The ‘Who Knows?’ Modality of Salvation: Watching the Nor’easter from the Sukkah on Hoshana Rabbah
What the Prophet Joel’s ‘Mi Yodea’ teaches us about incremental healing, Simchat Torah, and divine surprises
It is 2:30 on a windy Sunday afternoon. I’m sitting here sipping some hot black coffee as I watch the waves through the plastic flap of our community Sukkah.
The much hyped “Nor’easter” is running late. The waves nonetheless, proceed on schedule.
With infectiously admirable grit and mischievous glee, they muster enough torque to evince a credible enough simulacrum of storminess.
Like a Prophet delivering an unwritten message from on high.
I am reading that the hostages might be released today, but as Mordechai responded to Esther in the Purim story when she sought his (and G-ds) prophetic reassurance that it would all turn out ok in the end— his evasive non answer answer was, “Mee Yodea” “who knows?” “Perhaps this is the reason you ended up in the palace in the first place.” He responds to her based on the way he himself was granted this information when he too sought it out, in a dream, whispered hints and intimations of possible salvation.
The “Who knows-Perhaps” modality of salvation doesnt come with a warranty, there are no Biblically backed guarantees” only a window of possibility—in the case of Purim; that a person with unprecedented access to the one person who could repeal the decree against her people might leverage that position successfully.
But it wasnt enough. Contingencies are required to supplement provisional options. These require a wider range of options, and a broader role and agency for the people: Begining with Esther, who ironically, finds her suddenly empowered voice, expanding into the very hollow space that was to be filled with the hoped for G-dly intervention. She fills that vacuum by exhorting Mordechai and the people to gather together to fast and pray.
The tentative message conveyed subliminally is indeed the Stormy waves sans the storm. Which of course IS ultimately the storm itself.
The past two years have been epitomized by this Purim like modality of “Who Knows” characterized by an effulgence of conflicting scenarios, dashed hopes, and renewed optimism. But never has this process resonated with the hoped for certain outcomes or the reliability of concrete information we so craved.
We must indeed spend these moments not relying merely on our “sister in the palace alone” Instead We too should gather. We should be together. Praying. Singing. Studying Torah and tagging it all with the spiritual category of “Bring them home”
Please Join myself and Rabbi Sruli Baron at 44 Burrill street in Swampscott at 9pm this evening of October 12th for the commencement of Hoshana Rabba.
Rain or shine.
Much Love,
Rabbi Yossi