A year ago, my neighbor gifted me a small cyclamen plant with beautiful pink flowers. Not having much of a green thumb and lacking any instructions, I simply placed it on my kitchen counter. Occasionally, I remembered to water it, and remarkably, despite my neglect, it continued to thrive.
A few weeks ago, inspired by a desire to add color to my garden, I visited the local nursery to buy some flowers. While shopping, I thought of my little cyclamen plant and decided it was time I put it into a proper pot. Unfortunately, the pot I chose was too small. In the process of transferring the plant back and forth, many of its leaves and flowers fell off, and I feared I had finally killed it. But to my surprise, a few weeks later, new stalks with buds emerged, and just yesterday, a beautiful pink and white flower opened. As I passed the plant on my counter, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope in this uncertain time.
We are currently in the midst of a period on the Hebrew calendar known as the “Three Weeks,” a solemn time between the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, which commemorates the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem, and the 9th of Av, the day on which the Temple was destroyed three weeks later. It is a historically tragic period for the Jewish people, marked by calamities and tragedies.
The sages teach that the Temple’s destruction was caused by baseless hatred and that every generation in which the Temple is not rebuilt bears the responsibility as if it were destroyed in their time. Unfortunately, this teaching is deeply relevant to our present day.
Today, we are beset by external threats and internal conflicts that mirror the challenges of the Three Weeks. The prolonged war against Hamas in Gaza, and continuous attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, not to mention threats from Iran, create a climate of persistent instability. Our enemies from without are relentless in their attempts to destroy us, much like the forces that breached the walls of Jerusalem centuries ago.
Simultaneously, internal conflicts threaten to tear us apart. Before October 7th, societal discord, political strife, and ideological divisions weakened our collective strength. While we saw a surge of unity following October 7th, the past couple of months have again seen mass demonstrations against the government and a deepening divide among different political and religious groups. The lesson of the Temple’s destruction due to baseless hatred is a stark reminder that internal unity is as crucial as external defense. We must remember that our greatest strength lies in our ability to stand together as a united people.
This unity is essential not just among the people of Israel, but also among all those who share the same beliefs in the God of Israel and His code of ethics and values. As antisemitism surges across the globe and we fight a battle for our existence, we need our brothers and sisters from the nations to stand with us against our common enemies and against evil.
The Jewish people are often compared to the moon, which, though it wanes, always returns to its fullness. Similarly, they are likened to a tree that sheds its leaves in the fall, appearing dead, only to bloom again in the spring. As Isaiah says:
All of this ran through my mind as I looked at my flowering cyclamen plant this morning, which, despite the setbacks, managed to bloom once more, embodying the Jewish spirit of endurance and renewal.
The people of Israel are unique in history for their ability to persevere through countless trials and tribulations, maintaining their identity and heritage against all odds. Remarkably, after 2,000 years of exile, they returned to their land, a feat unprecedented in world history. God’s unwavering support ensures that despite the challenges, the future holds promise. Big things are happening, and though the road may be bumpy, the destination is assured.
The small plant on my kitchen counter serves as a reminder of the strength and perseverance that define our history and our future. We will prevail over our enemies from without and overcome the discord within, emerging stronger and more united. This unity will extend to all people of goodwill, fostering a global community rooted in peace, mutual respect, and understanding. Together, we can build a future where resilience and hope blossom throughout the world.
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