- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Jul 20, 2020 10:30:55 GMT -8
איכה Eichah, Lamentations 1:3 (WLC) גָּֽלְתָ֨ה יְהוּדָ֤ה מֵעֹ֙נִי֙ וּמֵרֹ֣ב עֲבֹדָ֔ה הִ֚יא יָשְׁבָ֣ה בַגּוֹיִ֔ם לֹ֥א מָצְאָ֖ה מָנ֑וֹחַ כָּל־רֹדְפֶ֥יהָ הִשִּׂיג֖וּהָ בֵּ֥ין הַמְּצָרִֽים׃
Lamentations 1:3 (ESV)
Judah has gone into exile because of affliction [Or under affliction]
and hard servitude;
she dwells now among the nations,
but finds no resting place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her
in the midst of her distress. [Or in the narrow passes, in dire straights]
The season we are now in on the Hebrew calendar is called בֵּ֥ין הַמְּצָרִֽים Bein ha-Metzarim, also called (in addition to the underlined above) “Between the Straights.” It is the three weeks from the 17th of Tammuz and culminating in the 9th of Av-Tisha B’Av. It is a time when many calamities have befallen the Jewish people throughout history, and we are pretty much right in the middle of this time now. The name “dire straights” evokes images of a ship threading its way through perilous rocks and shoals in rough, stormy seas.
Looking at the senseless violence, rioting, killing, and wanton destruction not only of our cities, but of our culture as well, it is easy to forget. We get so lost in our lamentations over what has been lost to us, it is easy to forget that the book of Lamentations, where the name of this season comes from also speaks of hope:
Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
[Syriac, Targum; Hebrew- Because of the steadfast love of the Lord, we are not cut off]
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
We should all remember where our hope lies. In the words of the dieing shaliach, Rav Shaul:
2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Stay the course; steady ahead, as she goes!
Dan C
