We were exiled from our homeland over 2,000 years ago. So what? Why is that such a challenge that we hope and pray multiple times a day that we return to the land of Israel? It would seem that after much pain and persecution, we've finally managed to build a life for ourselves in our newly adopted countries, so why does the focus remain on our dispersion across the world?
The answer lies in this week's double Torah portion, Behar-Bechukosai. There, we learn about the calamity that will befall us if we fail to heed G-d's word. One of the eventual consequences is that we will be exiled and subsequently cause each other to stumble. You might ask about the connection between these two outcomes. The Sifra commentary gives a simple answer: we, the Jewish people, are collectively responsible for each other, and therefore, when we're exiled and spread apart, we can no longer support each other, and thus, when we stumble, no one is there to catch us and break our fall.
This lack of cohesion because of our physical distance from one community, one person to the next, threatens our survival as it increases the difficulty of supporting each other. That is why our return and reunification in Israel are so essential to our people, so we can once again provide the support each of us needs to rise above the difficulty and the darkness of the day and shine our light across the globe.
We hope and pray that day comes now, but until it does, rest assured, Chabad Centers worldwide will do everything we can to keep us connected and support each other in any way we can.
Yesterday, the darkness of our world reared its ugly face once again, taking the lives of two special souls, Yaron and Sarah. In these moments, we may feel angry, frustrated, and fearful, but let us remember that no evil can ever destroy our spirit when we stick together. They can try to pick us apart, but as these two luminaries showed through the life they led, we will never stop living, never stop loving, and never stop shining. Tonight, we light Shabbat candles across the globe and commit to connecting and supporting each other more than ever before.
Mission: Light your candles tonight, and hold them high. Then, resolve to connect and support your Jewish family wherever you are. What can you do to strengthen your community?