This Passover, we are the prophets: Reviving faith in a weary world

In a special treat this year, Passover features a Shabbat in the intermediary Chol HaMoed days. And when that happens, we read the extraordinary haftorah of “The Dry Bones.”

In this prophecy, G-d takes the prophet Ezekiel (Yecheskel in Hebrew) and flies him to a huge valley filled with miles upon miles of human bones. G-d asks Ezekiel if he thinks these bones could ever live again. And sure enough, they do. G-d commands Ezekiel, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of G-D! Thus says G-d to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live again.”

There is much written and said about this sublime vision. The Talmud discusses the identity of the skeletons and records a debate between the sages as to whether this was an actual event or only a prophetic vision shown to Ezekiel.

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But there is a powerful and crucial message to us today that we should reflect upon as we hear these words in shul this Passover.

This communication from G-d to Ezekiel took place during a terrible Jewish exile. Things were very difficult for the Jewish people. Life was hard, the situation was bleak, the Jews were far from home, and many of them were discouraged and in despair. Many a Jew was bereft of hope and faith, having been squeezed dry of any optimism by the challenges of the day. They remained like skeletons with no sense of life, no sense of joy. Bone dry.

G-d sent Ezekiel to remind them: Don’t give up. You are not done. You are not too far gone. Hope remains and I shall revive your spirits for you.

And wonder of wonders, He does. Whether the story is literal and G-d resurrected the dead, or it is only a prophetic vision and G-d breathed hope into hopeless hearts — either is a monumental miracle. It would be hard to tell which is a greater achievement, if something like that can be said of G-d.

Today, many Jews are greatly discouraged. One need not describe all that is weighing on Jewish spirits. Many Jews feel despondent. When will the hate run out? When will the sickly patterns finally end? Will they ever?

Divine Providence has ordained for us to hear the haftorah of the Dry Bones this year. And if we find ourselves in shul listening to the words of the Prophet, we are from the hopeful ones. Our presence in shul attests to our hope and faith, a thankfully warm connection to everything we hold dear and sacred. We are, then, not the dry bones being addressed and revived. Rather, as we hear the haftorah, we ought to know that we are the prophets.

As G-d called to Ezekiel then to help Him breathe life into the despairing Jews of his time, G-d calls upon each and every one of us now to help Him do the same for the Jews of our time. This prophecy is in our souls, percolating in our hearts and minds, begging to be shared with our exhausted and defeated brothers and sisters.
With deeply felt love and true devotion, we need to speak to our fellow Jews, and especially to the most assimilated and distanced among them. With faith in G-d and faith in the glowing embers of the eternal Jewish spirit present in each Jew, we are called upon to say to them, “O dry bones, hear the word of G-d! Thus says G-d: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live again.”

Notably, Ezekiel is told to speak to the Jews now — even as they are dry bones. There is no time to wait, and there is no need to wait. A fellow Jew may have the appearance of being bone dry, devoid of any interest or receptiveness to talk of a spiritual revival, but a prophet of G-d is not fooled by appearances. Speak words from the heart and they will pierce even the most hardened heart.

Finally, it is important to hold dear this particular line from the story: “I prophesied as I was commanded. The breath entered them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast multitude.” Ezekiel testifies that he couldn’t truly understand how it might be worthwhile to speak to dry bones, but he did as he was commanded. And as a result, he revived a vast multitude and brought them back to life, back to joy, back to hope and back to faith.

Even when it appears utterly hopeless, never give up on your fellow Jew. Open your mouth with humility and faith in G-d’s abilities, and you will see wonders and miracles unfold.

As the director of The Aleph Institute,and having worked with some of our most discouraged brethren, I can tell you firsthand: It works.

My mother’s Yartzeit is during Passover, and I dedicate these words to her. Our Yiddeshe Mamas never gave up on us, even when we seemed hopelessly impossible. They answered G-d’s call to be His messengers of unconditional love and unconditional faith in their children. We can only pay the favor forward, and treat one another like family; and you never give up on family.

Chag sameach, good yom tov to one and all. PJC

Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel is executive director of The Aleph Institute – North East Region. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.