Hi Reader,
If you're in Israel, you are feeling a slow roll of readjusting, rebuilding and re-centering. While there is always something somewhere brewing, we live in the space of - what is happening this moment that needs my energy? At the moment, our energy is focused on moving forward, one foot in front of the other.
The Olympics are in full swing and that has been fun to watch - all the snow and ice looks nice, while sitting in my sunglasses at an outdoor cafe in Tel Aviv. And the cafe culture, is in full swing. So many young people are out there working, networking and moving forward. The Israeli economy is as strong as ever - the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is up more than 13% in the past month and an extraordinary 175.36% over the last year! The job market is booming and startups and tech companies as well as the defense sector are having massive successes and closing mind-blowing deals. Business with Israel? With all the shade thrown at Israel, plenty of countries are happy to be on good terms and gain tremendously for their relationship with us. Just yesterday, a crude oil ship from Venezuela was sent - the first time the partnership has been active since 2020 - now that dictator Nicolas Maduro's is no longer in control.
Little bits of sunshine shed light across the nation this week. Released hostage Nimrod Cohen, one of the last to be released, announced his intent to return to IDF service - and is already currently training for his new role. Widow, Esti Ilani, whose husband Gideon hy"d fell in the war, and Dana Cohen, whose husband Aviad hy"d was killed on October 7, have become engaged. How unbelievable! Those closest to the pain, are finding light again, along with purpose and the strength to continue in Hashem's ways and in the path towards greatness - despite the pain and hardship.
With the final hostage from Gaza, Rani Gvili hy"d, laid to rest last week in Israel - thousands traveled to his hometown of Meitar to pay respects to Rani and his family. Countless stories were shared and dignitaries expressed their condolences and praise for the family - who carried the burden of waiting the longest for their son and brother to return - without losing hope.
This finality, allowed the entire country, and the Jewish Nation, to raise their collective eyes to the heavens and exhale. No more rallies. No more uncertainty. No more open-ended stories. No more begging God for their release. Because as his body crossed the border - They’re all home. 🎗️ The tape can come off. The counter can stop. I believe, I know, that many people feared in their heart of hearts that we could never get back all 251 precious souls who were so brutally stolen on the morning of Simchat Torah two and half years ago. In particular, we were perhaps close to giving up on those who had been held there for a decade! It seemed that the posters on bridges, street signs and walls with faces of Hadar Goldin hy"d and Oron Shaul hy"d were permanent reminders to those boys we've lost to our enemies. But that would not be so! From under the rubble, and under the feet of Hamas terrorists - our brave brothers and sisters in the IDF, IAF, Navy - intelligence, reconnoissance, commandos, hostage units, diplomats, Members of Knesset, members of foreign governments, secret units, police, civilian advocates, volunteers, family members, friends, all of Am Yisrael - and with the help of Hakadosh Baruch Hu (G-d) - freed them all and brought them home .... We Did It! Together. As it always should be.
Unity - It is the only way we know. At our core.
The young men from the Aish Gesher Modern Orthodox gap year program sat in the shiva tent with the Gvili family. The caption share with the video above says, "There are moments that don't ask to be shared, but must be remembered. {At the shiva visit,} we sang with his family, not to perform or inspire, but to stand shoulder to shoulder and share in their pain during a moment that will forever live in Jewish history. This is how our people survive; by refusing to let grief isolate us, or despair control us. We choose unity even when answers cannot be found and words fail to capture the moment."
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l remarks on this week's Torah Portion of Mishpatim and explains the famous phrase "Na'aseh v'Nishma" - we will do and we will hear. The ancient interpretation from the Talmud highlights the excited acceptance the Jewish people were willing to do for Hashem, "We will do whatever God commands of us." According to Rashi as well, they hadn't even heard the commandments but agreed to them before they knew what they were accepting. However other commentators, read it as "we will do, and we will obey." They heard the commandments and agreed to follow in the ways He commands. In modern times, the interpretation has been, "We will do and then we will understand." First we will do something, and then we will know what it means and understand it. You can only truly understand an experience - once you have lived it. For example, marriage or even perhaps living in Israel - you can only truly understand the experience once you have lived it. Finally, Rabbi Sacks offers a new imterpretation, "We will do - as a collective voice, and then we will hear - internalize and experience and feel the word of God spiritually, each in our own way." That is the fabric of the Jewish people. There are halachot - laws, actions, practices - the Torah and its commandments til this day are accepted through consensus and normative approach. But for all time, Jews seek the personal connection to God - the mitzvot, spirituality and faith differently - there have been priests and prophets, rationalists and mystics, Tanach is said through multiple voices - Isaiah, Ezekiel, Esther, Ruth, Amos and Uziah. We experience God in various ways - through nature, emotions, joy, song, justice, study or prayer. All in our own ways - such as how King David, Albert Einstein, Rav Kook, Rav Soloveitchik, The Lubavitcher Rebbe and each of us in 2026. There are many ways of hearing the beautiful holy Voice of God that called out to us on Mount Sinai - where all Jews stood together. How small we each are, but how great the universe is that was given to us to glorify Hashem's name - the Jewish people are incredible - in our differences even more so. We have seen that in every story, video, post and article. We are not going anywhere. Our nation lives. This is what this community and my mission is and always has been and will continue to be.
Below are the photos and videos I shared in our WhatsApp groups over the past week - small flashes of light, strength, and normalcy. Enjoy the highlights, and keep sending the good news my way. What makes you smile will make someone else smile too - so spread the smiles to others.
Significant archaeological project completed this week:
Underneath the Western Wall Plaza - A Remnant of What Once Was
A stone capital of an ancient column that held up the Stoa at the southern end of the Har HaBayit/Temple Mount is on display at the excavation site below the Kotel plaza.