We find ourselves glued to the news, waiting with bated breath, hoping and praying for military success and the obliteration of the Iranian regime whose stated principle is the destruction of Israel and annihilation of our people. But we find ourselves thousands of miles away; what can we do to help?
The answer lies in this week's Torah portion Behaaloscha. There, we learn about the Mitzvah of "Second Passover." A year after the Exodus from Egypt, Moses is confronted by a group of people who missed the opportunity to bring the Passover sacrifice on Passover evening. They lament their misfortune and ask for a second chance to get this once-a-year offering. Moshe, in turn, asks Hashem and is introduced to a new tradition, known as the "second Passover," to be held thirty days after the first one, on which anyone who missed bringing the sacrifice is afforded a second chance.
A closer examination of the dialogue reveals that G-d's response extended beyond Moshe's request. Moses asked for a second chance for ritually impure people, a condition often due to no fault of his own. Understandably, these people might deserve another crack at this Mitzvah. But G-d extends the opportunity to those who took a trip away from the camp and, with poor planning, missed Passover. You might think these people were far away and therefore forfeited the chance to support their people and experience Passover at the Temple. You'd be wrong. Though you may have been far physically, you are and always will be inextricably connected to your people, so here's a second chance to reconnect with them.
For many of us, we love Israel but can often feel disconnected from what is transpiring halfway around the globe. Perhaps in the past, we neglected to fully support our homeland. No matter what our previous behaviors, even if we allowed ourselves to become far emotionally and intellectually from Israel, we are still united with each other and with our homeland. Today, we are being given a second chance to show our love for our Holyland by doing an extra Mitzvah, saying a prayer, and advocating for our brothers and sisters. Now, we have a second chance to be strong, proud, and bright as we redouble our efforts to banish darkness and illuminate our world.
G-d is telling us that distance doesn't matter; no matter how far you've been, it's time for you to come back home. Your people and your homeland need you now. We're one; together, we will overcome this evil just as we've done so many times before.