If you live in New York City it’s almost inevitable.
You might get mugged.
Years ago, my sister was walking to school one day and it happened to her.
They actually called it a “chain snatching”.
The perpetrator saw the gold necklace around her throat, lunged, and ripped it off her.
As you can imagine, my sister was traumatized.
She was attacked - which was very frightening.
She lost a gold necklace that our Father obm had given her.
She was sad to lose a piece of precious gold jewelry.
But to add insult to injury, it was the loss of something meaningful and sentimental to her, because it was a gift from our Dad.
Sometimes the value of a piece of jewelry is multiplied due to the emotional relationship it evokes.
This week’s Torah portion is a double one, Vayakhel and Pekudei. In these two portions the word “woman” appears more than in any other Torah portions.
For example, when describing how the people were asked to donate their jewelry and precious metals to build the Tabernacle and its accouterments, the verse says
“The men came with the women”
The Hebrew word “al” is not exactly translated as “with”, it really means “on”.
So Rashi, the commentary, explains that the men came with their precious goods, leaning on the women. They were spurred to action by the women’s example of open hearted, generous giving which was done with alacrity.
The men made their contributions as they were inspired by their womenfolk. Another commentary, the Ohr HaChaim, explains the words “on the women” literally.
He explains that the women came to Moses with their jewelry still on them, to show the value of their gifts. Their donation was doubly valuable as they contained the monetary value of the item,coupled with the emotional attachment they evoked. That’s why they came wearing the baubles. This was an action to show how meaningful each piece was, something of deep sentimental value, yet they were eagerly ready to part with that piece of jewelry in the service of Gd.
The gift was all the more important because each piece of jewelry meant something very dear to that woman.
The book of Exodus is coming to a close and as the Jewish people have experienced the journey of a family becoming a nation, a nation experiencing exile and arriving at redemption and culminating in the receipt of the Ten Commandments. Through it all, the influence of the women in the story is clear.
It is Miriam, Shifra and Puah, and all the righteous women who led with their belief and tambourines in hand in the midst of unimaginable adversity.
It is the women who sustained the Jewish people.
This is indicated by the repetition of the word “woman” in the verses.
In fact the Talmud states that it was in the merit of the righteous women that the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt.
That is a powerful statement!
But the Talmud is not finished.
The Sages continue by stating that it will BE in the merit of the women that we will ultimately be redeemed.
That’s a huge responsibility.
A heavy chain or albatross to be borne.
Yet, we are surrounded by amazing women who clearly have the capacity to help us transcend and make this statement a truth.
Israel is being rocked by challenges right now. There is deep internecine strife as Israeli politics are tearing at the fabric of society.
The media calls it a war amongst brothers.
I heard an Israeli commentator say, you would never hear this situation being called a war amongst sisters, because women can disagree and love each other wholeheartedly at the same time.
I must share with you the words of a “regular” woman who has recently been thrust into the limelight very much against her will.
Devory Palai is the mother of the two little boys who were killed a month ago in a terrorist attack. She uplifted the nation with her calm demeanor and deep faith in the ensuing days. In the weeks following the attack she celebrated her 40th birthday and asked for a present.
What gift did she request?
She did not choose a gold necklace, but rather a necklace of connection.
Devory was so moved by the outpouring of support she received from many women during her tragedy. And she noted that these women came from all walks of society, they ran the gamut of those who are most outwardly religious to those who call themselves completely secular.
They were all one in support of their Jewish sister in pain.
So for her birthday she asked to have 40 meetings with women of diverse backgrounds.
Not only did 40 women reply, thousands replied, they were so moved by her call to connection.
When asked why she chose this as her mission, Devory responded that she didn’t want her children’s deaths to be in vain. She felt that creating unity in the Jewish people is at the crux of healing the rifts and creating a peaceful future.
What a breathtaking vision.
This kind of attitude is truly what will repair the Jewish people and can pave the way for a complete redemption.
When you live in NYC it may seem inevitable that something bad may happen to you on the city streets.
When you live in Israel, the probability of some tragedy may unfortunately come one’s way.
But the Jewish women remain undaunted.
We recognize that in the face of challenge we must link arms to create an enduring chain which will fortify us and allow us to forge ahead.
That kind of eternal necklace cannot be broken nor ever snatched away.
May we merit the redemption speedily in our time and may we experience no further pain or loss.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!