I'm not sure what stage of grief the Jewish People are in. I'm sure like me you have ok days and worse days. Trying to make sense of what's going on. Knowing that we can't possibly make sense. Listening to podcasts, reading news, hoping that something will assuage the pain.

I know that the Rebbe taught us to engage in action. Action is not a distraction. (Someone thanked us for all the distractions Chabad Intown is offering the community. They are not distractions :-). They are transformative actions). It is actually the only thing we can do to move from being wrapped up in our pain to doing something that can actually make a difference. Light chases away darkness. Every positive action brings light into the world.

Another thing; the Jewish People now know that we are one whole. We've been told that from the beginning. I've always believed it. But now we all know it. We battle this together. In Israel the soldiers battle on the front line. The rest of the country in support. And each of us where we are by bringing the light into the world through Torah study and Mitzvos in our environment.

But that wasn't working this week for me. After all the true and holy thoughts, I found myself in a dark place. I just couldn't find peace. I tried to be in my feelings, I tried to escape my feelings, nothing worked.

Then a friend shared a gematriah that liberated me. Maybe it will help you too.

Every letter of the Aleph Bet has a numeric value. Words or series of words have a larger numeric value. Words or sentences that have the same numeric values can teach us lessons. It's not a game, and not everything one decides to find number parallels are meaningful. But when passed down by great teachers they can shine light into an otherwise dark space.

At the beginning of the Parsha, after Jacob wakes up from his dream with angels going up and down the ladder he says the following; Indeed there is G-d in this place and I did not know.

The words Yesh Hashem Bamakom Hazeh - there is G-d in this place - equals 541. The numeric value of the word Yisrael is 541!

The land of Israel, the People of Israel is where G-d is! It can be lonely, it can be dark, it can feel impossible, but always know that Hashem is with us and with the Land.

This boosted me up to give me hope for better times, to and to pray for our soldiers and Jews in Israel and world wide.

Let's recognize that what makes us unique is Hashem's presence in us and in our People. Chazak Chazak! Am Yisrael Chai!

Good Shabbos