Steady

The Hebrew word for faith, emunah, is prominent in this week’s portion of Torah. The Children of Israel sing their belief in God and Moses at the seashore, following the parting of the Red Sea. But it’s toward the end of the portion, when we learn that painful battles will be ongoing, where faith takes a stand. 

“But Moses’ hands grew heavy…so Aaron and Hur supported his hands from both sides, thus his hands remained steady (emunah) until the sun set” (Ex. 17:12). Faith here means steadiness. We keenly know how much we need steadiness when we find ourselves in dizzying times.

And you only need look to our returning Hostages for emblems of emunah. Each precious returnee has embodied superhuman dignity. 

Like 80-year-old Gadi Moses who walked out of captivity with his head held high. We’ve learned that Gadi walked 4 miles every day in a cell, less than 2 x 2 meters, to preserve his physical and mental fitness. Then there’s Emily who asked to stay in captivity so that 60-year-old Keith Siegel could be released first. And Liri who persuaded the murderers to not kill Amit. Or Arbel who somehow managed to sustain herself in solitary confinement for 482 days. Somehow, some way, each of them remained free. Freer than their captors. Faithful. Steady. 

Lastly there’s 20-year old Agam Berger. Her first words to her people, “the way of faith I chose, by the way of faith I have returned.” Even though the Bible has been sealed for thousands of years, her words are as Sacred Scripture. Faith is about choice. Faith is about returning. 

“Wars are fought in the field and in the soul” writes Erica Brown. Then she adds, “Moses’s arms were held up by a soldier and a priest. Who held up Aaron and Hur?” That is, who steadies the hands of the supporters? I’ve returned to Israel this week to an up-close and personal answer. It’s an answer you all know well. All of us do. And doing so goes to the nucleus of your faith. 

As we ready ourselves for more released Hostages, may their faith continue to steady ours.

Am Yisrael Chai.