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Moadim L’Simcha,
Minutes ago I attended a Brit Milah for one of our congregant's grandsons, a special blessing during Chol HaMoed Passover! There is an interesting connection between the Brit Milah (a ceremony traditionally held in homes) and the holiday of Passover: on both occasions, we welcome Elijah the Prophet into our homes. Toward the end of the Seder, we open the door, hoping that deliverance will finally come.
This year, post-October 7, many of us had empty chairs at our table representing the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, and still being held in captivity as of Passover this year (over six months). As I opened the door for Elijah, I prayed that the families of the hostages' doors would open soon with their loved ones returning home.
At the Brit Milah, the Mohel said that when a baby cries, the gates of heaven open. As soon as the baby started crying, the Mohel said the Misheberach (special prayer) for the soldiers of the IDF fighting to protect Israel and rescue the hostages. It was as if he was timing the prayer for the exact moment when it would reach the Holy Blessed One’s heavenly throne.
Hope came to Jon and Rachel Polin over Passover when they saw their son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, in a propaganda video published by Hamas for the first time since he was captured. During their first interview after the video was released, Hersh’s parents said, “Until yesterday, we didn’t know he was alive. We hoped he was, but we didn’t know. We’ve been working to bring Hersh home for 200 days, and after yesterday, we feel even more strongly that we can’t stop now, we have to continue.”
In the Shabbat preceding Passover, we read the words from the prophet Micah, who said that Elijah “shall return the hearts of parents to children and children to their parents.” The term ‘return the hearts’ is usually translated as reconcile, to bring generations who are in conflict together. But this year, I hope and pray that the hostages, with beating and healthy hearts, will be returned to their children and parents.
I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha,
Happy Pesach,
Rabbi David Baum
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