Simchah Torah, Oct 7, 2023
One of the most powerful spiritual weapons we have at our disposal is Joy - Simchah
“I’ve had many life experiences, never one like I’m having today.” Those were the first words I shared with the congregation at Beth Emunah Messianic Synagogue in Agoura Hills yesterday.
That morning, the distressing news reached me: Israel was under attack, the intensity of which paralleled the Yom Kippur War of 1973, almost 50 years prior. As I tried to grasp the full scope of this onslaught, I accessed X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. What I saw was heart-wrenching:
Stark images of innocent civilians struck down and left abandoned on roadsides, murdered.
Video of a young woman kidnapped at gunpoint bloodied and beaten by Hamas militants.
During a rave in southern Israel near Gaza, young attendees were thrown into panic as Hamas terrorists suddenly descended upon them using paragliders. I watched in disbelief as the terrified youth fled, fearing for their lives. The headlines from CCN on the surprise attack, ‘Like a shooting range.’
How could I find the words to express joy amidst the backdrop of indescribable atrocities? What you are about to hear and watch below is the moment when HaShem gave me the strength and the words to speak on this historic day.
Thank you to all of you who were praying for me. I literally felt your prayers.
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. - Isaiah 2:4
May it be so, and soon.
