Well… THAT was a scary Shabbos.
After we ate, we went to our balcony and watched a missile attack just east of us. We gave it a good rating, since it was at night, the coolness factor went up. Then our sirens went off. Okay, we haven't had a lot, but we've had a couple. Not a big deal. Since we don't have a saferoom and we can't make the bomb-shelter within 30 seconds, we went to a hallway, which we believe is the safest. And then the missiles came in.
We're used to "booms." We get them all day. Heck! I'm listening to them as I type. These were not "booms." These were real explosions. Like you can hear things breaking up midair. And more importantly, they felt like they were right over our heads at a low altitude. And there was a good reason for this feeling: because they were. Ten missiles, all intercepted, one after another, right over us. During the attack, the entire building was shaking, and we were all expecting something to break through the roof or the windows. My nine-year-old son fell to the ground crying, I was standing there holding my breath, and my daughters, who are much holier, started saying Tehillim. I have no problem admitting that it was, objectively speaking, extremely scary (for non-manly people, of course, I was only holding my breath for the fun of it).
My oldest son was on a walk with some friends at the time when it happened and was caught in the open. They lay down during the attack and then ran for the nearest bomb shelter. He came straight home and he said, "I'll admit, I nearly started to cry." I don't blame him, some wreckage from one of the intercepts landed across the street from where they were standing.
Afterwards, we went back upstairs to let the kids talk it out. My 12-year-old was confused on why he felt okay, yet at the same time, his body was shaking, my three-year-old fell asleep, and my wife and I were left wondering: will we have another such attack tonight.
We had a few more the next morning, but nothing on such a scale.
And it made us feel better to hear that everybody else and their children had the same reaction. The next day, the streets and parks were empty. Everybody just stayed home, not knowing what was to be.
However, while what we went through could be called "traumatic," still having the kids home from school for who-knows-how-long is far more traumatic. It's giving us a very tiny taste on what our more-northern neighbors have been going through for the past year.
--
"But Yeshurun grew fat and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he forsook God who made him and belittled the Rock of his salvation" (Devarim 32:15).
In this prophecy of the future, Moshe refers to the Jewish nation as Yeshurun. The Ibn Ezra says that this name stems from the world "Yashar," which is "straight" or "righteous," which could allude to the fact that the behavior that will be shown by the Jewish nation is below the standards they should be living at.
"Yashar" also denotes honesty.
Just the other night, somebody who lives close to me, started attacking me out of nowhere, about how I leech off of society and don't do anything for the State like serve in the army. I still have no idea what triggered him. All the more so, since he knows that we work and don't "leech" off of anything. So, I asked him if he has the same feelings for the secular who don't serve either. He waved off my question, demanding an answer to his. I replied, "Let's be honest. I understand fully why a person would have issues with the religious not serving in the army. I understand where he is coming from and what his arguments are. However, if you do not have the same feelings about a larger group of people who are just as guilty, then you're not being honest." Thankfully, it closed down the argument.
(Ironically, my wife is part of several religious women helping prepare some meals for soldiers for Rosh Hashana. I wonder if he's doing something similar...)
Now, what I said is true. I DO understand his point of view. I can not only attack his position, I can also defend his position. I can do the same from the religious point of view as well. Because I try to be honest with myself when I contemplate such issues. However, I have one thing over him … a Torah perspective. And even that is not so simple. But, at least with that, I know which direction I and my family must take. And those who do join the army, with a Torah perspective? They too know which direction they must take. Why? Because in the end, it's rooted in Torah.
And that's the difference between the two of us, and this neighbor. Whether or not a person goes to the army, if it's a decision based on Torah, it's based on truth. It's Yashar. However, his "argument" is based on emotion, personal bias, and way too much television and radio.
It's important throughout the year to have this "yashrus," to be open and honest. It does not mean you have to agree to everything, but it means to admit to the truth no matter which side it comes from. A person can never grow if he cannot bear the truth.
All the more so now, with Rosh Hashana around the corner. We need to be honest and think, "Have I been doing my part in the world? Have I given Hashem reason to include me in part of His plan for the upcoming year?" If so, then great! But, if you're like most of us mortals who have what to improve on, then you need to figure out how best to correct the situation. And in order to do that requires personal honesty and a Torah perspective. When you hit the problem with these two "truths," you will be successful in your endeavors.
Have a wonderful, meaningful, and quiet Rosh Hashanah and Shabbos.