It is really STILL z'man simchateinu?

The rain falling outside adds even more gloom to what should be an otherwise joyous Sukkot holiday.

Israeli mother and father shot dead in West Bank terror attack

Oregon gunman kills 9 is rampage

“Suddenly I heard my children scream” Mother describes rock throwing attack

Unfortunately – both in Israel and here in the US, such terrible headlines are not unheard of.  But the pain and shock are great.  The murder of Rabbi Eitam and Na’ama Henkin cuts especially deep as the story of the 4 children in the car is so horrific and many of us are familiar with Eitam’s esteemed parents, Rabbi Yehudah and Rabbanit Chana Henkin.

Since hearing the news of these murders, I have been very uneasy.  What senseless acts!  What kind of animals could do this?  Is this really z’man simchateinu, the holiday of rejoicing?

In May of 1957 fedayeen terrorists entered the village of Kfar Chabad in Israel.  They made their way to the synagogue of the local agricultural school, where the school's young students were in the midst of the evening prayers, and raked the room with fire from their rifles.  Five children and one teacher were killed and another ten children wounded.  Despair and dejection pervaded the village.  There were some who saw what happened as a sign that their dream of a peaceful life in Israel was premature.  The idea of disbanding the community was raised. The village was slowly dying.  The Chasidim sent a telegram to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York and eagerly awaited a response.

Five days later, a response via telegram came from the Rebbe.  It had just three words: “Be’hemshech ha-binyan tinacheimu - By your continued building will you be comforted.”

Jews move on.  We will continue to celebrate Sukkot and soon Simchat Torah – even with the lingering pain.  Be’hemshech ha-simcha tinacheimu – the only way to move forward is for the holiday to continue even in the shadow of such heavy sadness.

I felt this message in my kishkes this morning while leading a pre-Simchat Torah program for Ramaz Lower School students.  We were all singing and dancing with the Torahs to get into a Simchat Torah spirit.  I explained to the students that we are happy on Simchat Torah because the Torah is who we are, where we come from, and all the good things that we are trying to be.

As over 100 first and second graders stood singing Ha-mal’ach ha-goeil oti, the powerful words Jacob used to bless Efraim and Menashe, I felt the Rebbe’s response resonate.  In the aftermath of terrible tragedy, we will sing and dance and propel the Jewish future forward.

We still have much to celebrate this holiday.