Dear Friends,
October 16, 2024. Rafah.
For a year, Israel’s most elite forces and intelligence hunted Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of October 7th. But when he was finally found, it wasn’t by the commandos. It was by a group of trainee squad commanders from the Bislamach Brigade — young soldiers still in training.
On what seemed like a routine patrol, these fresh soldiers noticed something unusual: three armed men moving between buildings. They didn’t dismiss it. They didn’t say, “We’re only trainees.” They acted — and that alertness changed the course of history.
This week’s Torah portion, Nitzavim, drives home the same message. Moses tells the Jewish people: “You are all standing today before Hashem your G-d… from your leaders to your wood-choppers and your water-carriers.” Why spell out every layer of society? To teach that the covenant is not complete without everyone. The leaders, yes — but also the wood-choppers, the water-carriers, the “trainees.” Each one is indispensable.
And that’s our message as we step into the New Year. We might feel unready, imperfect, still learning. But Hashem says: you matter as you are. Your mitzvah, your prayer, your kindness can tip the scale. Sometimes it’s the fresh sincerity of “trainees” that makes the greatest difference.
So let’s come together this Rosh Hashanah. Celebrate 5786 with family, friends, and community at one of our many gatherings — from services to the shofar to the holiday table. Find all the details and reserve your spot here: jewishpittsford.com/highholidays.
Because sometimes, it’s the fresh eyes of the “trainees” that bring the greatest victories for Am Yisrael.
Shabbat Shalom/Good Shabbos
Rabbi Yitzi Hein