[I did not write this piece. The author wishes to remain anonymous. ~LBD]
Over 1000 of the most despicable people on the planet are about to be released from jail, for one lone Jewish soldier.
Worse than that, say many, these 1000+ can kill and injure many more Jews, both soldiers and civilians.
May we suggest a Sukkot perspective. The words below are based on ideas derived from beautiful words of Torah, heard by “co-incidence” only this week from my Rabbi.
Sukkot is the festival of faith. At the beginning of the winter rainy season we leave the comfort and security of our homes for the Sukkah, a temporary dwelling covered in Schach.
The rickety Schach represents our faith in the protection of the Almighty. We have done Teshuva over the last weeks and now we have come to realize that we cannot change what was, nor can we control the future. As human beings, we are limited to the “now”. We just have to do what is right NOW.
Moreover, the Torah commands us on Sukkot to be “be’simcha”, grateful for the NOW, for the opportunities of the NOW. We must understand that what we have at any given moment is what we need to have. It is what is right for us, what is good for us. As with medical treatment – each person needs a different prescription; if you had someone else’s, it could kill you.
And so to Gilad.
We cannot bring back the Victims of Terror – if only we could!! We feel the acute pain at this time of those left behind.
Right NOW, we now have a mitzva available of Pidyon Shvuyim, of releasing a prisoner, a Mitzva of the highest level. The danger of paying the price we all know.
Or do we?
We know that we can get Gilad back; we don’t know whether any damage will result. That is called ברי ושמא ברי עדיף – where there is a certainty versus a possibility, we choose the certainty. The future – let Him take care of that.
As for the timing….
What is Schach, the essence of Sukkot? According to our Rabbis it is “פסולת גורן ויקב”, the waste material from the silo and the winery: in modern parlance, garbage. We take the garbage and do a mitzva. And not just any Mitzva, but the Mitzva that shows our absolute faith in Him.
Moreover, for Schach to be kosher, the shadow it casts must be greater than the light it allows to enter. The inference for Gilad’s return is clear.
This year on Sukkot, the Jewish people have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform 2 mitzvot with “garbage”; we will cover our Sukkot and we will use “פסולת” as currency to buy back one Jewish soldier.
May the Almighty repay our absolute trust in Him with peace for our people.
May He know that we genuinely believe that what we are doing is the right thing in the HERE & NOW, the only time-frame in which we can operate.
May those whose dear ones were killed or injured by those being released take comfort in the thought that this פסולת that caused so much pain is being elevated לעילוי נשמתם to save a Jewish soul – as if they are saving a whole world.
May he take care of our future because…
“אין לנו על מי להשען ,אלא על אבינו שבשמים”
Chag Sameach
Laura Ben-David is the author of numerous articles and the book, MOVING UP: An Aliyah Journal, a memoir of her move to Israel. She has done public speaking about Israel and Aliyah all over the United States and Israel. Contact her at laura@aliyahbook.com or follow her tweets at http://www.twitter.com/laurabendavd 
Every Jewish life is worth saving !
Amanda Spiegel
Posted October 14, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Every Jewish life is worth saving !
CORRECTION. EVERY LIFE IS WORTH SAVING, NOT JUST A JEWISH LIFE.
I stopped reading this after the first two secentences.
A) You described the prisoners as the most despicable people on the planet. As we all well know, many of these are being held without charge, and it is likely many are innocent of any crimes – perhaps the Israeli army practices of holding without charge are more dispicable? But either way, at least not all those being released are terrorists which is good news.
B) You say 1000+ can kill and injure many more Jews, both soldiers and civilians. I think you are getting jews and Israeli’s mixed up. Not all Israeli’s are jews, and not all Jews are Israeli’s.
Couldn’t face reading the rest after that poor start.
Dave:
How enlightened of you. You’re so smug in your
liberal elitismcritique. I imagine you sleep well at night knowing how right you are — especially after reading only 2 sentences! The author (not Laura as noted above) wrote his/her feelings about the exchange and s/he’s entitled to those.In regard to your comments, I don’t know if each and every prisoner being exchanged for Gilad is a murder or a terrorist — maybe not. I do know that Israel has the right to defend itself and if that means profiling and/or detaining individuals who may pose a threat to the nation of Israel, so be it.
I also know that Hamas is a government who primary goal is the annihilation of Israel and, more broadly, all Jews. So your little game of semantics (“I think you’re getting Jews and Israelis mixed up”) doesn’t fly. Hamas wants both dead and gone, and if THAT doesn’t qualify as desipcable, I don’t know what does.
By the way, if you HAD continued reading, you would have seen that the author wrote about Jewish religious practices (mitzvahs, correct?) and not Israeli cultural issues — so “no” s/he is not confused about Jews and Israelis. S/he was consistent in his/her argument.
Shalom,
PJ
The only justification needed for this exchange is this: No Soldier Left Behind.
To Dave: May I point out that critical thinking skills are a sign of intelligence and maturity. You do not have any. Maybe if you had some, you would not be a Jew Hater.
Love your book (I have a signed copy) and your blog, Laura. I wish you would write more because you have a real gift for it.
Next year in Jerusalem (er, Tel Aviv), I hope. -Barbara, mother of Israeli combat soldier, reserves
Wow, thank you Barbara. That is really gratifying. I do plan on writing more, maybe another book one day soon…
Thanks for your feedback on this piece as well.
~Laura
ProphetJoe,
What are you banging on about?
I did carry on reading after posting it actually, and you are right – the article was about jewish religious pratcies, but the way it started off was not. The author is of course entitled to his/her views but saying these 1000 people are all dispicable people is a bit ridiculous. People are innocent until proved guilty and many of these released have not even been charged. That is all.
Israel do have the right to defend itself – I never said it didnt. It does not have the right to break international laws though, nor does any other established, democratic country. If Israel wants to promote itself as ‘the only democratic country in the region’ and an upstanding citizen of the international community it should act like it and not lower itself by detaining innocents.
It annoys me when people, (both Jews and non-jews) confuse jews and Israeil’s cos they are not the same. Unfortunately, reglions and politics have become too intertwined in the region and now palestinians will hate Jews for generations when it is actually just the Israeli’s they should hate. The author is a little confused because the release of these prisoners has no direct threat to a jew living in China. Only a direct threat to an Israeli who may or may not be jewish.
If you have any objection to anything i have said then let me know – i think it is all pretty straighforward.
Anyway, 1000 prisoner releases is a pretty hefty price to pay for 1 soldier. It is unfortunate that Israeli’s face conscription, and I imagine that is partly why the Government feel obliged to get him back, its not like he signed up for it. Lets hope most of them are innocent prisoners are they are not releasing 1000 hardcore nutters back out there.
Ja bless.
And Barbara.
Its people like you that get right under my skin. Jew hater???? How on earth from my post did you get that? You shouldnt go around calling people a jew hater just cos they say Israeli’s and Jews are not the same. I think some of the Israeli Arabs would agree with me!
Just cos I was critical of the author’s post and some ISRAELI military tactics makes me a jew hater? seriously, that attitude is ignorant and quite offensive.
And FYI I actually I love Jews. So you are completely wrong anyway.
Im taken aback by your comments yet I can understand where you are coming from.
All I know is what I experience and Hanna Nachenberg is lying in a Coma till this day her daughter and my son are the same age 12 , she lives in Israel and sees the cruelty that robbed her of her mother, I will not even go into the state her American born father is in.
Tamimi is no innocent and is going to be protected by her brother in Jordan. Malki Roth and Australian citizen is dead and there is no trace of the Sbarro restaurant today , but their memory is in my heart forever yet Gilad Shalit returned home,the price is high… I could go on..I will never forget or forgive… But I live in Israel and One innocent 12 year old will grow up to question justice in the democratic world…