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Rivka Herzfeld
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Rivka Herzfeld
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Rivka Herzfeld
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The Fragility of Being Indestructible

Rosh haShana has now come and gone.

Every year, people ask me ‘how was your yom tov?’ and for the longest time, I have given the same response of ‘ask me in a year from *now*’, by which often, people are puzzled.

And they look puzzled.

So I explain :

‘I hope and daven and try and as much as I can, but at the end of the day, HaShem is going to make His decision as to how everyone’s life is going to play out.’

People who are much smarter than I, and people who are much closer to the unfortunate horrific events of October 7, 2023 will write, speak, deliver words of chizuk, nechama, and opine about that day on its one-year anniversary.

It has been a hard year for every single Jew.

In ways that we can’t necessarily appreciate.

It is no one’s job to divulge his innermost thoughts and feelings.

Things don’t always go necessarily to plan.

There is that saying about planning… that man plans and God laughs…

I know that the difficulty that I went through this past year was significant, and really threw a monkey wrench into one of my plans…

But then, I was able to pick up basically exactly where I had left off five months later.

Obviously, it was not easy.

Obviously, there were tears… for everyone.

But crying isn’t always a bad thing.

According to a Harvard health blog, article entitled ‘is crying good for you?’, categorizes, crying into three categories: reflects, tears, continuous, tears, and emotional tears. “ The first two categories perform the important function of removing debris, such as smoke and dust from our eyes, and lubricating our eyes to help protect them from infection.”, the article states. The third category, of emotional tears, that’s where our people live.

We are pretty tough.

HaShem calls us an “am kshei oref”, a stiff-necked people… Otherwise, calling us incredibly stubborn.

But look at how far our stubbornness has gotten us.

We have made the desert flourish.

Jews have been awarded all six of the Nobel Foundation’s awards:

  • Chemistry: 36 (19% of total)
  • Economics: 38 (41% of total)
  • Literature: 16 (13% of total)
  • Peace: 9 (8% of total)
  • Physics: 56 (25% of total)
  • Physiology or Medicine: 59 (26% of total)

We have been significant contributors to global policy, economics, literature, music, philosophy, politics, and innovators in technology, medicine, and countless other areas.

But we are also such an emotionally charged people.

We are contributors to art, music, poetry, and dance.

There’s this really cool Netflix show out right now called Blown Away. It is a competition show for glass blowing… And it is breathtaking… Literally.

I have learned that Glass is a fickle beast.

It can be stretched.

It can be melted.

It can be poured.

It can be made so thin, that is almost barely visible.

It can be made so thick, that it can  actually bounce.

And all I can think of while I am watching this Netflix show, is the piyut  that we are going to stay in a couple of days… On Yom Kippur… ka’chomer b’yad ha’yotzer, Like Clay in The Potter’s Hand.

Like clay in the hands of the potter, if he wills, he can expand it, if he wills, he can contract it; so too are we in Your hand, Preserver of kindliness and not the accuser!
Like stone in the hand of the mason, if he wills, he holds it [in position], if he wills, he smashes it; so too are we in Your hands, Causer of life and death. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!
Like iron in the hand of the smith, if he wills, he puts it to the fire, if he wills, he removes it; so too are we in Your hand, Supporter of the poor and destitute Heed the covenant and not the accuser!
Like the anchor in the hand of a sailor, if he wills, he holds it if he wills, he lets it go; so too are we in Your hand, Almighty, Who is good and pardons. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!
Like glass in the hand of the glass blower, if he wills, he shapes it, if he wills, he dissolves it; so too are we in Your hand, Absolver of intentional and unintentional sin. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!
Like a tapestry in the hand of an embroiderer, if he wills, he makes it straight if he wills, he makes it crooked; so too are we in Your hand, jealous and vengeful Almighty heed the covenant and not the accuser!
Like silver in the hand of the refiner if he wills, he adulterates it, if he wills, he keeps it pure; so too are we in Your hand, Who prepares a cure for our wounds. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!
How vulnerable we are, as humans… As flesh and bone is unbelievable.
We are everything… the whole world… And at the same time, a speck of nothing in the cosmos.
So, as tomorrow comes when the sun rises, the first anniversary of the worst day in our collective Jewish history since the 1930s, let us remember that we can be fragile like glass, and also indestructible like a glass… Because at the end of the day, it is all in His “hands”.
Let us choose to take the lesson from l’David HaShem ori:   come close to HaShem,  strengthen our hearts, and then, once again, come close to HaShem.
About the Author
Rivka Herzfeld earned an M.A. in Tanach from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Judaic Studies. She enjoys teaching Tanach to all ages and backgrounds. Rivka is also a respected disability awareness educator. She is personable, easygoing, has a terrific sense of humor, and loves sharing puns. She is passionate about politics, human rights, and “liberty and justice for all.” Rivka is determined to make her voice count.