Page 4 - Mizrachi-RZC Sefer Berachot 5781

Renewal and Rebirth
Rabbi Yona Reiss
Av Beir Din, Chicago Rabbinical Council

As we approach the holiday of Rosh Hashana, we look forward to
bringing an end to the previous year’s hardships and afflictions, as
the Talmud (Megillah 31b) states, היתוללקו הנש הלכת. This desire to
bring a culmination to the trials and tribulations of the outgoing year
is particularly pronounced this year, as we pray for the speedy
conclusion of the Coronavirus pandemic that has afflicted our
communities and the entire world.
Perhaps the greatest comfort to adversity is offered by the Torah in
the words (Devarim 32:43) ומע ותמדא רפכו - that Hashem will
appease His land and His people. As Rav Hershel Schachter shlit”a
explains (Rav Schachter on the Parsha, adapted by Dr. Allan
Weissman, p. 290), this prophecy can be understood as foretelling
the founding and flourishing of the contemporary State of Israel
following the hidden period – the םינפ רתסה – (see Devorim 18:18)
of the exile, including the horrors of the Holocaust. As we enter a
new year during this precarious period, we take greater comfort than
ever in the reality of having our homeland as our refuge and source
for rejuvenation, renewal, and rebirth.
Even as travel restrictions abound, the land of Israel continues to
embrace םישדח םילוע – new residents of the land, embracing their
Jewish destiny. Torah learning continues, albeit with social
distancing measures to safeguard everyone’s health. We must place
primacy upon health and safety, in accordance with the Torah
mandate (Vayikra 18:5) of םהב יחו – to “live by them [the laws of the
Torah].” At the same time we also must also maintain the vitality of
the land of Israel, by enabling all Jews to reside in Israel, and by
strengthening the Yeshiva institutions that teach Torah to thousands
of young Jewish students from the diaspora each year.
R’ Tobiah ben Eliezer, the 11th century Talmudist, wrote (Midrash
Lekach Tov, Ruth) “each day, I have faith to receive the Penai Adon
(countenance of G-d), and to return to dwelling in Chevron, and to
Jerusalem and Zion.” May this year of א"פשת (“TSPA” - 5781)
stand for ןודא ינפ תנש אהת - “Tehai Shnat Penai Adon”, in which we
will merit to receive the countenance of the Almighty (without the
need for face masks) in the rebuilt Jerusalem, basking in the Torah
learning of the Yeshivot of the land of Israel, and in the spiritual
fulfillment of ומע ותמדא רפכו.