22 May 2025 Behar-Bechukosai 5785: Let The Year and Its Blessings Begin

With the double sidra of Behar-Bechukosai, we close the book of Vayikra once again. Parshas Behar outlines the mitzvos of Shemittah and Yovel, while Bechukosai records a lengthy list of klalos (curses) that will befall the nation when they stray from the path of G-d and annul the covenant of Torah.

Just as Ki Savo – which enumerate the klalos of Sefer Devarim – is always read before Rosh Hashana, so too Bechukosai is always read before Shavuos. Rosh Hashana is the beginning of our new year, and in a sense, Shavuos too marks a new year – a new year of acceptance of, and adherence to, the Torah ha’kedosha. Hence, both Rosh Hashana and Shavuos are “new years.” We read the klalos prior to each of these new years to elicit the blessing of tichleh shanah v’kil’kilose’ha – let the year and its curses end, tachel shana u’vir’cho’se’ha – let the new year and its blessings begin.

In contrast to the terrible and painful klalos of Bechukosai, in the first of this week’s parshios, Behar, we read that Hashem promises to sustain us and provide for us in our land, when we keep the mitzvos of Shemitta and Yovel.

וְכִי תֹאמְרוּ, מַה–נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת: הֵן לֹא נִזְרָע, וְלֹא נֶאֱסֹף אֶת–תְּבוּאָתֵנוּ – and if you shall say: What will we eat in the seventh year, behold we are not seeding, nor gathering in our produce (Vayikra 25:20); Hashem assures us that He will provide for us: וְצִוִּיתִי אֶת–בִּרְכָתִי לָכֶם בַּשָּׁנָה הַשִּׁשִּׁית; וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים, and I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year, and the produce shall be sufficient for three years (year six, seven/Shemitta year, and eight/the year following the Shemitta year) (25:21).

This juxtaposition – וְצִוִּיתִי אֶת–בִּרְכָתִי, and I will command My blessing, on the one hand, and וְנִגַּפְתֶּם לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם; וְרָדוּ בָכֶם שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם, and you will be struck down before your enemies, and those that hate you shall pursue you (26:17) – is R”L apparent in our day and age as well.

This coming Monday, 28 Iyar, is Yom Yerushalayim, the great day of miracles when – by the grace of G-d – the IDF conquered and reunited Yerushalayim, took control of Har Ha’bayis, liberated Kever Rachel and Me’aras Ha’Machpela, and many other holy places. For this great miracle – who amongst us has not been zocheh to daven at these mekomos ha’kedoshim where our avos and imahos, neviim and nevi’os walked – we give bountiful and unlimited thanks to G-d; וְצִוִּיתִי אֶת–בִּרְכָתִי.

On the other hand, may Hashem have mercy upon us, the war that began more than a year and a half ago is still ongoing, hostages – both alive and niftarim – remain in the clutches of the wicked enemy, may their names be erased, thousands of active soldiers and reservists are fighting to protect, defend and save our homeland, and the world at large has once again risen to destroy us; וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לָכֶם תְּקוּמָה לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם – and you will not have the power to stand up before your enemies (26:37).

When I consider, and attempt to fathom, the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds of the hell of the living hostages, I am unable to do so – not even with one iota and fiber of my being; וַאֲכַלְתֶּם וְלֹא תִשְׂבָּעוּ, and you will eat and not be satiated (26:26).

This past week, Tze’ela Gez, HY”D, was on her way to the hospital with her husband, when she was gunned down by terrorists and murdered in cold blood – וְהֵבֵאתִי עֲלֵיכֶם חֶרֶב – and I will bring upon you the sword of destruction (26: 25). Carrying the couple’s fourth child, a son, the baby was delivered via emergency c-section. Tze’ela’s sister gave an interview earlier this week, and noted that the baby was without oxygen for 50 minutes, from the time his mother was murdered, until he was delivered. On Yom Shlishi, 22 Iyar (Tuesday May 20, 2025), the baby boy was named: Ravid Chaim נ״י ben Tze’ela הי״ד.

“A rare naming ceremony was held today at the Gez family home in Samaria, where community leaders and mourners gathered to honor the memory of Tze’ela Gez. Due to the infant’s medical condition, he could not be circumcised at the time. The baby was named Ravid Chaim, a name chosen by Tze’ela herself before the attack. During the ceremony, prayers for the baby’s recovery were held. The family has called on the public to offer prayers for Ravid Chaim, who is in need of abundant heavenly mercy” (https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/408653).

On the same day that the new baby was named, The community of Kibbutz Kfar Aza laid to rest Tamar Kutz, one of its founding members and a cherished educator. On Oct. 7, Kutz endured the brutal murder of her son Aviv, his wife Livnat, and their children – Rotem, Yonatan, and Yiftach. The family of five was found embracing one another in their home after they were murdered.

At her funeral, Tamar’s husband Benny paid an emotional tribute. “On October 7, our lives came to a halt. Our beloved family was killed. After a while, we realized that we had been kidnapped into the tunnels of memory and the prison of longing – in these places there is no rescue and no help,” he said (https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/408677). וְנָתַתִּי אֶת–עָרֵיכֶם חָרְבָּה, and I will make your cities destroyed (26:31).

And on Monday, 21 Iyar (May 19), Sgt. Yosef Yehuda Chirak from Harasha in Binyamin fell during combat in Gaza. He was 22 years old and married his wife, Emunah, only seven months ago. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his parents and three sisters. “The head of the Binyamin Regional Council, Yisrael Gantz, said: ‘Just a few months ago, we danced together at Yosef Yehuda’s wedding, and now we have received the news of his fall in battle. He went out to fight to destroy the enemy. Together with his dear Emunah, he built a home full of devotion. With God’s help, we will rise from this devastation and fulfill his aspiration to completely destroy the enemy that has risen against us. In this difficult hour, I send strength to my brother and friend Yehuda Eliyahu, the former CEO of the council, on the loss of his beloved son-in-law’” (https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/408632). וַאֲכַלְתֶּם בְּשַׂר בְּנֵיכֶם, and you shall consume the flesh of your sons (26:29).

The galus is long, the darkness smothers us, and the ways of Hashem are hidden from us. We can only return to Him in repentance, וְהִתְוַדּוּ אֶת–עֲוֺנָם וְאֶת–עֲוֺן אֲבֹתָם, בְּמַעֲלָם אֲשֶׁר מָעֲלוּ–בִי, and they shall confess their sins and the sins of their fathers, for the trespass they committed against Me (26:40), pray fervently for an end to the exile, and long for the day when וְצִוִּיתִי אֶת בִּרְכָתִי will manifest in its purest and greatest glory.

Just as Hashem promises to never forget us, וְאַף–גַּם–זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם, לֹא–מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא–גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם—לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי, אִתָּם כִּי אֲנִי ה’ אֱלֹקִּיהֶם, But despite all this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not despise them nor will I reject them to annihilate them, to annul My covenant that is with them, for I am Hashem their G-d (26:44); so too, we promise never to forget Him, or His Torah, or His land.

הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַֽיִם וּרְאֵה כִּי הָיִֽינוּ לַֽעַג וָקֶֽלֶס בַּגּוֹיִם: נֶחְשַֽׁבְנוּ כַּצֹּאן לָטֶֽבַח יוּבָל, לַהֲרוֹג וּלְאַבֵּד וּלְמַכָּה וּלְחֶרְפָּה: וּבְכָל־זֹאת שִׁמְךָ לֺא שָׁכָֽחְנוּ נָא אַל־תִּשְׁכָּחֵֽנוּ – Look down from the heaven and see how we have become an object of scorn and derision among the nations. We are regarded as sheep led to the slaughter, to be killed, destroyed, beaten and humiliated. Yet, despite all this, we have not forgotten Your name, please do not forget us (Tachanun, Weekday Shachris prayer).

Tichleh shanah v’kil’kilose’ha – let the year and its curses end, tachel shana u’vir’cho’se’ha – let the new year and its blessings begin, amen v’amen, in our days and in our time.

בברכת בשורות טובות ושבת שלום,

Michal