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As we enter the period of the Four Parshiyos, which ushers in the Pesach season – a time when we long for the G’ulah (Redemption) more than any other – we begin with Parshas Sh’kalim. This parshah mandates that every man in Israel, rich or poor, donate exactly half a shekel to the Sanctuary. Rav Hirsch explains that a half-shekel, rather than a whole, signifies that we cannot achieve our goals alone; only by partnering with others can we fulfill our fundamental needs, such as the daily Tamid offerings, the most crucial sacrifices brought by am Yisrael.

In Part One of this essay, published a few months ago, I described the growing tension between the chareidi and non-chareidi (secular and national religious) public. I contended that the chareidi community must acknowledge that the events of October 7 have dramatically transformed Israeli society and significantly affected the interactions between the chareidim and other societal groups, as the status quo will no longer stand.

The hostage “deal” – it is at the top of everyone’s mind here in Israel. As I write this essay, it is still not certain whether the deal will go through, but everyone is torn by it. I have long felt that being a responsible Prime Minister of Israel is the toughest job in the world, and it is particularly so in moments when faced with such terrible choices.

They say that “seeing is believing.” In our age of technical wonders and artificial intelligence, we know that this is not to be trusted with any “photographs” or “video” that we see, as they can be easily altered, and it is close to impossible to know when they are “fake.” However, when it comes to natural things we see with our own eyes, we still take it true that “seeing is believing.” Moreover, the notion suggests that one cannot truly comprehend an event or phenomenon until and unless you see it for yourself. That might be true about many things, but at least for two events this past week, I beg to differ.

As I gaze at the lights of the menorah on the eighth night of Chanukah, I wonder: Was Beis Hillel right?

I don’t have any original thoughts to share in this essay. It is not a Torah thought, or a social commentary or a rant. It is just a thought that may help others in the prayers we are all saying.