Peace and Truth

      Peace and Truth

When the celestial angels were consulted about the creation of humanity,

the angels of Kindness and Charity gave their blessing—

for human beings would perform acts of goodness and generosity.

But the angels of Truth and Peace objected.

They foresaw a world filled with deception and conflict.

So, what did God do?

God cast Truth down to earth.

From that moment on, Truth and Peace became entwined,

placed in our human realm to wrestle with, to long for, and—

ultimately—to create.

At Mount Sinai, we experienced an unparalleled moment of divine intimacy.

A revelation so profound it left no room for doubt.

The Truth was revealed in full light.

The entire nation saw thunder and heard lightning.

In that lightning bolt of clarity,

millions glimpsed the overwhelming Oneness of God—

and realized we are all rays of that same Divine light.

In that moment of absolute Truth, we also tasted perfect Peace.

We were, as our sages say,

“like one person with one heart.”A community whole and complete.

And yet—paradoxically—within that unity,

we were each fully seen as individuals.

God counted each of us by name, to show how deeply each soul is cherished.

We are not numbers.

Each one of us is infinitely precious,

and it is our individuality that gives depth to our unity.

Before birth, we are taught the entire Torah.

All the wisdom of the universe is embedded within us.

Life is the process of remembering—

of rediscovering that inner knowing,

of reconnecting with the Truth already etched in our soul.

And with that Truth, Peace returns.

Every one of us stood at Sinai.

We each experienced Truth.

We each tasted Peace.

Can we become the ones who bring Truth and Peace back together,

each in our own unique way?

Life, like the Israelites' journey through the desert, is long and winding.

It is a struggle.

It is full of questions, setbacks, and growth.

And it is also beautiful—majestic, expansive, and mysterious.

Life is our classroom.

It is where we become the parents of our own souls.

God created the heavens and the earth.

God created the ‘nothing’ from which everything came.

Our task is to keep walking.

To keep seeking.

To keep yearning for spiritual depth and renewal.

To chase after Truth.

To pursue Peace.

And in that pursuit, may we journey all the way to the end of days—

surrounded and embraced by Peace and Truth.

Chodesh Tov, Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach

Elissa