Where Can We Find Chizuk During These Horrific and Painful Times?

strength where does one gain strength in the news in the images in the stories in the information that we're all hearing that we're watching that we're seeing in the Brokenness that we feel in the sadness in the grief in the pain in the fear in the uncertainty and the many questions that we have questions that are simply unanswerable incomprehensible the loss and the tragedy and the pain of the people who've been directly affected and all those who care feel connected with them because to be a member of the Jewish people is to feel connected to the heart of the Jewish people for it to pulsate together it's what it means to be part of a Nation part of a people the ra tells us in somebody who separates themselves even you didn't violate any egregious sins but simply not feeling the pain not being overwhelmed with grief in a national tragedy such an individual you don't have a portion in the world to come you're not part of the Jewish people so how do we offer how do we feel where do we turn to for in moments and moments like this it's so hard not to feel helpless and hopeless to be so far away so impotent to make a difference to have an impact to give relief to provide safety or security or Comfort or strength most of us living in the diaspora in we're not being called up to serve there's no front line to show up at what are we meant to do so the first thing I want to share is that being overwhelmed with those questions how and why and where is Hashem how could he allow so many people to be slaughtered how could he allow claw Israel to be so shamed on the world stage how could he allow this grief and this pain we're not the first to ask these questions and we likely won't be the last people much greater than we a a wondered God how could how could you allow that to happen to Stone M said show me your face let me understand why do bad things happen to good people and yet Hashem consistently has said I am God I'm infinite I'm omnipotent you can see me from behind perhaps someday you could make sense but you're not entitled and you can't understand thing as they unfold we're finite he's infinite and we are we're mere mortals while he is eternal and omnipotent but of hers the greater of hers encourages us in moments and circumstances like this not only personal and individual tragedy and struggle but Collective and National to not get stuck and not get hung up on the question of Lama of why why why did this happen and how could this happen but that same word L me we could punctuate not as Lama why but instead read as LMA for what for what how are we meant to react how are we meant to respond what are we meant to do now where do we we go to from here throughout Jewish history particularly these last 2,000 years the Jewish people have navigated pgrs and persecution and expulsions and exterminations individually and families we've suffered collectively we've been set back but what propelled us forward each and every time is not getting stuck or hung up or even distracted by the question Lama why don't get stuck on a question that doesn't have answers instead become the answer answer the LMA for what for what and here's the thing we of course can't compare to the heroism and the sacrifice and the bravery and the courage and those who will fight on the front lines and our brothers and sisters throughout Israel who are the targets of this enemy hate we're not in the same sense we're categorically different we can't begin to compare but but every one of us every one of us can feel called up every one of us can come to serve every one of us can feel reservist reserve us in the army of Hashem there is so much we can do and that's the ultimate that we can feel sort of ironically paradoxically the that we can get is to not sit still to not feel impotent to not be passive Spectators to not get stuck on the question of why of Lama but to focus intensely on the question of LMA how can we come together and what are we going to do next DAV and say to and feel connected to prayer in ways maybe we never did before that we have no one to rely on or lean on other than for some reason which we can't and won't understand we're in this mess but you and only you can get us out of it you can provide the shield and the shade of protection we lean and we surrender and we submit through our through our heartfall prayer through our and we're demonstrating to our children to our friends to our families and ourselves individually and collectively we lean and we surrender to you we have a bone to pick with you we want to understand we protest we object we're in pain how such bad things could happen to such good people and yet at this moment we turn to you from the bottom of our hearts and we say for whatever reason we are in this circumstance and trouble get us out take us out all of us can call family and friends in Israel so show solidarity and love check in and be there we can double down on our learning the we can do for one another we could add something more to our lives if you don't go to Sho during the week start going to Shool if you come but you come late come earlier if you talk make sure you don't talk we're all reservice we're all being called up we're all being asked to show up show up for one another show up for the people in Israel show up with rallies and advocacy and support and show up that's what gives us we don't have time or space to get stuck on why on Lama we need to respond to the Lama what we can do because when we give to one another we get we just finished reading the whole Tor we're beginning again this week with and for every book that we finish we ordinarily endak be strong and be strong and we will be strengthened this is a PK that comes from the be strong for our holy land and for our holy cities when we offer strength to one another we are strengthened as a result if you're looking for if you feel broken if you don't know where to turn if can't make sense of this you will feel if you double down on giving on feeling connected to others on being there on showing up on doubling down DAV learn do whatever it is do more feel connected to the heart of the Jewish people because to be an to be a nation the root of the word am in M Sal said is IM not only an am a nation to be an AM you have to be IM you have to be with Our Fate Our Fate relies on a sense of unity ofus we're in am when we are IM when we are connected and Drawn to what is unfolding and what is UN happening not the gruesome images that will never be able to erase from our mind but to replace them with the images of of the Jewish people showing up and being there for one another supporting one another doing for one another of being able to love one another to not see now the differences that divide us but the unity to beat with one heart because we're and ifak andak if instead of getting stuck on Lama we ask LMA for what what am I meant to do what can I do next where am I needed how can I contribute what what merits can I bring down through ding through learning through through through advocacy through rallying ifak andak if we turn to one another and give each other then ven will draw the strength that we need coming off of the holiday of su should finally spread out the Su of the canopy of Peace over our brothers and sisters in Israel to give strength and to give courage to guide the hands of our precious and holy soldiers to carry out their missions and to come home safely to bring Safety and Security throughout the width and breath of Israel and around the world