Unity is Liberty.
The Lady of
the House
Rachel
and Dan have five sons who live at home. The home is simple with a
garden, a farm, an orchard, and a vineyard in the valley under a mount, not
far from the coast. Everything they need they have there at home;
they live a self-sufficient lifestyle. Their community is spread out,
but they all gather from time to time. Slowly, one by one, families
begin to be attacked. Some families are killed in their homes, others
have their farms razed, some have their homes invaded & stolen, a
variety of injustice starts to spread. Naturally, the community
gathers together to discuss what to do. Some argue that we should
move, others that we should fight back, others that we should pitch in
& give land & goods to the marauders, others argue that we should
just stay in our homes & barricade ourselves in, some argue we should
seek help from nearby communities, some remind that emissaries of peace
must first be sent, some hope & pray, some await the return of the old
patriarch Yisrael who lead the community in peace for so long, some say
nothing, some argue for a variety of combinations of these suggestions.
Dan
leans over to Rachel and says, "Shh, let's go in secret and
leave. We should barricade ourselves; let the others figure out what
to do, it's all too complicated. I will not leave my home and I don't
want any trouble. Nothing has happened to us yet, so let's not give
the thieves any reason to. We will be nice to all who come to us, but
we will make sure our home is a fort."
Rachel,
the daughter of Yisrael, says, "My husband, I do not
agree."
"Then
what is your suggestion?" asks Dan gently.
Rachel
ponders a moment, "Ok, we will do as you say for now. I need
time to think through this. There is wisdom in what you say, as in
what others say; but who can know in what way to arrange it all?
Perhaps there is some hidden answer we are all missing. Let us though
as you say incline towards peace, for those who seek it shall find
it."
They
come home to find their sons arguing over the issue. Shymon says,
"We must call all the family here; our sisters and their husbands and
families. We can sustain many more people here than we do. They
must be protected too." Levy agrees with him and says, "But
perchance what if their husbands are in on this; we have all agreed before
that some of our sisters have made poor choices in their husband.
Perhaps we should bring them here, but build separate housing for them
until we know what to do." Naphtaly says, "Why are you all
so forlorn? Nothing will befall us. We are not rich like many
of the others who have been robbed and we are not on the outskirts nor on
the coast like those who have been invaded. We are sheltered by the
mountain on the one side and many farms to the other. The valley
protects us as well. Let's not forget how some in our community have
been: stingy or unwelcoming to others. They are reaping what they
have sown. We have done no such things as these. Those families
who have been getting fat off the rest of us and who have treated us as
simpletons now demand our help? I say we laugh at them for their
misfortune, for HaShem is the true Judge." Yosef stands up,
"Dear brothers, this is not the time for bickering. That is what
the enemy would have us do. Even our own community bickers, how can
we do anything if we do not stand as one? HaShem has not spoken in
quite some time, we cannot hope for miracles, but neither can we do
nothing. We should go to the marauders and see why it is they attack
us. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding or perhaps, as Naftaly
says, they have no quarrel with us, but with those who have wronged
them? If we bring them gifts, they will not likely attack us, but
listen to us and be confounded as to why we would be so brave to do
so." Yehudah stands up, "Yosef, as always you are wise, but
your ways would bring us undue danger. This is our time, brethren, to
finally lead. For too long have we been oppressed by this community
as well. They have spurned our teachings and treated us as
outsiders. They question our loyalty and demand we do as they
do. Yet, in the hour of impasse, they are scared and angry. We
have put aside such pettiness in our family some time ago. We should
take charge, show the others the right way, and lead this community as
HaShem promised to us so long ago and reaffirmed by our grandfather
Yisrael (wherever he may be now, let us pray, safe and that he returns
speedily). The opportunity presents itself and if we do not seize it,
we may lose what HaShem has promised; for we too must work to fulfill those
promises, we cannot rely on miracles alone."
The
brothers ask then, "So what course of action do we do?"
Yehudah
says, "Let us ask father and mother. The wise always seeks
counsel. They are still the leaders of this family."
Dan
says, "Yehudah, you and your brothers are all wise beyond your
years. We have just come from the meeting and you have spoken in much
the same ways that they have. I am proud you have learned so much
from me; I am humbled that I have merited such fine sons. I am sure
your sisters too then are wise and I would like nothing more than to have
them here again. Your mother and I are in agreement: we will stay
here and fortify ourselves. We will reach out to the community,
offering them to join us for Shabbat, for Torah study during the week, we
will even allow outsiders to come in; the others will then learn from us
and see us positively so that they will want us to lead. We will do
and take from the wisdom of all, but we will do as your mother suggested:
incline towards peace, not war. We do not want to fight and bring
more bloodshed to the valley. That is why we will stay here at
home."
Rachel
looks upon the scene and her heart breaks, but she does not know why.
She pulls aside her husband while their sons discuss and plan. "My
dearest, we agreed that this we would do, more or less, but that wisdom
takes time to prevail. Should we not say that the plan can
change? Should we call our daughters? Some of them live in
safety, so why pull them closer to danger?"
Dan's
face writhes, "Did you not hear the wisdom of our sons? For our
own house's peace I must make peace in this house! No, this is what
we shall do. You take your time to figure out what you must, but a
man must act swiftly and with confidence; we do not have the luxury of
women who can think as they administer. Our job is toil!"
Over
the course of many days, Rachel's daughters & families arrive.
Shymeon has been busy fortifying the house and building walls with his
father. Levy has built homes for his sisters & their families on
the farmlands and the orchards nearest the mountain, so as to offer the
most protection. Naftaly has not been seen at home in days, rather he
has been out in the town documenting who is for what, spreading news,
casting judgment on those the majority sees as the problem, and discussing
the suggestions of all the peoples with them in their homes and in the
square. Yehudah has been busy helping his various brothers,
overseeing, and going into town to offer hospitality and dvar Torah.
The people love Yehudah greatly and admire him; some within the community
start to do as the family does arousing Yehudah. Some even start
questioning Yehudah and Dan's plans and make improvements or say certain
things, such as bringing one's families in, are misguided. The people
are divided.
Yosef
has spent some time with Rachel, sobbing bitterly. "I see the
problems, mother, but I do not know how to solve them! When I go to
town with Yehudah and ask questions of those in his retinue, I see their
deceptions. Yehudah will not listen to me, his younger brother; he
even says it is better to gather a following than to worry about such small
matters, for when the valley is attacked again those small divisions will
disappear. Why doesn't he see that we are becoming more divided each
day and every hour that passes? More and more are scared now and
there hasn't been an attack in a couple weeks!"
Rachel
has had enough of Yosef's sobbing and despair so she sets out a plan,
"Here, take these gifts. Go; take some of your sister's husbands
whom you trust to go with you to the outskirts. Tell them to wait
there for you. Go to the marauders and find out what you can about
them. Your senses and wisdom will hopefully give us keen insight into
why these troubles have befallen us to begin with. For without that
knowledge, we are all lost no matter how much wisdom we have united or
divided."
So
Yosef sets out with three of his seven sister's husbands. They agree
to wait, but also say, "Yosef, we know you and cannot leave you to be
ravaged by beasts of men. If you do not come back before Minchah
time, two of us will go in after you and the other will warn the
family." Yosef says, "No, warn only my mother first and do
nothing else until she gives her approval. Do not come in after me,
what shall two yield in the face of uncertainty? Promise me on oath
you will say nothing except to Rachel." They look at each other
and somberly agree, "We will do as you say."
Yosef
goes to the main village of the marauders; those who live by the coast in
the forest. He knows they lead many of the others, even though they
do not have as much influence as they claim to lead. He does not
return before Minchah so the young men go to Rachel and tell her of all
that has transpired.
She sobs aloud and sobs uncontrollably, "I have given my son to
wolves!" Eventually one of the young men tell his wife and soon
enough the family knows and bursts into the master bedchamber. No one
is in agreement as to what to do, blame is cast all around, and Rachel
weeps bitterly.
Sara,
Rachel's granddaughter is last to leave. She has been holding
Rachel's hand the whole time. Rachel finally realizes all are gone
but this small child. "Why are you still here, dear?"
Sarah says, "HaShem promised, right? Why are we all
crying? Isn't HaShem holding our hands too?"
Rachel
lifts up, wipes away the tears, and leans down to kiss Sarah, "You are
a beautiful child; may you inherit peace and peace be all that is
yours."
Shymeon
and Levy are armed at the door, Yehudah has gathered his retinue, Naftaly
has sung to the whole town the incident, and Dan stands at the gate,
refusing anyone to go anywhere. "We must accept the truth, he is
gone!" He cries. "He is gone, those monsters took my son,
my beautiful son who played instruments, sung, danced, tended the gardens!
I want revenge, but I will not let my other sons perish too! My
beautiful children, you are all I have left! What shall I do with
this house, how could I bear to live here if even one more of you were to
perish!" His sons weep bitterly and rend their clothes.
Dan says, "In eight days, I will wage war. My wrath will devour
the entire valley if they get in my way. My sons, you will stay here
and defend. The people of this valley will have no choice but to
accept it; we are going to war until every monster in that forest is laid
to waste and brought to justice."
Rachel
from behind screams out, "ENOUGH!"
The
crowd turns to face her, expecting to see the grieving mother. They
are not ready for the surprise.
Rachel
address them calmly, "We have all been mistaken. All, ALL, of
us, together as one. Did you forget we are one? Did you forget
HaShem is One? Who here was able to stop this? Who here solved
anything? Who here among us can say they know their right from their
left, up from down? We've all been confused and bewildered.
We've all wanted revenge. We've all wanted peace. We've all
been one all along, but we refused to acknowledge it. We all were
wrong, whether we oppressed the orphan, poor, widow, or stranger directly
or whether we stood by and did nothing. Whether we preached against
it or whether we kept silent; it still happened in our midst. Whether
we fought the invaders or whether we stayed at home; we have each suffered losses.
Silence now, all of you. You may want to mourn, but I will not
mourn. You may want revenge, but I will not seek it. You may
want peace, but I will not withdraw. You may think you are right, but
I will not stand beside myself. I will go and fetch my son. We
all as one will go and fetch my son. You all will stay here and pray,
examine yourselves, and get right before HaShem; distribute to the needy
and calm the angry. We all as one will do this. This will be so
because where I go you go and what you do, I do. My son is not yet
dead. HaShem is One and we must become One. For when Yisrael
becomes One, there is no force that can stop us. Did you forget this,
in our Torah, in the Prophets, in the Writings, in the Talmud, in the
Gemara, in the Mishnah, in the wisdom of the sages, rabbis, aggadah, and
commentaries? Yosef and Yehudah were right, but were not one.
Soon enough with HaShem's promise, they will be."
Rachel
stands in full regalia: Yehudah's scepter in her left hand, Dan's sword
hanging on her belt, Yosef's crown upon her head, Levy's breastplate,
Shymeon's riches, Naphtaly's scrolls, and the Torah in her right
hand. The people begin to bow, "Bow not, we are all here as one
and thus, I am going as us all - as we have agreed to do." Dan
says, "I will come with you, my wife, for then we would be two and not
one. I defer to your wisdom, for HaShem has blessed me with a
wonderful companion." Rachel says, "It is settled then."
The
people wail, pray, study, give to the needy, visit the injured, and no more
revere nor oppress certain people for their hearts are full sated with
mourning, hope, fear, and love. Rachel and Dan go to the marauders
and find Yosef sitting with them, unbounded and well.
Yosef
calls out, "Mother, they released me not long ago upon hearing the
valley was gathered together. They feared for their lives and they
took me out of the pit and asked, 'who are you that the whole valley would
seek its vengeance upon us?' And I said to them, 'release me and I will
teach you if you will listen.' So they did. They are in
disarray, but these people here I have listened to their complaints and
they have listened to me; I promised them if they seek peace, we will pursue
peace with them." Rachel hands the scepter and sword to Dan:
"you know what to do." She then takes the crown and places
it upon Yosef's head, "You and your brothers have much work to do now,
make haste. New life is within Rachel and her spirit uplifted; she
knows amidst the struggles Yisrael will emerge."
