Praise the L-rd, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For His kindness was mighty over us, and the truth of the L-rd is everlasting. Praise the L-rd! (Psalms 117)
King David is telling us that when Hashem’s kindness is mighty over us, this elicits the praise of Hashem from the nations of the world.
This week’s in-flight miracle, despite their best attempts to distort the reporting, has elicited positive reactions even from those media outlets that are far from the love of Jews. When there is simply no other way to explain it, one has to concede that this is a miracle from Hashem.
What about us? How are we reacting? Are we engaging in proper gratitude to Hashem for the miracle? We must gather as a people to properly thank and praise Hashem for the miracles He has shown us and our people. Sukkot and Simchat Torah are the time to do this. It is a time for gratitude. We thank Hashem for all of His blessings. We thank Hashem for the Torah and Jewish peoplehood. This year we must thank Hashem for these open miracles that we have experienced.
Make your way to a Synagogue for Simchat Torah on Saturday night. You are more than welcome to join Chabad in New Orleans or Metairie. We must dance and celebrate together that Am Yisrael Chai because Od Avinu Chai, the Jewish people lives on because our Father is alive.
Don’t just be a Jew who responds to antisemitism. Be a Jew who celebrates the miracles that Hashem continues to perform for us each and every day. The miracle of Jewish survival. The miracle of Judaism and the inspirational message it carries for humanity. The miracles of each breath that we take. The miracles that wake us up, such as the one we experienced this week.
Happy Simchat Torah!
Shabbat Shalom!
Am Yisrael Chai!
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin