In September 1970, several airplanes were hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and redirected to an airstrip in Jordan, where the passengers were held captives. While most of the non-Jewish passengers were released after a few days, all the Jewish passengers were separated and held for several weeks longer. The most famous hostage was Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, one of the Sages of the generation.
Around the world, the Jewish people mobilized to work for their safe release and, of course, to pray for their safety and freedom. At one point during their captivity, after they had already been held for several days, Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz addressed a prayer gathering in Jerusalem where he delivered an address.
He focused on the story told in the Talmud of the scene that occurred at the burial of our Patriarch Jacob.
When the mourners arrived at M'aras Hamachpeilah, the burial site, Eisav, Jacob’s brother, came to intercept them, insisting that the last remaining plot in the cave -- which is where they were going to bury Jacob-- should in fact be his. They explained that Esav had sold the plot to Jacob, and when Esav demanded proof, Naftali, one of Jacob’s sons, returned to Egypt to retrieve the documentation.
As they waited for Naftali to return, Chushim, a grandson of Jacob, asked why they were not burying Jacob right away. Chushim was deaf and had not heard any of the conversation. When they explained what was happening, Chushim said, "And while Naftali goes back and forth to Egypt , should my grandfather lie in a state of indignity?" He took out a stick, struck Esav over the head and killed him, after which Jacob could be buried without incident.
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz posed a question: why was it only Chushim who possessed such indignation at the delay in the holy Jacob’s burial? Why did nobody else feel and react the same way to the travesty of justice the evil Esau was promoting?
The answer, he explained, is that everyone had gotten used to the situation. They heard the discussion and participated in the back-and-forth. The state of affairs had developed slowly and the shock and instinctive objection to the mistreatment of Jacob had gradually worn off. But Chushim was hearing of it for the first time; his reaction was genuine and fresh. His sensitivity remained sharp, while everyone else's had dulled.
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz then addressed his gathering: I sense, he said, that we have become like everyone else at Me'aras Hamachpeilah. A week ago, we were shocked by the news of the hostages. But now, we have become used to it. Now, somehow, I sense that our prayers are less urgent. We have come to accept the status quo. But we cannot, we dare not, become unfeeling. We have to be like Chushim; we need to keep our sense of urgency and outrage intact.
I do not think our own sadness, grief and confusion has dissipated much since we began to absorb what befell our people on October 7. And I do not think any of our sensitivity to the plight of our hostages and the danger to our soldiers and the risk to the country has yet dulled.
But while we hope for a miracles to happen tomorrow, it is also possible that difficult days still lay ahead, and they may stretch ahead of us for some time. And it is only natural that a part of us comes to accept this new reality; it is only natural that our prayers might become less urgent, our drive to grow and change might become less strong, our energy to help and volunteer and speak out and advocate might become less powerful. It is only human nature to get used to things on some level.

But we cannot.
We dare not accept this as a new reality.
We dare not release the push on our spiritual pedal that has animated all of us in these past few days.
We dare not stop reaching out to support, or say our Tehilim with less intensity , or stop giving to support those needs that remain so acute.
We must be like Chushim; we must continue to commit ourselves, every day, to our brothers and sisters, to the Land of Israel, to being part of our national effort of prayer, of chessed and towards safety and peace for all of the Jewish people.
The above words were forwarded to me and were adapted slightly.
They are meaningful and timely.
This week’s Torah portion is Lech Lecha. It is the command that Gd gave to our forefather Abraham to leave all he was familiar with and embark on a journey.
Abraham was given ten tests in his lifetime. The tests were opportunities for him to actualize his potential. In order to be the source of light and inspiration Abraham would become for his descendants and for the world, Abraham needed to squeeze out every bit of his spiritual potential.
There is much discussion about the tests, and which were the hardest.
In fact not all the tests are even recorded in the Torah. The one prior to the test of Lech Lecha involved Abraham being willing to die in a fiery furnace rather than giving up his faith in Gd.
(For more details please reach out to your local Jwcatlanta educator). Suffice to say, he was willing to die for the sanctification of Gd’s name.
But that trial is not recorded in the Torah and Lech Lecha is.
Rabbi Leib Steinman ztzl teaches us that while dying for Gd’s name is terrifying, LIVING for Gd’s name is actually harder.
The journey is hard, long, intense and interminable.
One needs to find determination, to keep on going, day after day, and keep the eye on the ball.
It’s hard not to get lost.
We have seen so many heartbreaking scenes this past days. And we have heard the heartrending cries of the families of the hostages.
We must not falter.
We must stay determined.
When I heard Rachel Goldberg’s speech before the United Nations, I couldn’t believe another Jewish mother has to beg for the release of her son from the hands of barbarians.
I was so moved by her courage and her determination.
She has within her the DNA of her forefather Abraham who passed on the capacity to go on the long journey.
It was a test he passed and he willed that capacity to us.
We all need to hold on to the determination, to the Abraham within.
May our prayers for peace be answered.
May our brave soldiers return home safe and unharmed.
May the hostages be released immediately to the arms of their family and friends.
Rachel Goldberg explained that on Friday night she went onto her balcony and raised her arms to bless her son Hersh, with the Friday night blessing that parents bestow on their children.
She’s not giving up.
Neither can we.
We are heading to the Bar Mitzva of our grandson this Shabbat. There are so many mixed emotions.
But the heart has many chambers and we have to hold onto the joy as well. It’s part of the determination we the Jewish people must continue to experience.
May we share good news!
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!