Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Staff Sergeant Edan Alexsander is home, baruch HaShem. Yesterday hIs grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, speaking to the international media, provided lessons about what freedom means and how to show gratitude for it. Amidst the excitement, hugs, and tears, I recorded her words. They can help us and others waiting and hoping for good news:
At her press conference she said: “Faith, prayers, psalms — I did everything necessary to garner the strength needed to carry on.
Today we mark Pesach Sheini (Second Pesach). Whoever did not manage to observe Pesach at its proper time can observe it today. And today Edan is privileged with a true celebration of Second Pesach as he goes out from slavery to freedom.”
This is incredible. More than three thousand years ago, on the 14th of Iyar, those who were not able to celebrate Pesach, the festival of freedom, were given a second opportunity to celebrate it. And today, on the 14th of Iyar, 5785, Edan’s grandmother hugs him after his liberation on the 14th of Iyar, telling the entire world of this date’s significance.
During another interview, Edan’s grandmother read words from Psalm 100, written by King David. It’s a psalm of thanksgiving (Mizmor Le-toda) that is recited upon hearing good news. Everyone is invited to recite it now and on any other joyous occasion.
מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה, הָרִיעוּ לַה' כָּל הָאָרֶץ. עִבְדוּ אֶת ה' בְּשִׂמְחָה, בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו בִּרְנָנָה. דְּעוּ כִּי ה' הוּא אֱלֹהִים, הוּא עָשָׂנוּ וְלוֹ אֲנַחְנוּ, עַמּוֹ וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ. בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו בְּתוֹדָה, חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה, הוֹדוּ לוֹ, בָּרְכוּ שְׁמוֹ. כִּי טוֹב ה', לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ, וְעַד דֹּר וָדֹר אֱמוּנָתוֹ.
May we have reasons to recite this psalm many more times...
