Begin to heal

The speeches are over. The mood is here is high. People smiling and congratulating each other in the streets. Shopkeepers wishing their customers “chag cherut Sameach!” A holiday of freedom, indeed.

We can’t believe what we’re watching. The reunifications we never thought possible. Mothers screaming with ecstasy at their son’s faces, paler and gaunter than they remember, but home.

Home.

It all feels so grand. So miraculous. So enormously like a moment of change and positivity.

We’re beginning to take down the hostage signs. No more haunting faces. No more empty seats in the kikar. No more protests.

This morning my husband and son went to pray at Nova. The choppers flew in the skies as they shook their lulavim, readying to bring them to Israel. I prayed in my sukkah one last time as my daughter called out updates- that they were in our hands. That they are finally home. This timing is utterly surreal. What a zechut to live to see this day.

We don’t know what will be. But as I go into the chag that was forever changed two years ago, and now adds another layer of emotion and meaning- I just want to be in this moment.

Let’s hold our Torahs and people close, and dance.

We are living in historic times. The choices we make influence historic outcomes.

What is impossible now? Is not our every day a miracle at this point?

We need every body of our deceased hostages home.

We need to close this chapter and begin to heal.

We want to live in a world of no more w*r. No more sirens. No more de*ths.

It’s going to be the yartzeit of those who were k*lled on that original simchat torah.

Our moment in complex and layered in feelings.

But here we are, and I am grateful to be at this day.

Hodu lahashem ki tov, kinliolam chasdo.

חג חרות שמח!!!

** I took this photo outside the bakery this morning. It says “how good is it that you came home.”