We all know that history repeats itself. We all know that there are few constants in world history as anti-Semitism. We all just didn’t expect to be living through the end of such a short period of a golden age, an era when Jews are able to flourish and thrive. And this golden age has been particularly significant after the drastic devastation of the Holocaust.
It is fair to say that while there are other nations who
have a history of being oppressed, there is no nation on earth that has
experienced anything resembling the cycle of success and persecution as the
Jewish people. But even with the knowledge of this history of the world, we, as
individuals, are still trying to understand why now – why so soon – and why
here.
The world is a journey, a march through time. When Hashem
made us a nation and set in motion our journey from Mitzrayim, Hashem knew that
it would be a long path ahead of us. Hashem told us that we would come into the
Promised Land and that we would mess up and be kicked out. Hashem told us that
we would transgress and lose our way and that we would face devastating punishment,
persecution and exile. The warnings are not subtle.
But in His Torah, and in His relationship with the Dor HaMidbar,
Hashem also provided the guidance for us to build our Emuna and Bitachon that
would allow us to survive thousands of years of challenge. Hashem provided us
with all of our needs, our sustenance, our clothing, etc. We wanted for nothing,
not even water. Understanding Hashem’s capability to give everything a person
needs reassures us in every generation that Hashem does give each person what
he needs, on an individual level rather than just on a national level. The key
is maintaining Emuna and Bitachon (no easy task).
The unceasing cycle of Jewish history, so prominent in our
perception right now as we try to understand the seemingly sudden and rampant
anti-Semitism, is part of the journey and the unknowable pattern of exile and
movement. It is also something we can find allusion to (and take comfort from)
in Bamidbar 9:22 - “Whether
it was two days or a month or a year—however long the cloud lingered over the Mishkan—the
Israelites remained encamped and did not set out; only when it lifted did they
break camp.”
The Dor
HaMidbar did not move through the Wilderness at a steady pace. They did not
know how long they would be on the move before they stopped and encamped, and
once they encamped, they did not know how long they would stay. They knew only
one thing – that Hashem would let them know what they were to do.
It is
interesting to note the Ohr Hachaim’s commentary that explains, in summary,
that Bnai Yisrael were not “anxiously awaiting instructions to move.” The
verses in perek tes are meant to demonstrate how the Dor HaMidbar “completely
assimilated themselves to what appeared to them to be G'd's wishes in the
matter….[they] did not pre-empt G'd's instructions when it came to making or
breaking camp…” (as translated by Sefaria).
Bnei
Yisrael in the Wilderness did not go forward and look at every rock and crag
and wonder if this was where they would camp. They didn’t harass Moshe with “Are
we there yets?” When they were moving, they were moving with purpose, and when
they were told to settle, they settled completely. They were aware that they
might have to move, but it did not stop them from unpacking, so to speak. They
were not anxious because they understood that everything was up to Hashem.
Right
now, it feels like an appropriate time to be anxious. However, when we reflect
on the core traits of emuna and bitachon that our ancestors fostered in the
Wilderness, we realize that anxiety serves no purpose. There are challenges,
very real and very scary challenges, as we journey forward. We must, however,
be like the Dor HaMidbar and know that our way in this world is all Yad Hashem.
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