TERUMAH TERUMAH 5784 5784
The Challenge of Life The Challenge Life
Rabbi Andrew Shaw Rabbi Andrew Shaw ChiefExecutive, MizrachiUK
Picking up someone from the airport is not an exact science. However, normally you want to be waiting for them to come out about 45 minutes after they have landed (if they have luggage to pick up!). Then you have to add how long it will take to drive to Heathrow.
In the olden days you normally left about forty five minutes from North West London or one hour to be safe. Sometimes you would be on time, sometimes very early or occasionally, if there was particularly bad traffic, you would be late. Nowadays with Waze, it is much easier to work out when you need to leave home
So, this week, when working out when to leave to pick up my wife with my son, I checked Waze and saw that it would take just thirty-five minutes from Edgware to Heathrow
We set off, expecting no delays on our way As Waze predicted, there were not
However, about six miles from Heathrow we saw it on the other side of the motorway.
There had been a horrific accident involving three cars and a truck and the place was swarming with police and fire engines. Not surprisingly the traffic had been stopped and as we drove further, all we could see on the other side was standstill traffic for miles.
I turned to my son and said to him, there is no way we are driving back this way. We picked up my wife on time and we got back to the car. I then turned on Waze for the journey home, and not surprisingly the M25 route home, had now increased with a 32 min jam to over 1hr. However, of the routes suggested by Waze, it was still the quickest route
I really didn’t want to go that way home, I knew the horrendous traffic we would encounter, yet I also knew that it was the best way to go.
So M25 it was. The journey home did take over and hour, but as we sat in that traffic, I reflected on the lesson that this episode taught me
There are times in life when we know what we are about to go through it going to be painful, yet at the same time we know it is the best thing for us and we have to do it.
How many times since October 7th have we heard story after story of soldiers that
accentuates this concept?
Rabbi Pini Dunner illustrates this idea with a beautiful story from his mission to Israel Onthefinalnightofourmission, wearrangedabarbecueforsoldiersattheIDF baseinHebron, acityplaguedbyextremismandradicalIslamists Wefedover500 soldiers – boysandgirls, someofthemfreshbackfromcombatmissions, infull combatgear Asthebarbecuecametoanend, wehadasurpriseforthem – Israeli singingsensationIshayRiborolledinwithhisbandandsoundteamandthey performed Butastheconcertgotunderway, Iwasn’twatchingIshayserenadingthe audiencewithhisrichrepertoireoftendersongs. Instead, Iwaswatchingthe audience, withtearsinmyeyes IwatchedthefreshsmilingfacesofIsrael’snext generation, braveheroesswayingtothemusic, voicesraisedinachorusofmelody. Minutesearlier, thebasecommanderhadinformedmethatimmediatelyafterthe concertmanyofthesoldiersweregoingoffonadangerousmissiontobreakupa HamasterroristcelllocatedveryclosetoHebron. However, youcouldn’tsenseany kindofnegativevibe Rather, theatmospherewasoneofsuperlativeconfidenceand Jewishpride. Theseyoungsoldiersweretotallyreadyforwhatwasexpectedof them Nothingwouldholdthemback Anditwasthisthatleftanimpressiononme thatIwillrememberforaslongasIlive.
Our heroic and brave soldiers knew that what was in front of them was potentially a painful and dangerous mission, but at the same time they understood that this was what they had to do for the Jewish people – it was the best thing they could do.
The roots for this understanding of our ultimate responsibilities comes from a famous idea in our Parsha
Hashem commands us:
AndtheyshallmakeMeasanctuaryandIwilldwellintheirmidst(Shemot25:8)
It is pointed out that ‘Mikdash’is singular where as the pasuk finishes in the plural with ‘B’tocham.
A beautiful answer explains that we are commanded to build a dwelling place for Hashem in each and every one of us. We recognise that our lives should be dedicated to a far greater ideal. The ideal of bringing Hashem into our lives through our actions. Regardless of the discomfort, difficulty or challenge – that is our life’s mission
This can be as mundane as pulling ourselves out of bed to get to shul in the morning to the incredible dedication of the IDF, which of course is also connected to the vital importance of defending Medinat Yisrael
So powerful lessons from the M25 - from Shemot chapter 25
Reminding us of the challenge of our lives
Wherever or whenever we may be
Shabbat Shalom
Mizrachi UK is coordinating with local catering companies in Israel to send Shabbat meals to families whose husband/father have been called up to serve.
Please donate £50 per family, to help remove the burden for these wives – the Eishet Chayal – to cook for Shabbat
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