Page 9 - Mizrachi-RZC Sefer Berachot 5782

ןויצ תשירד
Rabbi Shmuel Leib Schuman
CEO – Hebrew Theological College

Elul is a time for us to prepare for the New Year. As we do so, it is
prudent to first reflect on the past year when we progressed through
the restrictions of Covid to greater freedom. I would like to share
one reflection as I write this on Tisha B’Av.

Most of the later Kinnot we recite on Tisha B’Av begin with the
word ןויצ. Yirmiyahu (30:17) relates that Hashem will heal Tzion
from its wounds, for she was called, ‘Discarded’, saying, איה ןויצ
הל ןיא שרוד, ‘she is Tzion - no one cares for her’. The Gemara, Rosh
Hashana 30a, notes that this pasuk implies that Tzion needs to be
sought after and desired - השירד איעבד ללכמ.

I recently returned from a trip to Israel to celebrate the birth of a
new grandson. Getting there was challenging due to the many
Covid restrictions the government placed on visitors. Many
documents were required and getting an entry permit was no easy
process. But when we eventually made it to Israel to share in our
family’s simcha, to daven at the Kotel in gratitude, to see the growth
of our people and the incredible Limud Torah taking place there, we
appreciated our good fortune to be there when so many others were
not being allowed that privilege.

Our ancestors longed to visit our holy land. They were ןויצ שרוד but
many never had that chance to experience it. In our times it has
become so easy to jump on a plane and visit Israel. Maybe we
began to take it for granted. Perhaps a lesson to be learned from the
pandemic is to appreciate the opportunity we have to visit and live
in Israel. In doing so we can reverse the trend that Yirmiyahu
lamented, and be able affirm, "הל שי שרוד איה ןויצ" that Tzion is
sought after and desired.

As we look forward to a new year, we at Hebrew Theological
College ask Hashem to grant us a הבוט הנש. May 5782 be a year of
continued growth and hatzlacha for Religious Zionists of Chicago,
for our Chicago Jewish community, for Eretz Yisrael, and for all of
Am Yisrael. May we soon merit םימחרב ןויצל ךבושב וניניע וניזחתו.