The first thing I did after leaving the safe room

When the “all clear” sounded and I stepped out of the safe room, the first thing I did was dust the living room. Strange, right? Maybe it was an attempt to regain some control over the chaos of my life. Or maybe it was because the words of the prayer, Lecha Dodi– “Shake off the dust, arise, put on the garments of your glory, my people” – kept echoing in my mind.

But it wasn’t just me. That’s what we, as a nation, did. Moments after the “all clear,” we collectively shook off the dust – the dust of anxiety, of the surreal – and returned to our travels, our wedding celebrations, and holiday preparations. Life resumed, just like that.

As the new year begins, it feels fitting to think about shaking off the dust – not the literal dust of missile attacks, but the dust of complacency. We need to put on the garments of the people we can become and lift ourselves to greater heights.

These days, the garments of greatness come in the form of dusty army uniforms. Families wait for the opportunity to hug their soldiers, clothed in khaki and covered with dust. Our children return home wearing the weight of duty, courage, and the dust of the land they’ve been defending.

My favorite Rosh HaShana song has just two simple words “HaMelech B’Sadeh – the King is in the Field.” Our King doesn’t seclude himself in a grand throne room but walks among us in the dusty fields. I pray that the King in the Field accompanies our soldiers in their missions, and returns them and our hostages home safely, swiftly… even dusty.

I wait for the opportunity to mop the floor from the dust tracked in by muddy soldier boots.