Parashat B’reisheet: Starting Over With His Grace
Shalom dear friends,
Today we begin with the Shehecheyanu blessing:
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
shehecheyanu, vkiymanu, vhigiyanu lazman haze.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
The media is being flooded with extremely touching pictures of the reunions of the 20 live hostages with their families after having been separated for 2 whole years. Their separation included barbaric conditions of having been chained, starved, tortured, and kept in dark and moist tunnels, without contact or medical aid, and more. Today meant the end of that dark page in history.
This Simchat Torah (or: ‘the Joy of Torah’), marks 2 whole years when all of this began with the extremely violent invasion by Hamas into Israel, where the enemy aimed to take away two very vital parts of Israel’s identity besides life, which are joy and God’s Word. Yet, here we are, exactly 738 days later, on the evening of Simchat Torah rejoicing over the return of the hostages we have prayed for so very much, and this Simchat Torah we will rejoice again!!
Of course, this exchange with Hamas comes with the freeing of 250 murderers with much blood on their hands, and we’re still very much in need of the ongoing protection by the IDF-soldiers. Alongside God’s miracles, protection, and grace (Deuteronomy 1:30), we also owe much of this unimaginable victory of the return of the hostages to the 2-year long service and sacrifice of the soldiers and reservists, who continue to secure our borders in the face of the very same hateful spirit of the enemy.
After having seen how easily loved ones were ripped away in 2023, this Simchat Torah will be very meaningful indeed, and we will naturally (realise and) cherish what we’ve been given. This Simchat Torah won’t only mark the end of the Torah reading cycle, but also of our hearts having been held captive in Gaza for 2 very long years.
In all of this, we’re so very touched by your love and support, as many of you pour out your prayers and love for Israel during these 24 months. Thank you for not giving up on this tiny land!! Your hope and faith encourages us more than words can say.
B’reisheet
At Simchat Torah, we scroll back our Torah scrolls to the very beginning. We read the ending of Deuteronomy while then reading the very beginning from Genesis, which shows the ongoing cycle of life, and of the validity and relevance of the truth of the Word of God for our lives. No matter our circumstances, the greatness of a storm, or the level of fakeness brought to us by the media, we know that “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
The Torah is (re-)read by means of a never-ending cycle from generation-to-generation, while we read Genesis 1 alongside with John 1. The first chapter of John clearly echoes Genesis’ meaningful words, “In the beginning” (verse 1), as a confirmation of God’s good and beautiful creation. While also reminding that the Messiah was with God even before creation, which points out God’s universal plan for the salvation of the entire world, even before the first sin was committed.
In light of a growing death culture, we are reminded that “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (verses 4-5) Such a vital reminder to know that His is a culture of life and light. So much hope!
Throughout the ages, and no matter what life throws at us, we can rest in the words of hope from our Heavenly Father, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) He is our Rock and our salvation, and we will look up to Him and start this year over with His grace.