Much water has flowed in the Jordan since the women's event in which the daughters of Israel danced with the prophetess Miriam upon their exodus from Egypt. Since then, there have been many events. Like the one that took place earlier this week at the 'Binyanei Ha'uma' in Jerusalem.
The truth is that when I stood on the stage of the Nation Buildings at 7 p.m. and looked out at the empty stands, my mind focused on the final rehearsal for the spiritual preparation event for Passover, I was skeptical. I feared that the promises inherent in women's events would not come true. I feared that I would not be able to leave this evening with light feet and great joy.
In general, who can smile and rejoice after stories of trouble, torment, pain, and illness? I knew about the rabbi who lost her son, the woman the doctors didn't give her a year to live, the broadcaster who is still waiting for a partner with whom she can build a house, and I had a hard time believing that great joy could be generated from this sadness.
But... two and a little more hours later, in front of an audience of thousands of women, in front of a completely full hall, with the audience choir moving in my ears from song to song, from an ancient melody to a modern and sweeping melody, I realized that we would end this evening with a happy and exciting dance.
Which is what actually happened in the end, with a crowd of thousands of women standing, singing and screaming with joy at the top of their lungs. As if each one was celebrating her own private wedding or that of her only daughter.
At that moment, I realized that even if I have no chance of imagining that immense joy that erupted on the shores of the Red Sea on the seventh morning of Passover, I have the opportunity to return and embrace the power of women's joy over and over again.
The event was no longer a "women's event" full of virtues, bones, and other promises. It was an event that ended in great joy, especially fitting at the end of two months of joy in preparation for the month of redemption.
Feeling of loss in the 'Arena''
And if anything, here's another women's event. Again in Jerusalem, but this time at the Arena Hall in the southeast of the city. On stage are four huge singers on a global scale and a journalist from the country's largest media outlet. Each of them is at some point on the path of repentance. The headscarf or wig, physical or transparent, found a place on and off the giant stage.
Sarit Hadad, a world-class star, gave up a performance that could have made her a lot of money, and came to a huge performance with mediocre sound and a quality female audience. All of this just to strengthen and become stronger in front of the thousands of women who were there.
I looked around and asked myself why they had come. What brought thousands of women here who have a home, a family and children. What would they go through during the evening. How did they get in here and how would they get out? I followed one tonight and tried to find his breaking point.
The truth is, even after the excitement in the audience reached its peak, I still didn't feel like it was reaching me. Even my friend, who is not yet observant of Torah and mitzvot, whom I brought with me so that she could experience a powerful feminine moment, was unable to experience the excitement that ultimately leads to great joy.
Something didn't work there. And it's a shame. Because there was huge potential there.
When everything is bad, everything is good
This parasha is the only parasha in the Torah that begins with the word woman... Perhaps this explains the existence of two such major women's events in the week preceding it. And as if that were not enough, the parasha is also called 'Tazriya'. A woman is the one who grows life in the world, who sows faith in it. Therefore, by virtue of women Our ancestors were redeemed through righteousness, and thanks to them we will be redeemed.
And it is precisely this parsha and this Shabbat, in which three Torah scrolls are released (Tazria, Rosh Chodesh, and Parshas Chodesh), that deals mostly with plagues and leprosy. This is not by chance. There is certainly a reason for this. The question becomes much more acute when we learn at the beginning of the parsha about the coming of new life into the world. A matter of growth and joy.
But that's exactly the idea: precisely when it's hard to see the light, when everything is dark. When we're in quarantine (and the priest betrayed us), we need to identify the hidden point of light.
Pay attention to the basic law regarding lesions. When there is leprosy on a part of a person's body - he is impure, but if the leprosy completely covers all areas and parts of the body - he is pure!
Absolutely illogical. Isn't it? So true, there is an answer that the Torah decreed so. Period.
But why is this the decree of the scripture? The explanation for this lies in the inner workings of things: If the lesions are only on a part of the body, it is clear that it is a disease, but if they are on the entire body, then that is the nature of the matter... In other words, when everything is so dark that you cannot see anything, it is a sign that it is not darkness. It only appears to be darkness.
The Gemara in Tractate Sanhedrin says, "No son of David comes except in a generation that is entirely entitled or obligated." Why? Because that is the nature of things. Just before dawn, a thick and absolute darkness descends upon the world. It is always darkest before dawn.
It turns out that when evil spreads throughout the world, and if you've read newspapers in recent weeks, you understand what I'm talking about... abolishing the institution of the rabbinate; abolishing the role of the rabbis; making room for Reform women at the Western Wall and reforming all the foundations of Judaism, is a sign that the Messiah is already here. That we are literally in the ninetieth minute of the exile. Everything has turned white, it is pure!
Just a question: Also this coming Shabbat, on the first day of the month of Nissan, will the Reform women arrive at the Western Wall with tefillin? And in general, with what transportation do they intend to get to their "tefilla"?
•
The women's events that took place on Sunday and Thursday, or the large women's event of the Chabad women every summer, are events whose goal is to remove despair from each of us, wherever we are, to help each of us give up on exile and to bring into it the Alef - the Champion of the World - who will transform it into redemption.
Now is the time. Now, as we enter the month of redemption. A month of miracles, the month of Nissan.
• The author is the owner ""My choice"", event host, lecturer and radio broadcaster. For comments: [email protected]
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
