Parshas Vaera – Habaita; Coming Home

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

Baruch Atah HaShem….. matir assurim.

Blessed are you HaShem…. Who releases captives.

One of the brachos we say every morning during Shacharis.

Following the tragic day of October 7, I drew a little star in my siddur alongside the bracha of releasing captives. A reminder to have extra kavana, greater concentration when saying the blessing. To stop and think of the hostages. To try to imagine their pain, their fear. To really daven that they all return safely, in good health and spirit. Habaita, to come home.

Although a cease-fire was announced, the star remains in my siddur. It’s not time to erase it just yet. There are still many hostages waiting to come home. There are still families wondering in what condition will their loved ones return. Family members who try to squash their biggest fear… is my father/mother, my husband/wife, my son/daughter still alive.

While it is a cease-fire, and hostages will b’ezras HaShem be coming home, it is a bitter-sweet deal. Israel is paying a heavy price. In exchange for the freedom of innocent victims, Israel is once again forced to release terrorists who committed crimes against humanity. Murderers, rapists, and others who are responsible for some of the most barbaric crimes one can imagine.

We are a nation that first and foremost treasures life, and will do anything to bring the hostages home. We are also a nation that honors our fallen heroes, bringing them back for kovod acharon, their final honor of having a proper Jewish burial.

The pain and agony that the families of those killed by the terrorists being released is hard to comprehend. Seeing those who murdered their loved ones being hailed by terrorists as they return home is offensive. But it is precisely from some of these families that we can learn what true Ahavas Yisroel, love of a fellow Jew is. One such example is blogger Hillel Fuld, whose brother Ari was murdered by one of the terrorists released.

Hillel writes: “I don’t care about our disagreements. I don’t care who you voted for, or who you think should be prime minister. I don’t care what you think about how the Israeli leadership is managing the war. I will tell you one thing. Tonight, all those disagreements, all the division, it all melted away like it was never there.

Watching news anchors, religious or secular, left-wing or right-wing, all crying together and saying the blessing over freeing prisoners reminded me what we are about. We all prayed for this day. We cried for these hostages. And today, we celebrated their arrival back home….. Tonight, as those poor girls crossed over the border from Gaza to Israel, in that moment, I was reminded who we are and why we will win this…. When I am having a hard day, I will remind myself of that moment….. A supremely Jewish moment.”

The Talmud (Yevamos 79a) teaches that there are three simanim, identifying traits of Am Yisroel. Rachmonim – compassionate and merciful. Baishonim – (lit. bashful), modest. Gomlei chassodim – people of loving kindness. Traits that are part of our spiritual DNA. Passed down midor l’dor, from generation to generation, gifted to us from our patriarchs and matriarchs. Traits that give us a Yiddishe neshama, a soul that cherishes each and every life. A neshama that cries out “bring them home”. Traits that are the beauty and strength of Am Yisroel.  Traits that enable us to overcome our personal emotions in order to show that we are a nation b’yachad. A united people that is truly happy for one another. That celebrates in each other’s joy, and shares tears in times of sorrow.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson explains, that the word siman is more than just a sign or indicator. Each of these traits, the Rebbe says, injects into us inspiration and an opportunity to overcome challenges we may encounter.

After 471 days in captivity, Emily, Romi and Doron have been released. Hostages Square became filled with people showing solidarity and support. When it was announced that they were in the custody of the Red Cross, the crowd broke out in tears and cheers. Tel HaShomer hospital, where the released hostages were taken to, became another place to celebrate. Many came with signs reading “Am Yisrael loves you” as a show of support. It was as if the nation was giving them a big hug.

My mother a”h would teach that what transpires in the world around us can often be alluded to in the weekly parsha. In this week’s parsha, we find the arba l’shonos shel geulah, the four phrases of redemption from Egypt.  Four phrases of freedom from future exiles. V’hotzeisi – I will take you from the suffering. V’hitzalti – I will rescue you from the servitude. V’goalti ¬– I will redeem you with an outstretched arm (with great miracles). V’lokachti ¬– I will take you for me as a people. Just as the redemption from Egypt came in stages, so too, will future redemptions come in stages. Words of hope and healing.

This week, we experienced a “step of saving”. Three precious neshamos were redeemed from captivity. They experienced their personal v’hotzeisi, and I will take you out. We are far from the finish line, but we are a nation of believers. Anu ma’aminim bnei ma’aminim, We are believers, the sons of believers. The word Mitzrayim, Egypt, comes from the word tzor, a narrow, confining space. A feeling of being locked in, never to be liberated. There are times, I am sure, when the hostages felt trapped, that they will never get out. But HaShem is always with us, watching over us at all times.

Come seder night, we drink four cups of wine. Four cups to remind us of the four phrases of geulah, of redemption. Many have the custom to tell over at the seder an incident of a personal saving in life. Of a difficult situation that with HaShem’s help they were able to rise above.

There is yet a fifth stage in our redemption, v’heiveisi, and I will bring you to the land. It corresponds to the fifth cup, the Cup of Eliyahu HaNavi. A cup we don’t drink from, as we are still waiting for the final step of the geulah. To live in the Promised Land with peace and tranquility. For Eliyahu HaNavi to herald the coming of Moshiach. Achakeh lo, we are still waiting for him to come and fulfill the promise of v’heiveisi.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at csgertzulin@gmail.com

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l