Justice, Joy, and the Sacred Fight for Life: A Simchat Torah Kavannah
in memory of Shirel Golan z”l and Col. Ehsan Daqsa z”l
Shirel Golan z”l survived the Nova Festival and lived through the horrors of October 7th, but the emotional scars of that day took her from this world just yesterday. Her family believes that the PTSD she suffered was inadequately addressed by the Israeli government, and we must confront that truth — however painful and complex it may be. Shirel was a part of the “Tribe of Nova,” a community that still bears the weight of that tragedy and shines with the radiance of healing and power. Her loss is not just theirs; it belongs to all of us. So too the model of intentional living they set is ours as well to follow.
Col. Ehsan Daqsa z”l, a 41-year-old Druze Israeli commander from Daliyat al-Karmel, also left this world just yesterday in battle. Though he was on academic leave, he returned to the South of Israel to lead a brigade on October 7th and saved countless lives. His story embodies the beauty and complexity of Israel’s society, where Jews, Druze, Arabs, and Christians all stand together. His memory, like Shirel’s, should be for a blessing.
Friends, in this moment of grief and remembrance, we are reminded that life is our sacred goal. We don’t pray for triumph over others, but for the preservation and flourishing of life itself. Justice has been served in the killing of those who sought to harm us, but we do not celebrate the death of any human being, even those who commit the most heinous crimes. We remember the midrash from the Red Sea: when the waters swallowed the Egyptian army, God rebuked the angels who sang in celebration, saying, “How dare you sing when My children are dying?”
There is a delicate balance between justice and vengeance. As with Haman’s name, we are commanded to erase the evil and never forget the harm. But we also know that the memory of these enemies is not worthy of blessing. We must hold both realities — the fight for justice and the sacredness of life — in our hearts. May those who have subverted their own humanity in desecration and violence be forgotten, but may we remember ourselves.
In the memory of Shirel and Colonel Daqsa, let us commit to living fully, to cherishing the life force that flows through us. As we approach Simchat Torah, let us remember that our ancestors danced even through suffering. The tradition of inviting our ancestors into our sukkot, the mystical practice of Ushpizin, reminds us that our sukkot are large enough to hold everyone. We can hold the memories of those we’ve lost and still dance. We must.
Grasp the Torah as if you’re holding Shirel’s hand, as if Colonel Daqsa is with you. Dance, cry, and rejoice because life demands that we embrace both the pain and the joy. Generations to come will ask if we were brave enough to dance in these difficult times, and they will hold us in their memories, just as we now hold those we’ve lost.
As the Torah cycle begins anew, so too must we be brave enough to begin again. In this moment, we are called to pass on the inheritance of resilience and joy to those who come after us. Our ancestors have danced through their pain, and now it is our turn.
May we hold each other tightly in love, open ourselves to joy, and dance with all our might. In the merit of Shirel, Colonel Daka, and all those who gave their lives for others, may we live fully, honor their memories, and bring holiness into the world.
Dance, my friends. Even if your body does not yet feel the strength to move, let your spirit dance.