Song of the Soul
In a moving video clip from early October, a young man named Yehuda Becher can be seen singing a soul-stirring song he composed to the prayer “My G-d, the soul that You have placed before me, it is pure.” Tragically, just a few days later, Yehuda was murdered by terrorists at the Nova Music Festival, along with over 1200 of our beloved brothers and sisters, during the Simchat Torah October 7th massacre.
Yehuda's song is centered around G-d's creation, formation, and bestowment of His perfect souls into our bodies. The prayer includes the words, “You have breathed it into me and You will preserve it within me. You, in the future, will take it from me and restore it to me in the time to come (i.e. Messianic era). So long as the soul is within me, I give thanks to You, my God.”
Yehuda's brothers, along with singer Avishai Suaa, have recorded and released their cover of Yehuda's last song in his memory (see here). Yehuda's special song serves as a reminder for each of us to cherish every moment of our lives and recognize the pure and angelic soul with which we are each endowed. While we may not be able to logically explain suffering, pain, and tragic loss of life, we are grateful for each day on earth and believe that G-d will return the souls of our loved one's at the time of the future Redemption.
In this week's Torah portion, Bo, we learn about the first Mitzvah given to the Jewish people before their Exodus from Egypt: Rosh Chodesh. This Mitzvah sanctifies the beginning of the month based on the appearance of the new moon, informing the Jewish people about the appropriate times to celebrate holidays, life cycle events, and many other Jewish customs and traditions.
The Jewish calendar, based on lunar months instead of the solar year, reflects the waxing and waning of the moon. Just as the moon wanes and becomes concealed, the Jewish people may endure challenging moments. However, the renewal of the moon each month reassures us of the coming ultimate rebirth — the Redemption.
Despite the immense hardships faced during slavery in Egypt, G-d empowered the Jewish people to learn from the moon and never give up in the face of adversity. Throughout our long history, with its highs and lows, we have miraculously survived and continue to thrive in modern times.
The moon's rotation reminds us to remain optimistic in challenging times and to stay humble, grateful, and generous in good times. In fact, the moon is hidden when it is positioned closest to the sun. Similarly, during our most challenging and darkest moments is when we feel closest to G-d.
The very fact that of all 613 commandments the Torah chose to begin with this one indicates that this Mitzvah contains an element fundamental to all the rest. The primary function of the Mitzvot is to enable a person to permeate the world with goodness and holiness. Therefore all Mitzvot involve the transformation of physical objects into Mitzvah-objects, entities of holiness. For example, when a Jew transforms an animal's hide into parchment for a Torah Scroll, Tefillin, or a Mezuzah, that animal's hide attains the purpose for which it was created. Similarly, when a person gives Tzedakah, they are elevating their money along with the effort that was invested in attaining it.
Since time, too, is created, it is readily understandable that it is meant to fulfill the same purpose as the rest of creation. Herein lies the significance of this most important command: Through the Jewish people's sanctification of months — they reveal that the true purpose of time is to be sanctified and their time becomes permeated with the realization that it is to be filled with goodness, holiness, and Mitzvot.
This Shabbat marks the anniversary of when the Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson accepted the mantle of leadership in January 1951 after the passing of his father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe. A few years after the tragic decimation of over a third of the Jewish people, the Rebbe led a movement which revitalized Jewish life globally through launching a vast network of Jewish day schools, youth programs, Jewish publishing houses, adult education, business and professional programs, and humanitarian social services.
Despite suffering under Nazi and Soviet cruelty and facing strong opposition and apathy even in America, the Rebbe focused on the positive and taught us to reveal the beautiful Divine potential within each person. He encouraged individuals of all affiliations and demographics to use their talents, resources and influence to elevate their surroundings through the Torah and Mitzvot. He encouraged Jews and Gentiles alike to embrace their distinct Divine missions and reconnect with their souls.
In his inaugural address, the Rebbe declared that our generation was entrusted with a special mission to complete the task begun by our forefather Abraham — to build a home for G-d in this world and usher in the final redemption. Commenting on the Verse from Shir Hashirim, “I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride”, the Rebbe taught this verse metaphorically as it describes the mission G-d entrusted us to reveal the beautiful garden that the world was intended to be.
He emphasized the interconnectedness of love for G-d, love for the Torah, and love for the Jewish people, stating that they are all one. Loving others unconditionally creates a home for G-d in this world.
As the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks eloquently shared, “If the Nazis hunted down every Jew in hate, the Rebbe would search out and reconnect every Jew in love.”
In face of the darkness and challenges the Jewish people are currently facing, let us remain optimistic and positive and focus on completing the mission entrusted in us. Let us do one more Mitzvah to usher in the final redemption when peace and prosperity will prevail for all nations on earth!
