What Still Gives Me Hope

The tradition says that Elijah never died, but was brought to heaven so that he could be the messenger for the coming of the mashiah, the harbinger of better days to come. In our practice of Judaism, we have three ritual moments where we call on Elijah the prophet to appear: at the end of Havdalah, at a Brit Milah, and at the Passover Seder. 

Each of these are moments where we anticipate the world changing for the better. 

At the end of Havdalah, we anticipate leaving Shabbat for a week that will be better than the one before it. At a Brit Milah, we anticipate that the world will be better for having this new person in it. And at the Passover Seder, we anticipate that spending time considering our freedom will move us to build a world that is more free. 

As we exit another Pesah right into a brief moment before Shabbat, it’s tempting to say that it doesn’t feel like the world is really much better. Having been out of the news cycle for five of the last eight days, there was little joy to be had in the barrage of news I missed. But Pesah also signals the beginning of spring, a season of new growth and possibility. So instead of once again writing about living in a world that breaks our hearts, or tugging on our sense of justice to try to right the wrongs we see all around us, I want to enter this Shabbat by sharing a few things that are giving me hope. (I thought about listing 5786 things for the Jewish year of 5786, but these emails do have a word limit.)

1. I am so moved by coverage of the Artemis mission to the moon. I was very into space as a kid, and even had a telescope that I used to bring outside on clear nights so I could look for planets and comets. I still find so much awe and joy looking at the sky, and I’ve been awed looking up at the stars and imagining the four people all the way out there who are trying to learn more about the universe for the sake of humanity and progress.
2. This year, “my” team suffered a devastating buzzer beater shot with one second left in the game, but I still love watching March Madness every year. The young men and women on their schools’ basketball teams pour their hearts out again and again in moving displays of athleticism, teamwork, and determination. I love that so many people cheer them on, and that so many fans, even when “our” team falls, just pick a new team to root for and keep watching and cheering.
3. Two of my best friends have been reading my favorite book series, and the group chat is lively with their reactions, questions, and theories. It’s been so fun to get to share this fantasy world with them, and to have another point of connection with these people I love.
4. The trees and shrubs along my usual running route in Central Park are now covered in blooms! After a lot of gray days and white snow this winter, it fills me with awe to see this riot of pink and purple popping up everywhere—and to know that every morning when I go out, the park will look a little bit different. 

Yes, these are just a few things, and yes, they might pale in comparison to the many injustices, wars, and affronts to human dignity that are happening every day. But just as we continue to hope for Elijah’s arrival at moments of possibility, I hope you can enter this first Shabbat after our holiday of freedom with a sense of possibility and optimism. 

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Deena Cowans