It’s the beginning.
We start the Torah anew.
And in the very first words we get a description of what is happening to us right now.
When Gd created the world it was “astonishingly empty, with darkness upon the surface of the deep”.
This week we have learned the most horrific definition of emptiness and darkness.
The black hole created by the bestial actions of our enemy is beyond comprehension.
Then “Gd said, Let there be light, and Gd saw the light was good”.
In these horrendous times when darkness would seem to prevail, there have been myriads of stories of light filled actions.
I want to share some with you because even a little bit of light can chase away a great deal of darkness.
Today was the funeral of Dekel Swissa. Those of you who attended the rally this week heard a little about him.
Dekel was an Atlanta Shinshin , a gap year student, (Shinshin stands for Shnat Sherut), who performed a year of community service here in Atlanta, before entering the Israeli army.
One of the families who hosted Dekel were my next door neighbors. Through their hospitality, we were truly privileged to get to know this exceptional young man. He was warm, friendly, kind, humble and wise beyond his years. I was looking forward to seeing the incredible mark Dekel was going to make on this world, but his life was tragically cut short at the age of 23.
He left us too young.
But a mark he did make.
He was the commander of his platoon, and his men (little boys of 19 or so who should not have to engage in life threatening gun battles) told Dekel’s parents that when the fighting began he ordered them into a safe room and took on the terrorists himself, killing dozens until he was overcome.
The soldiers told the parents that he saved all their lives.
A Rabbi who lost his son this week on the battlefield said something so profound.
His son was killed at 33, also much too young.
But his bravery also saved the lives of many, and the Rabbi realized that his son did not just achieve 33 years, rather he achieved eternity in the accumulation of all the years of the people and their descendants who will come forth from the lives he was able to save.
Dekel was only 23, but in his selfless actions he will live on for countless years to come.
He also left us his mantra
“Start every day with a smile”
And when we start our day with a smile, let us do so with this brave and kind young man in mind and honor Dekel’s memory.

You may have heard about some of the many incredible acts of loving kindness that are taking place all around the country.
People are bringing endless amounts of supplies and food to the soldiers in the field.
An anonymous individual purchased 260 airline tickets for Israelis who wanted to return to Israel to join their units.
Two people arranged for a luxury hotel in Jerusalem to host 160 families displaced by the fighting and when these families arrived at the hotel the lobby was packed with clothing and toys and food for the taking.
Who is like you, people of Israel?
One of the items that the soldiers are requesting are tzizit, the ritual garment with strings.
Why the sudden urge for Tzitzit?
There are many stories of protection that are associated with the garment and it’s considered a spiritual armor if you will.
Here is a case in point that just happened.
An IDF lieutenant heard about the terrorist incursion, without changing out of his civilian clothes and without hesitation, he jumped in his car and drove south to help. Upon arriving on the scene he was immediately involved in a gunfight and shot 5 terrorists. Shortly after he was attacked and the car he was in went off the road and he was left injured, lying amongst tens of dead terrorists. When the IDF arrived on the scene they thought he was a terrorist too and he was too weak from loss of blood to cry out and explain. All of a sudden one of the soldiers said,
“Don’t shoot, He’s one of us, he’s wearing tzitzit”
Lt Colonel Guy Madar brought so much light to the world with his bravery and selflessness as he drove alone into the danger, and he was saved by his tzitzit.
There is a commander of a unit whose men do not have enough protective gear. He refuses to wear any until each and every soldier in his command receives the necessary equipment first.
Mi KAmcha Yisroel?
Who is like your nation Israel?
Have you heard of Rachel Edri?
She is the audacious woman who, when accosted by 5 terrorists in her home, was able to neutralize them by offering them food. She told one of them that he looks pale and probably hasn’t eaten and she plied them with cookies which they ate ravenously.
That delaying tactic most likely saved her life because the army showed up soon after and was able to neutralize the terrorists properly.
I would like to share with you the message that Rachel Edri is promoting on social media.
She said that Shabbat is coming, and every woman has access to a weapon.
A spiritual weapon.
In Hebrew, the word for weapon is neshek.
The acronym of those letters is
Neirot Shabbat Kodesh.
This plucky woman who talked her way out of a nightmare, implores in her video, that we take this opportunity to light Shabbat candles this week, to access a spiritual arsenal which will bring only more light, and dispel the darkness.
Interesting that she too invokes the power of a smile and says even if terrorists enter your home, smile at them, it can save your life.
(She even shares her lifesaving cookie recipe at the end of the video. She is my hero)
Many, many people have been grappling with the paucity of actions we can do at this difficult time.
We desperately want to DO something.
We are not on the front lines and most of us are not even in Israel, but we can do a lot.
We have a weapon at our disposal.
We can bring positive spiritual energy into the world, we can bring light.
Lighting the Shabbat candles this coming Friday night will bring a lot of light into the world.
Our enemy brings darkness into the world.
We bring light.
They take life.
We give it!
Let us look for the light giving opportunities around us and may those actions be the spiritual light, which will create merits which we pray will protect our precious soldiers and those who have been abducted into the darkest of places. May they be rescued speedily.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!