What a week it has been. What a painful and devastating time for the Jewish community worldwide and for all who empathize with us. We have heard the most horrific accounts of atrocities committed against the Bibas family — little Kfir, only 9 months old, and his older brother, Ariel, just 4 years old, brutally murdered. As if that pain weren’t enough, their father, Yarden Bibas, who just was released from a harrowing 500 days in captivity, has to bury his family.
How horrific. How painful. How sadistic.
And yet, we are not shocked. We are angry, we are devastated, but some part of us is not surprised. Throughout the arc of Jewish history, we have known what our enemies were capable of. The world may feign astonishment, but we have seen this before. The Jewish people have faced such hatred for generations.
In a world that so often turns a blind eye to Jewish pain and suffering, we find ourselves yearning for empathy. Instead, perhaps, we should march forward.
The power of action
In this week’s Torah portion, we encounter two of the most famous words in Jewish history: Na’aseh v’nishma — “We will do, and we will hear.” These words, spoken by the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, have profound meaning. Our sages offer several powerful interpretations:
A deeper commitment: In a relationship, when your spouse/friend asks you to do something, you have two choices. You can first ask what it is and then agree, or you can say, “Of course, I’ll do it,” before even knowing the details. The latter demonstrates a deeper level of love, trust, and commitment. Similarly, when Hashem (God) gave us the Torah, the Jewish people responded immediately, “We will do.” They were devoted first, and only afterward did they seek understanding.
Experience before understanding: Often, people hesitate to take on mitzvot (positive commandments) because they don’t yet feel connected to them. They say, “Rabbi, I don’t feel Shabbat. I don’t feel prayer.” My response? “Do it, and the feeling will follow.” Experience leads to understanding. Observing Shabbat just once can ignite a deep love and appreciation for it. Na’aseh — through action — brings Nishma, a true understanding.
When words fail, action must prevail: There are moments so horrific, so inexplicable, that words cannot suffice. No explanation can make sense of such evil. In these moments, all we can do is act. Na’aseh — we must do. Maybe, through action, we will come to understand.
Action
We sit in Boston, we weep, we mourn. But what will we do?
- We must strengthen our Jewish pride
- We must build and support our community
- We must give generously to help heal the wounded and support Israel
- We must stand unwavering in our support for our brothers and sisters
- We must engage more deeply in our Judaism
- We must strengthen our faith
- We must take action in living more Jewishly
If there was ever a time to belong — to show up in shul (synagogue), to pray, to be together — it is this Shabbat. Let us gather and pray for the Bibas family: for Yarden, who must live with this nightmare, for Israel, and for ourselves. Let us create stronger communities, deeper friendships, and unbreakable bonds of love and support.
We cry, but we dance
This Shabbat, we bless the new month of Adar — a month of joy and comfort. Joy breaks boundaries. Even as we cry, we will dance. We will not surrender our spirit, our faith, or our pride in being Jewish.
We must act. And maybe, just maybe, through our actions, we will bring positive change and comfort to those who need it most.
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