Dear G-d,
As I reflect upon this holiday season, I would like to share some intense emotions I have felt over the last few weeks. These days have been unlike any I have experienced before. The usual pre-holiday anxiety showed itself, casting its shadow, but despite the uncertainty and unease this year, I discovered moments of deep connection and meaning. In particular, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur granted me a sense of purpose and a deeper connection with You. Succos and Simchas Torah, too, brought their unique experiences, and I was filled with gratitude for the opportunity to connect with my family and friends in a real way.
Nevertheless, my joy during Yom Tov was abruptly paused when I was confronted with distressing news about the ongoing conflict in Eretz Yisrael. It left me questioning how to find happiness and peace when faced with overwhelming difficulty. In my conversations with others, such as my grandfather, we spoke about why bad things happen to good people and recalled specific events, such as the horrors of the Holocaust.
My grandfather shared a story that left a deep impression on me. It was a story of a person on the verge of giving up on Torah and Mitzvos due to struggling with the aftermath of the Holocaust. But the Rebbe suggested that by continuing to observe and celebrate torah and mitzvos, this individual would be countering the very goal of the Nazis. The Nazis aimed to eradicate all Jewish life on earth, and the response was to ensure that Jewish life not only survived but thrived.
As we embark on this new year and a fresh cycle of the Torah, our enemies may wish for our obliteration, but in the face of moments like these, we must strive for an even deeper connection with You. We may never fully comprehend why such horrors occur, but we trust that You have a purpose and a plan, even if it remains hidden from us. Instead of surrendering to despair in the face of those who seek to harm us, let us stand firm and increase our efforts to make this world better. Let us come out stronger and more united than ever before. Please grant us the strength and guidance to carry the torch of hope, resilience, and faith, even when the world around us appears dark.
Sincerely,
Avroham Yehudah Ross