The Horror and the Hope, they’re all in our prayers
Since Oct. 7, 2023, everything I read, pray, hear, learn or intuit — be it in Torah, navim, ketuvim or tefilla — takes on a different and profoundly extraordinary meaning, resonating with a connection to the events of the past year.
Some would say (and the neurologist in me might concur) that this is simply a psychological response to a novel event. To illustrate with a prosaic example, it’s like when you buy a new car and suddenly you start to notice all the same models of that car on the road. Yet I truly believe, as I wrote in a previous column, that in these millennia- and centuries-old verses and prayers, Hashem is broadcasting to us in real time. The frequency and platform is Torah and tefilla.
And of course last week it happened again.
We were sitting in shul the first day of Sukkot when we heard that the evil Sinwar had been eliminated. We were all relieved (dare I say gleeful?) that this rasha no longer walked the Earth, but our concerns quickly turned to, “where are the hostages?”
That night at home, I was looking up something completely unrelated in Tanach and remembered that I wanted to explore further chapter 9 of the prophet Zechariah where the verses I’d mentioned in my previous column originated (I’m referring to versus 14 and 15 in the Rosh Hashana Musaf: “Hashem will appear to them and His arrow will go forth like a flash of lightning, and my L-rd will sound the shofar and shall go southward [Teiman] with storm winds. Hashem, Master of Legions will shield them.”
I commented then on the similarity to the Arrow missile interceptor taking out Iranian missiles from Yemen (Teiman) — like “flashes of lightning” — we had been witness to only 24 hours earlier. Now, two weeks later, I turn to that same Chapter 9, to finally read the whole chapter, not expecting any chidushim or new revelation but just to get the context.
• • •
This brief chapter, which all the mefarshim (commentators) agree is talking about the coming of Moshiach, begins with a list of cities in Lebanon — Hamat, Tyre and Sidon. All will become part of the land of Israel at the End of Days. These coastal cities have been featured prominently for days in news maps that have accompanied reporting on Israel’s ongoing war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The prophet Zechariah then turns his attention to the Mediterranean coast of what is now the modern state of Israel. He mentions Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, all historic Philistine cities that, too, at the time of the ultimate geula will become part of the land of Israel. (Of course Ashdod and Ashkelon are already part of Israel, and Ekron, though no longer a city, has an interesting museum of ancient Philistine artifacts and archeological finds.”
And yes, he lists one more Philistine city that will become part of Eretz Yisrael — Aza (Gaza). My eyes widen.
And then Zechariah says, “V’avad Melech mei’aza (a king will perish from Gaza)” (9:5).
My heart stopped. Sinwar, the putative king of Gaza, just perished! I continue to read.
• • •
Talking about the Jews who will occupy all formerly Philistine cities, notably Gaza, Hashem says (9:8):
I will encamp at My home [to protect it] against any army and from any [enemy] who comes and goes, and an oppressor will never again pass through them; for now I have seen [their suffering] with My eyes.
Read those words and tell me they don’t apply to whatever we are experiencing and that they don’t provide you with chizuk and comfort! I start to cry.
Then continue with verse 9: “Gili meod bat Zion (Rejoice greatly, O’ daughter of Zion)!
Zechariah starts describing the king, Melech HaMoshiach, who will come into Jerusalem, “a humble man riding upon a donkey.” My mind is racing with hope and ecstasy but also worry. Yes, but what about the hostages?
Verse 10: “His dominion will be from sea to sea and from the river to the end of the earth.” Sound familiar? Yes, but what about the hostages?!
And as quickly as these thoughts scurry through my brain, the response comes in the very next verses (11,12):
Gam Aat b’daam briteich shilachti asirayich mi-bor ein mayim bo. Shuvu l’vitzaron asirei hatikvah. (Also you, through the blood of your covenant, I will have released your prisoners from the pit in which there is no water. Return to the fortress [Jerusalem] O’ prisoners of hope!).
There it is! Hashem is letting us know! He is speaking to us. All we have to do is open our eyes, our hearts and minds and open His book, His Holy Torah. May we be zocheh to see this prophecy speedily come true, as we have seen the others, and make this year a true Simchat Torah.
Dr. Alan Mazurek is a retired neurologist, living in Great Neck, Jerusalem and Florida. He is a former chairman of the ZOA. To reach him, write: Columnist@TheJewishStar.com
