Parashat Bereshit: Hostage Release – Seeing Hashem’s Hand in Our Times

Parashat Bereshit_ Hostage Release – Seeing Hashem’s Hand in Our Times Transcript.pdf

Download PDF • 179KB

Good evening, everyone.A very healthy winter to each one of you. I'm sending you this message from New York, trying to give you some food for thought as we are going to start Sefer Bereishit.And of course, I'm sending you this, Rav Shlomo ben HRav Yitzchak.

The First Rashi of the Torah – Why Begin with Creation?

Rashi asks: Why does the Torah start off recounting the story of creation?We have no understanding whatsoever of all that took place at that time — one day, two days, the third day.What is a “day”? We know that a day is not a 24-hour day as we understand it. A day for Hashem is like a thousand years.

So Rashi asks: why begin with creation — describing how Hashem created the world from nothing (yesh me’ayin) using the four elements of esh, ruach, afar, and mayim (fire, wind, earth, and water)?Why recount things we cannot comprehend?

The Purpose of Creation in the Torah

Rashi explains something beautiful:The Torah should have started with mitzvot — with how to act and live — because “lo ha-limud ikkar, ela ha-ma’aseh” — the essence of life is not study but action.Still, Hashem begins with creation “mishum koach ma’asav higid le’amo” — to show His people His power and greatness — “latet lahem nachalat goyim”, to give them the inheritance of nations.

If the nations say, “Free Palestine! The land is ours!” we answer:“LaHashem ha’aretz u’melo’ah” — the entire earth belongs to Hashem. He decides who shall receive each part.

Faith Amid the Nations’ Claims

But the question remains: do they listen? What is Rashi teaching us here?We are living through historic times. On Hoshana Rabbah, we witnessed tremendous miracles.We prayed to see miracles, but did we truly believe, deep down, that twenty young men could emerge alive after years of torture and captivity — and still show such emunah, such faith?

They said:

“What kept us alive was talking to Hashem. We would pray three times a day, say Shema Yisrael many times. We felt the energy of all the tefillot being said for us around the world.”

Miracles and Emunah — How Do They Change Us?

When a person sees miracles, he cannot just go on as before.A miracle must transform the heart. Hashem speaks to us through miracles.

The word “nes” (miracle) shares its root with “nisayon” (challenge), but it also means a flag — something lifted high to guide us.Hashem sends nissim to say, “I want you nearer to Me.”Because “ein od milvado” — there is no power besides Hashem.

Hoshana Rabbah and the Message of the Aravah

On Hoshana Rabbah, the final day of Sukkot before Shemini Atzeret, Hashem says:

“Stay one more day — kasha alai preidatchem — it is hard for Me to see you go.”

Why do we connect through the aravah (willow) — the simplest of the arba minim?The aravah has no taste or smell; its only quality is that it thrives in water, and “ein mayim ela Torah.”It symbolizes humility and prayer — the lips that cry out to Hashem.

Chazal say the aravot represent Moshe and Aharon, both paragons of humility — anav mikol adam.On this final day of judgment, we say to Hashem:

“We come with nothing but humility and prayer. Let us grow, just as the willow spreads its roots in water.”

Lessons from Sefer Bereishit – Sefer HaYashar

Now we begin Sefer Bereishit, the Book of the Upright, which teaches yosher (righteousness).The Ramban says the Torah is not only law — it is education.Before the mitzvot, we learn from the Avot — Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov — through their midot: chesed, emet, and yashrut.That is why Bereishit teaches us behavior before commandments: derech eretz kadmah laTorah.

Every Letter of the Torah Matters

The Ramban adds:If even one letter is missing in the Torah scroll, it is pasul (invalid). Why? Because every letter is part of Hashem’s Name.Histakel b’Orayta u’bara alma — Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world.

There are 600,000 letters in the Torah, corresponding to the 600,000 Jews at Har Sinai.Each Jew is a letter — a spark of divinity in this world.

Rashi’s Message Revisited – Hashem Decides

Rashi reminds us:If the nations say, “You took the land,” we respond:Hashem created the world. Hashem decides.

The message of koach ma’asav higid le’amo is that every world event is Hashem speaking to us:

“Remember, I am the One who creates. I am the One who decides.”

It’s not about politicians or the UN — “ein od milvado.”And therefore, “lo ha-limud ikkar, ela ha-ma’aseh” — not study but action is what counts.

Adam HaRishon and the Purpose of Creation

Adam HaRishon gave names to all creatures — understanding their essence and purpose.His role was le’ovdah u’leshomrah — to serve Hashem and guard the world through prayer.

But the sin of the Etz HaDa’at changed everything.Before the sin, good and evil were clear. After eating, the distinction blurred.Chava saw the tree was tov le’ma’achal and ta’avah la’einayim — desirable — and she fell to temptation.The yetzer hara whispered: “If it exists, why shouldn’t I enjoy it?”

Teshuvah and Hashem’s Mercy

When Adam and Chava sinned, Hashem still made them kotnot or — garments of skin — to cover and protect them.Even after failure, Hashem gave them the power of teshuvah.

“Everything was created for you,” Hashem says. “It’s up to you to make the right choices.”

The World’s Purpose – To Reveal Hashem

The Baal HaTurim notes that the word behibaram (“when they were created”) hints to Avraham — showing that the world was created for Avraham Avinu, who proclaimed ein od milvado.

That is the purpose of creation.

Seeing Hashem’s Hand in the Hostage Release

In our own time, we have seen tremendous miracles — including the hostage release.These are not random events; they are messages from Hashem reminding us:Ein od milvado.Every detail is orchestrated by HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

We must respond with faith and action — koach ma’asav higid le’amo — to recognize His power and act upon His will.And through that, may we merit the Geulah bimhera beYamenu, Amen.

A True Story from Bnei Brak – “Tzedakah Tatzil Mimavet”

A man in Bnei Brak shared an incredible story.One morning before kollel began, he stepped out through the back door — something he never did.A woman stopped him, pleading:

“Please, you must help me! I have nothing.”

Moved, he went back inside, took a coffee cup, and began collecting coins, saying:“Tzedakah tatzil mimavet — charity saves from death.”

When he returned, the woman was gone.Moments later, he received a call from his son in Yerushalayim — hysterical.

“Someone was just shot next to me! My friend Rabbi Pash was killed!”

It was during the Ramot terror attack.The exact minute his son was spared was the same moment the father was collecting tzedakah.

The Power of Every Challenge

This story teaches: every interruption, every challenge is an opportunity from Hashem — a chance to do good, to become better.May we always see Hashem’s hand in our lives and use every moment for kindness, growth, and mitzvot.

Wishing you a wonderful, uplifting Shabbos — with love from New York.