A Soldier on the Ukrainian Front

Image for illustration purposes only

In Nikolayev, Ukraine, a city where streets were nearly empty due to the precarious security situation, over 200 people of all ages joined the Rosh Hashanah prayers and heard shofar this past year.

Local Chabad emissary, Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb, said that the turnout was “beyond expectations” since “the city was embedded in battle and bombings and the streets were empty. People stayed barricaded in their homes and didn’t venture out. We couldn't have dreamed of this.”

“People's excitement was palpable and it's hard to describe it in words. Jews just 'held on' to one another and rubbed their eyes with wonder that our city Nikolayev merited celebrating the new year despite the shelling and bombs we experience daily.”

An especially moving moment occurred during Rosh Hashanah when a Jewish soldier arrived straight from the front line to hear shofar blowing. “The soldier was honored with opening the Aron Kodesh (the holy Ark) as we said Avinu Malkeinu,” Rabbi Gottlieb said. “There was not a dry eye there as we saw a soldier in uniform standing in awe and opening the Aron Kodesh. Everyone sang Avinu Malkeinu in heartrending unison, which reflected the difficult situation the Jews and other residents find themselves in.”

Rabbi Gottlieb added that “during the Shofar blowing, the Shofar's blasts overcame the sound of sirens which frequently pierce the air in our city.”

While it may be difficult for us to relate to the challenges and risks that our brothers and sisters in Ukraine need to overcome in order to properly celebrate the holidays, we can learn from them how important and vital it is to remain connected to our communities.

Let us take the inspiration from the soldiers on the front who demonstrated their belief that in order to maintain their safety and the success of their mission they must remain connected to their community and G-d. No matter how preoccupied we may be with work or other pressing responsibilities, we must set aside time for our families and communities, and to strengthen our connection with our Jewish heritage.

During joyous times, important life cycle events, or when faced with unfortunate challenging moments, may G-d spare us, having a community to celebrate with or to fall back on makes all the difference.

A community serves a much greater purpose than just providing us with convenient programs and services, notwithstanding how necessary and helpful they may be. Being a part of a caring and united community is what helps us remain connected to our past, engaged in the present, and invested in our future.

Our Sages teach that “G‑d never rejects the prayers of a congregation”. When a community comes together for a common positive goal, they have infinitely greater power and impact than the sum total of each individual separately. For their power is no longer based solely on their own personal achievements. A community which comes together receives special merits and divine assistance to be successful in their endeavors.

In this week's Torah portion, Vayelech, we learn about a special Mitzvah called Hakhel. The word “Hakhel”, literally translated as “assemble”, shares the same root as the word “Kehilah'' which means “community”.

In Israel, every seventh year is a Shemitah ("sabbatical") year. For an entire year, all farmers abandon their fields and they focus on their spiritual, rather than physical needs.

Now, in the Temple times, at the onset of the eighth year (the first in the new seven-year cycle following the sabbatical year), on the second day of the holiday of Sukkot, there was a special Mitzvah for all Jews to gather in the Holy Temple to unite with one another and receive inspiration from their king. This inspiration would energize them for the next six years, most of whose time would be spent in business endeavors.

This event was known as Hakhel and thus the entire year is deemed a Hakhel Year. It was the only event that required the attendance of every Jew- men, women and children, reminiscent of the historic moment when our nation stood at Mount Sinai, when every member of our nation was present when G‑d lovingly gave us the Torah.

Once the entire nation had gathered, the king, situated on a specially constructed platform in the Temple's courtyard, was handed the Torah scroll that Moses himself had written. The king recited a blessing and then read aloud several portions from the Book of Deuteronomy, and then concluded with several more blessings.

This year, 5783, is a Hakhel year according to the Jewish calendar.

The Mitzvah of Hakhel was done at the Temple and led by the king, both of which we don't have today. So how can we commemorate this special moment and what possible relevance does Hakhel have to our modern lives?

The Torah and Mitzvot are eternal, so that also those Mitzvot which were to be practiced only during the time of the Holy Temple, by virtue of their eternal spiritual content, have a special significance in their appropriate day or year, which has to be expressed and fulfilled in an appropriate manner.

How is Hakhel done today? Any time this year, gather your family, friends, business acquaintances, or community with the goal of uniting for a common positive purpose to recalibrate our lives and careers so that they remain in sync with our G-dly mission based on Divine moral values and our Jewish identity. The prerequisite is that we are “assembled,” meaning all of us are in a state of togetherness, with love. Togetherness sets the mood and opens the heart to feel inspired and motivated to make a positive change.

The Talmud states, “Ben Dovid (i.e. Moshiach) will come during the year after the seventh,” an allusion to the Hakhel year. Why has Hakhel been singled out as a year that Moshiach is more likely to come? It is because one of the actions Moshiach will take when he comes is the ingathering of the exiles. Every Jew regardless of his or her location and stature will be brought to Israel and be reunited with fellow Jews from around the globe. More than just a casual deed, this assembly is at the heart of the redemption. What better way to reward Jews involved in Jewish unity, than to bring the redemption and end the dispersion that is exile, once and for all.