The school year is almost over. It was a strange one. Strange in that I still went about my daily routine and taught my preschool students. Strange that I still go about my life, B”H, almost normally, with errands and exercise and the blessed little things that are really big ones indeed. Strange that I continue to do all this while we are almost two years into the nightmare of October 7th. We take care of our families and friends, make Shabbos, plan birthdays and simchas while praying constantly for our brothers and sisters who are held hostage, as our other brothers and sisters risk their lives to fight and protect and uphold all that is Good and Pure. And we pray still.

Atem Nitzavim HaYom; we are finally at war with Iran. This is the country we have been hollering about for how many years now—who wants to wipe us off not just from the map but from the world. If you read the news—and who isn’t—they are really doing a great job of being the big bad bully. If only it were that simple. They have been counting down to this day with a big doomsday clock in Palestine Square plaza in Tehran since 2017 (Times of Israel Blog: “As a lion rising – a last-minute historical strike”), except we beat them to it before their predicted time. Thank you note, please, from the world at large.

This past Sunday, June 15, after hearing what happened on Shabbos in Eretz Yisroel, reading about the countless sirens that went off Friday night, and then seeing the pictures of the different explosions in Iran and Israel, a passuk that I learned in high school (shout-out to my 11th grade Navi teacher in Bais Yaakov) from the prophet Ovadia popped into my head.

(1:18) V’Haya Beis Yaakov Eish U’Beis Yosef Lehava U’Beis Eisav L’kash. The House of Jacob will be fire, the House of Joseph a flame, and the House of Esau for straw.

The rest of the verse goes as follows: V’Dalku Bahem V’achalum V’Lo Yihye Sarid L’Veis Eisav Ki Hashem Diber. They will ignite them and devour them. There will be no survivor to the House of Esau, for Hashem has spoken. I encourage you to read the remainder of the chapter. It is quite telling and uplifting. Interestingly, there is only one chapter of Ovadiah. This Navi was from the nation of Edom and he converted to Judaism (Chabad.org: “Who was the Prophet Obadiah”). His story is fascinating, as well as why he was specifically chosen to give prophecy that speaks of the end of days that uncannily sounds like what is happening now.

I thank my mother for the Bais Yaakov education she afforded me; however, I don’t claim to be a scholar. I will not attempt to explain this passuk or perek. I just share this with you in the hope that it gives you encouragement the way it did for me. It is with this thought process that I went to work today, on the second-to-last day of school, with all the pictures and news tidbits, WhatsApp posts and people’s conversations that are swirling about me. It is amazing to internalize all this input. This includes the picture of the rescue worker who found a 4-day-old baby, ALIVE, and then later reunited with his mother! Then there are the stories of people who are stranded in Europe and helping each other via WhatsApp chats. There are reports of the food that is being arranged by the regular Israeli “Joe” for soldiers who have to report ASAP—that normally the army provides but in this crisis situation could not—and how people shaved off their Shabbos food to give and give and give. Zoom art classes and fun activities once again resume in effort to occupy children. The learning and singing (!) that goes on while people are waiting in the bomb shelter is incredible to watch. The seminaries that are still taking care of their girls and trying to give them some sort of structure is much appreciated. It is amazing to comprehend the strength of our people. Resiliency is not a strong enough word to portray this. The adjective “Survival” is but a drop in the bucket as to what is a more powerful one to use for a writer like myself. Hope? That is a word that is entrenched in our DNA that we practically take for granted—and we should not. It behooves you to read Mark Twain’s essay entitled “Concerning the Jew.”

I would like to add more adjectives and verbs that describe who we are and answer Twain’s question of why we’re still around. Here’s the list: Creative Resourcefulness. Unwavering Spirit. Indefatigable. A Nation of Action. Empathic Energy. Galvanize. Holy. Joy. Ultimately, it is the fact that we are G-d’s Chosen and emulate His ways that is cause for this list. It is these thoughts that helped me this morning on my way to work.

I walked into my room today a bit wobbly. The end of the year is hard for me during a typical year because I hate goodbyes. The current news certainly didn’t help. Did I mention it was raining? Preschoolers and rain are not a good mix. Ok, we’ll deal. I made it this far and I can push through on the last Monday of the year! I asked the children who knew what was happening in Eretz Yisroel. More hands were raised since I last asked on Friday. I did not elaborate to the others who did not know. We started our day with davening and completed it with Acheinu. I put in a Morah request that we daven with a little more kavana. I was not disappointed. It dawned on me that their five-year-old counterparts on the other side of the world are doing the same thing—however, it is in their homes and with the sounds of sirens and explosions in the background. I tried to hold back the tears. I was not successful. Neither was my assistant. The boys sang over and over as I held my breath and then finished with them, barely making it through the Ani Ma’amin.

At this point in the year, I always focus on Tefilah and why we daven facing Mizrach. This segues into a discussion, previously had, about the Beis HaMikdash and how our tefillos are like the korbonos, which of course moves onto what will happen when Mashiach comes.

Every year, without failure, the boys are riveted. And I finally realized why later at lunch. As I’m about to leave for the day, one of my students comes up to me and tells me, “Morah, I really felt like we were going to the Beis HaMikdash today!” Indeed, the boys were discussing what airports they would travel from and if they would see their cousins.

Children by nature have Imagination. Some harness it more than others, but they all have it and can readily picture the stories and lessons you tell them. It is the Koach HaDimyon, which Gedolim instructed us to employ by Pesach and Magid when we relive the Yetzias Mitzrayim. This goes hand in hand with their innate ability of Emunah. I am privy to hear this constantly. For some reason, these philosophical statements most often occur at snack or lunchtimes. “Hashem can do anything!” Munch munch.

I’ll take some of what he’s having, please—and imbue that with my own tefillos and tears. Won’t you?

It sure beats the rain.