as a variety of colors that blend together. Every Jew has special virtues, and it is important to find the positive point in every Jew and direct it towards building the nation.
When we all stand on Rosh Hashanah, united and united, before the Lord our God, we will merit His blessing, and in the end it will become clear that all the upheavals we experience are intended for our good, as the Midrash says: 'My children, everything I have done, I have done only for you. The time of your redemption has come!' Happy and sweet New Year!
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