Page 39 - HaMizrachi # 22 Rosh HahHana - Yom Kippur 2020 USA

YAMIM NORA’IM READING

Yael Leibowitz

Chana’s Lessons for Covid-19

osh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the depiction of her emotional state is to uphold ritual norms. Wars, plagues,
are a time of grandeur, and something to which many of us may periods of oppression. Each historical
Rof tradition. Each year, as the currently relate. She is described as contingency brought with it its own
summer draws to a close, and the being frustrated with her reality, and set of challenges. Our challenge this
familiar sound of the shofar becomes sad about all the things she is missing. year is to find a way to connect, even
part of our daily experience, we real- She is angry, maybe even irrationally, as we are disconnected. Our challenge
ize just how much our souls long for at herself and at the people around her. this year is to find inspiration, in the
the rituals that facilitate the teshuva When the text describes her inability absence of those things we rely on to
process. We long for the sea of white to even participate in her family’s cele- inspire us. Our challenge this year is
that creates a sense of reverence, and brations, one senses a profound loneli- to remember we are still a link in our
for the familiar tunes that thunder ness and disconnection. chain of tradition, even if the wrinkled
through our synagogue halls. We long hands can’t pull us in close to remind
for the worn pages of machzorim Chana doesn’t remain mired in self- us.
that bring back memories of prayers pity though. She breaks with conven-
past, and for the wrinkled hands that tion and travels alone to the Mishkan And so, as we meet these challenges,
reach over every so often and pull us in Shiloh. Once there, she doesn’t let us look at Chana. Let us look at
in close. We long for all the things we engage with a Kohen or bring a sac- what it means to keep praying, even
have come to associate with the high rifice, as would have been expected. as we feel isolated, and know that
point of our religious calendar. Instead, she utters a silent, personal what we’re feeling now won’t last for-
prayer. The text seems to be saying ever. Let us remember that ultimately,
But this year is different. Cognizant that Chana is not relying on people our fate lies in G-d’s hands and that it
of the fact that Jewish Law prioritizes around her, or on traditional rituals, to is not the volume of our tefillot that
human life above all else, Jews around extricate her from her misery. She uses reverberates, but their sincerity.
the world will have a religious expe- her loneliness to fuel a connection
rience wholly different from what with G-d that is qualitatively different As we listen to Chana’s words, let us
they are accustomed to. For many of from anything her contemporaries take comfort in knowing that even
us, the lack and the emptiness will be – even Eli the High Priest – had ever the quietest of prayers can breach the
profound. And so perhaps this year, seen. Rather than depending on things gates of Heaven.
more than any other, we can draw external, Chana reaches deeply into
insight from the Haftarah we read on her pain, her desires, and her faith, to
the second day of Rosh Hashanah. In craft a prayer that sets the template for Yael Leibowitz has taught Continuing
this famous portion, we encounter all subsequent tefillot (Berachot 31a). Education courses and served as Resi-
Chana, Elkanah’s barren wife, in the dent Scholar in New York. She is currently
throes of despair and longing. And Our history is filled with scenarios that teaching as she continues her studies at
while Chana’s struggle is unique to her, have forced Jews to find creative ways Bar-Ilan University.

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