Better and Better      

Photos: Elchanan Kotler

Since the release of Yair Elaytzur’s “Od Yoter Tov,” the song about Hashem’s love and goodness has become a banner of optimism and hope among all sectors, a source of strength through more than a year of war and national trauma. While Elaytzur had a small niche following before, he says what’s saved him from flying away on his instant fame is hisbodedus — the daily conversation with Hashem that keeps him grounded

ITwas the last Shabbos of 5784, a year filled with immense pain and challenges for the Jewish people. During that Shabbos of parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, a small sign was hung at the entrance of the building where I was staying, in the mixed religious-secular neighborhood of Givat Shmuel, outside Bnei Brak. It was hung by secular residents who wanted — despite the halachic issues involved — to update their Shabbos-observant neighbors about a breaking news item.

“To our Shabbos-observant neighbors,” it read, “we wanted to inform you that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, yemach shemo, has been eliminated (most likely) by us. Besuros tovos!”

As we made our way to shul that day, we were overjoyed. Another historic moment, another mass murderer who had instilled fear throughout the entire region was no longer. The joy lasted into the long Shabbos afternoon; we sat and sang and savored the day. But some of the people around the table warned us that a response would surely come, and it would be a harsh one.

Shortly after six in the evening, the sound of a siren cut our singing short. It was deafening. As usual, panic erupted. Where do we run? Where do we go? Yes, the apartment had a safe room, but it wasn’t large enough for all the people spending Shabbos there. “To the stairwell!” someone shouted.