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On Yom Kippur, let us become a united Jewish state

Madoc Meredith October 11, 2024

May the year end and with it its curses.

May the new year begin and with it its blessings.

Inspired by a passage from the Talmud, these lines appear in a 13th-century piyyut, or liturgical poem, known as Ahot Ketanah (Little Sister), and are part of the traditional Rosh Hashanah liturgy.

If ever there was a time for this prayer, it is now.

A time for prayer

Among the many scandals affecting the British royal family in 1992 was marriage difficulties for three children of the late Queen Elizabeth II, which was widely reported in the press. Earlier this year, her son, Prince Andrew, separated from Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. This news was followed in April by the divorce of Elizabeth’s daughter, Princess Anne, from Captain Mark Phillips.

Over the summer, a newly published, unauthorized biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, consort of the Queen’s heir Prince Charles (now King Charles III), revealed details about the couple’s unhappy marriage, adding to tabloid gossip. Then, in November, a fire caused extensive damage to Windsor Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stand with President and Mrs. Reagan at a state dinner during their visit to the USA in 1983. (Source: GetArchive)

Shortly after the fire, the Queen gave a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Acknowledging her family’s recent challenges, she said:

“1992 is not a year that I will look back on with undiluted joy. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it was an “annus horribilis” – a terrible year.

This year was our “annus horribilis”.

But as I said, tihleh shanah v’kilotehah; tahel shanah u’virhotehah.

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May the year end and with it its curses;

May the new year begin and with it its blessings.

Berl Gertner’s story

I would like to share a story with you.

The Kindertransport was a desperate attempt to save Jewish children from the Nazis in the nine months before the outbreak of World War II in 1939. The United Kingdom took in almost 10,000 children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Free City of Gdańsk. The children were placed in British nursing homes, residential schools, schools and farms. They were often the only members of their families to survive the Holocaust.

One of these children was Berl Gartner, who later in life told his story to BBC Radio. He told how he lived in an orphanage with other refugee children and how one day the teacher announced that King George VI. would visit their city. The next morning all the children got up very early, put on their best shorts and rubbed their faces and knees to greet the king.

There was enormous excitement and anticipation as the children waited for the royal carriage to appear – and suddenly there it was, turning the corner. King George, Queen Elizabeth and the two princesses waved to the cheering crowd. Everyone crowded onto the barricades to get a better look, but 11-year-old Berl didn’t just push forward; He made an enormous leap, jumped over the barrier flawlessly and raced towards the royal chariot at top speed. He jumped onto one of the running boards and started banging on the car door.

The car stopped abruptly. The king’s bodyguards dragged Berl out of the car, then the car door opened and Berl stood face to face with the king.

“I see you want to say hello,” the king smiled. Berl looked into the king’s eyes, began to speak, and then burst into tears.

“Don’t cry now,” said the king. “We will not put you in the Tower of London.”

“Oh,” said Berl, “Your Majesty, please, please forgive me for banging on your car, but please, please help me.” You are the only one who can help me.”

“How can I help you?” asked the king.

“Your Majesty, I am a Jew from Germany. Through your kindness I was brought here on the Kindertransport, but my parents are still in Germany and I am so afraid of what happened to them that sometimes I think I will never see them again.”

Berl burst into tears again.

“What’s your name?” asked the king. Berl told him, and the king ordered a stable master to write down Berl’s name along with his parents’ names and addresses. Then he said, “Let’s see what we can do.” He patted Berl’s head and smiled.

Berl got out of the car and watched the car for a long time after it had turned the corner onto the next street. He was sure he would be punished harshly, but surprisingly the school did nothing until the principal called him into his office a few weeks later. Now Berl was sure that the high jump was coming his way. The headmaster said, “Berl, you have made quite an impression on the king. In fact, he sent you a gift.”

The principal opened the side door of his office and there stood Berl’s parents.

The king is on the field

The Baal HaTanya teaches that the king is not in his palace in the days and weeks before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; He is in the fields, he is in the villages, he is on the farms. He comes to visit us – he is accessible.

And in such a moment we often find ourselves behind the barricades and barriers that we put up for ourselves.

We can’t break through; We feel the barricades in our hearts.

We have to jump through the barricades.

The bodyguards may want to stop you, but the king wants you there.

Ask him for anything you want. Ask Him to be reunited with your deepest self. And don’t be afraid.

Yom Kippur is just around the corner and now it’s time to jump into the royal carriage.

If we want to reverse our annus horribilis, we must find it within ourselves to do everything we can to connect with God, our people and ourselves, but sometimes we are at a loss for words.

We need to jump on this car and make ourselves known.

We blew the shofar, which awakened the deep soul within us. We must overcome these barriers and become a fully engaged part of this holy nation.

Despite the media coverage of disputes, demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, the proportion of dissenters is small.

We have never experienced such unity, especially not in the last 50 years.

The truth is, it’s now up to all of us to keep it going.

We have truly experienced an annus horribilis this year – nothing could have prepared us for the horrors we have endured.

But Yom Kippur is here, and if we jump through the barricades together and ask the King, the King of Kings, He can do anything – He can do anything.

Let’s come together and overcome these barricades. Open our hearts and let the power of our unity, our prayers and the sacrifices of our sons and daughters carry us into a better future.

Tihleh shanah v’kilotehah; tahel shanah u’virhotehah.

May the year end and with it its curses;

May the new year begin and with it its blessings.

May we all be sealed together in the book of the good life, building on our innate strength to accomplish the victory of good over evil.

G’mar v’hatimah tovah: May you have a good, final sealing – in the book of life.

The author is a rabbi and doctor, lives in Ramat Poleg, Netanya, and co-founder of Techelet – Inspiring Judaism.

Yiamastaverna

Yiamastaverna