Page 11 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

A MUTUAL

RETURN

“Express thanks to G-d, for He is good; greatness of the time and be thankful from all the people among whom
His steadfast love is eternal!” Thus let for the honor of living in a generation the L-rd your G-d has scattered you”
the redeemed of the L-rd say, those He that experienced the redemption. (Deuteronomy 30: 1-3).
redeemed from adversity, whom He
gathered in from the lands, from east and This is a process that is not entirely This is one of the most exciting
west, from the north and from the sea… surprising to the Jewish people; passages in the Torah. G-d promises
they cried to the L-rd, and He rescued we have waited for it to happen the people of Israel that after all
them from their troubles. He showed throughout many years of exile. the harsh curses that will fall upon
them a direct way to reach a settled place. The books of the Prophets are filled them in exile (as described in the
Let them praise the L-rd for His steadfast with prophecies about the future previous chapters – predictions of
love, His wondrous deeds for mankind; redemption and the end of days. The the numerous troubles that indeed
for He has satisfied the thirsty, filled the people of Israel held faith and hope afflicted the people of Israel during the
hungry with all good things” (Psalms for this redemption during 2,000 exile), the redemption is guaranteed.
107: 1-9). years of difficult and bitter exile. The However, not only is the return of the
prophecies of redemption and the people of Israel to its Land guaranteed
his psalm expresses one’s requests for redemption embedded in here, but also the return to their G-d.
gratitude for G-d’s kindness our daily prayers were what enabled It seems that this special passage does
T toward him and his rescue the Jewish people to continue to hold not only describe a unilateral move by
from his distress, and Chazal learned on to their faith during the difficult Israel to repent – as a result of which
from here who is obligated to offer years, and which ultimately enabled they receive reward in the form of
a korban toda – a sacrifice of thanks the process of redemption to take a return to the Land – but rather a
to G-d. This psalm is read on Yom place. process of mutual return. This passage
HaAtzmaut as an expression of describes the process of repentance
immense gratitude to G-d for His Geula (redemption) is described in and the process of redemption as
gathering us from our exile, bringing Tanach from several angles and with intertwined, because they are one
us back to Eretz Yisrael and allowing us several possibilities. Let us look at process of the mutual return of Israel
to live in an independent Jewish State. the first prophecy on the topic of to G-d and of G-d to Israel. The
The miracle of redemption taking redemption that appears in the Torah: renewal of the mutual connection
place before our eyes over the last 150 between the people of Israel and G-d
years is astonishing, and it is certainly “When all these things happen to you is the highest aspiration, and it is the
fitting to say “Praise the L-rd for His – the blessing and the curse that I have complete redemption to which we still
wondrous deeds for mankind.” There set before you – and you take them aspire. When this connection between
was no other nation in the world who to heart amidst the various nations to the people of Israel and their G-d is
were exiled from their land, dispersed which the L-rd your G-d has banished at its zenith, the people of Israel can
amongst many countries, remained you, and you return to the L-rd your dwell in the Land of Israel, live safely,
united in their faith and nationality, G-d, and you and your children heed and be blessed with blessings in all
and finally returned to their land and His command with all your heart and spheres of life.
re-established an independent State. soul, just as I enjoin upon you this day,
The process of the nation of Israel then the L-rd your G-d will restore Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
returning to our Land is a miracle and your fortunes and take you back in and is Content Editor for the Tanach
a wonder, and we must recognize the love. He will bring you together again website: www.hatanakh.com/en

Want to receive HaMizrachi by email before every holiday?

Sign up at www.mizrachi.org/hamizrachi

11