Over and over again, horrible tragedies have befallen our nation, from recent history to not so recent history, and the dynamic and personal narrative that helps our people go on has been more than anything, that the collective whole - God's providence over our nation - far trumps any consideration of the needs of any given individual.
Maybe, similar to an army, but on a deeper level, the promise to our forefathers was that Hashem would look after our people, that our people would always survive, regardless of the tragedy that could befall a community, a city or a town. Even on a larger level, the 10 nations of Israel were decimated, but Judah - after whom we are called Jews - survived.
That idea is very evident in the meeting Hashem held between Moshe Rabbeinu, the leader of our people, and Yehoshua, his spiritual heir; Hashem Himself convenes the meeting, and then first directs his words to Moshe and not Yehoshua.
"You are soon to lie with your ancestors. This people will thereupon go astray after the alien gods in their midst, in the land that they are about to enter; they will forsake Me and break My covenant that I made with them."
There are no pleasantries. Hashem then adds that the situation will get worse:
"Yet I will keep My countenance hidden on that day, because of all the evil they have done in turning to other gods."
In other words, horrible things will befall our people.
And, what is the antidote? The eternity of the Torah.
"Therefore, write down this poem and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, in order that this poem may be My witness against the people of Israel."
And then, before Hashem even addresses Yehoshua, the narrative is interrupted by this factual account: "That day, Moses wrote down this poem and taught it to the Israelites."
And only, then after that verse, does Hashem finally address Yehoshua, commanding him: “Be strong and resolute: for you shall bring the Israelites into the land that I promised them on oath, and I will be with you."
You can't help but feel, almost, after the introductory remarks to Moshe, Hashem is telling Yehoshua, almost with a wink: "Good luck!"
The plight of Jewish leaders is not an easy one, but even beyond that, the same way Moshe refused to let God destroy the Jewish people and make a new nation out of him and as a result, was not allowed to enter the land because of the strife that resulted, similarly each and every one of us inevitably, because of the ebb and flow of Jewish history, sees him or herself as part of a larger whole. When Jews walked to the gas chambers saying Shema Yisrael that was what they felt. Thank God, we have a strong nation, a strong state, and a strong army to protect us and Jews all over the world, who unfortunately, given that very same ebb and flow will probably increasingly need to seek protection and refuge in our Jewish home, the one promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The "Land of the Nations," is a difficult one, not destined for Jews and with the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide, may we be blessed with an influx of Jews from the four corners of the world who can honor Hashem's final words to Moshe in the Torah's song, Ha'azinu, you will not enter the land, but your people will - and that should be your greatest consolation.
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