Rabbi’s Shabbat Message

Our Hearts Shatter into Orange Pieces – but We Grow Stronger! 

Last night the world witnessed via livestream the heartbreaking funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and baby Kfir Bibas. Thousands of Israelis lined streets and highways for over 100 kms to pay their final respects as the bodies were driven from Tel Aviv to Kibbutz Nir Oz, the very place where this young family was last united.

The streets were filled with Israeli flags, orange balloons, yellow ribbons, batman costumes and signs reading “Slichah”. During his eulogy, Yarden Bibas, facing the unfathomable trauma of his own 500 days in captivity on top of burying his beloved wife and precious children, echoed the sentiment saying “Shiri, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all”. The day before the world lay to rest Oded Lifshitz, where President Hertzog spoke. “Slichah,” he said “that we were unable to rescue you and bring you and all your friends home from the clutches of the murderers — alive and in peace.”

Dana Silberman-Sitton, sister of Shiri Bibas, spoke emotionally at the funeral. She said “They will not defeat us, they will not break us. On the contrary, their mission failed because we united, because we grew stronger, because we became invincible. They lost.”

The Bibas children became our children. Their father, Yarden, held hostage for 484 days, tortured physically and psychologically with no knowledge of his wife and children’s fate, became our brother. Today, his grief is our grief, his pain is our pain and his recovery is our recovery.

At Central Synagogue, Chanie together with Orah hosted a women’s gathering to honour Shiri, Ariel and Kfir in prayer, meditation, connection and soulful song. Iconic landmarks and monuments from New York to Niagara Falls, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Belgrade, Brussels, Rome, Madrid, and many Israeli Embassies around the world were illuminated in orange to honour their memory.

And now it is our turn to illuminate our light in the actions we do. Last week marked the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. After her passing, the Rebbe quoted the verse, “_V’hachai yiten el libo _– And the living shall take it to heart,” teaching us that to truly honour those we love is not only in our grief but in our actions.
There are many meaningful ways we can honour those we have lost by performing mitzvoth. Tomorrow night vow to light Shabbat candles with your children in the memory of Ariel and Kfir. Hang a mezuzah on your child’s bedroom door, bake challah with them and say an extra prayer this Shabbos. Give tzedokah in their honour. Wear your kippah all day, not just in shule. You have 613 mitzvot to choose from!
As Rachel Goldberg Polin and Jon Polin shared words from their son Hersh, who was murdered after being held captive, “If you have the WHY, you’ll find the HOW.” We each have a ‘Why,’ because we all feel the profound loss. We will now find the ‘How.’ We will find the strength to move forward together and honour their memory, and all those we lost. Four more hostage bodies were handed over this morning. Four more heartbreaking funerals for the families of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur – Our hearts are with them.
This week we read a torah portion which describes the construction of the Mishkan or Holy Tabernacle, the first house of worship in the history of Israel. Hashem’s instructions are so detailed in their specificity, but what struck me is the emphasis on the two cherubs made of hammered gold to be placed at either end of the ark, marking the spot from which Hashem will speak. These two child-like figures are a symbol of Hashems presence. From between them, “G-d’s voice emanated.” Ariel and Kfir are the cherubs in our midst, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, G-d’s presence endures.

This evening, the new month of Adar will begin, a month deeply associated with joy because of Purim. One of the expressions tied to Adar appears in Megillat Esther: “Venahafoch hu” – everything flips. Just as in the Megillah, where impending doom is suddenly overturned by salvation, similar surprises can occur in our world today and even in our own lives. At the last minute, evil will give way to good, and darkness will be driven out by light.

May G-d continue to give strength and courage to Am Yisroel!
Chodesh Tov, have a meaningful Shabbos,

Chanie and Levi Wolff