I am heartbroken. Am I expected to study Torah when I am heartbroken? We are heartbroken. Are we expected to discuss the parasha when we are heartbroken? Maybe. Maybe not.

Discussing Mishpatim, this week´s parasha, is particularly hard today, after the return to Israel of the bodies of 4 hostages killed by Hamas in Gaza.

Captivity survivor Yarden Bibas was returned to Israel a few weeks ago, on Feb 1, and we in the Jewish world held our breath, hoping for the miracle that we will see baby Kfir, his brother Ariel and their mom Shiri return home to the arms of their loving father and husband. That hope got shattered and we broke down in tears learning that the three of them, along with Oded Lifshitz, have been killed in the terror tunnels of Gaza and their bodies would be returned to Israel on Thursday. We know now that the identification process confirmed the identity of Oded, Kfir and Ariel, but the female body received is not Shiri.

Biased reporters took to call Hamas members “militants” or “fighters”, but those names do not apply to them. They are not militants fighting for a just cause. They are terrorists, set to destroy our world as we know it. They are guilty of crimes of unimaginable cruelty and physical and psychological terror that cannot go unpunished.

Parashat Mishpatim tells us how to live a life in a society governed by the rule of law, how to act when different events take place and how to deal with offenses, how to worship, how to celebrate, basically, how to lead an honourable life the Jewish way.

The Jewish way is a life-affirming, peace-seeking way. It has been like that in the past, it is this way in this turbulent present and it will be like this in the future, when a strong Am Israel will thrive again in its promised land.

Jewish history has seen many moments of persecution, hate, open displays of anti-Semitism, and time and again, when tragedy struck, Am Israel prevailed.

I am heartbroken. It´s not just me. We all are. Could our hearts be mended? Can we attain some sort of collective healing?

Is it possible that discussing Torah in the midst of chaos is the way? Two rabbis in our Winnipeg Jewish community said two very important statements that might work as part of the answer to this question. Rabbi Yosef Benaroch pointed out the three elements that hold us in this terror times: Unity, Emuna and Tzahal. Unity is being together, strengthening our ties with our fellow Jews. Emuna is faith, trust in HaShem and HaShem´s protection and guidance. Tzahal is the heroic IDF. These three gifts are our supporting pillars. Our own Rabbi Allan Finkel discussed our right and duty to speak up. We have a voice that needs to be heard. We have a Jewish voice that needs to be used in defense of those who can’t talk. Having the teachings of our tradition guide our way in the modern world is the Jewish answer that carried us throughout time from Sinai to Babylon to Rome, to medieval Spain and to every corner of the world, until we made our way back home, to Eretz Israel.

As the verses attributed to king Solomon say, gam ze yaavor, this too shall pass. The aftermath of the Holocaust saw the birth of the state of Israel. It is in our hands that the aftermath of this terror sees Jewish life flourishing both in the diaspora and in Israel. We are the candles that keep the light of Judaism shining.

So, are we expected to discuss Torah in the midst of chaos, terror and heartbreak? Maybe. Maybe not. Yet, studying Torah is not only permitted, is the right thing to do, is part of our being and our strength as people. The intergenerational resilience ingrained in our souls lead us to take action. We can, we should, and we must take action. What can we do? Study Torah, light Shabbat candles, proudly display our Jewish identity, join the Sunday rally, give tzedakah and volunteer to strengthen our community. Now, as before, honouring our teachings and embracing our traditions, staying true to our identity and expressing joy as a form of resistance is definitively our Jewish way of life. Am Israel chai.