Cold Soup

There once lived a cerain couple that was greatly in love. Before you knew it, he had proposed! The wedding was amazing, and married life continued from good to better. One evening, the man turned to his wife and asked: "Would you make me something to eat, please? I have to go for a moment, but I'll be right back." She begins preparing a delicious soup. Steaming hot, she places it on the table in front of her husband's favorite chair. The night passes, and there's no sign of her husband! A day, a week, a month, a year passes...and yet nothing. One morning, the man appears. He walks into the house, up to the table, straight to his favorite chair, sits down and tastes the soup that is on the table. The soup is cold.

What will the husband's reaction be? Anger? Disappointment? No way! If he's wise, there is no way he will complain. Rather he will think it incredible that not only is the house still there, his table and favorite chair, still there, but even the soup is there! The soup is cold? Well, yes, when you leave soup out for years, it can get a bit cold.

Now let's put this story into context. 3,324 years ago, G-d asked us if we would marry him. We had an extraordinary wedding ceremony, with great special effects--we were wowed. After the wedding He said, "I have a few things I'd like you to take care of for me so, please... I'll be right back." We haven't heard from Him since. For more than three thousand, three hundred years. He has sent messengers, messages, postcards, but we haven't heard a word from Him in all this time.

Maybe the Jewish people haven't always been as virtuous as we could have been. Yes, if Mashiach comes today, he'll find that "our soup" is cold. We suffer from separation anxiety. We suffer from a loss of connection to our ancestors. The soup is cold, very cold. Today we aren't spiritually excited and in tune like in days of old. But is that really our fault? And who gets the credit for the fact that there is soup altogether? That we're still here! We are a vibrant, passionate, and loyal people. We the Jewish people are a miracle! G-d is proud of each of us and all of our ancestors. And at the time of the final redemption, He will beam openly with pride and thanks for keeping our Jewish identities strong - keeping the soup on the table.

In the meantime, nothing stops us from warming up the soup a little, adding spices and flavor. An extra mitzvah, a prayer said with vitality. But no matter what, we can look at our nation with pride.

Shabbat Shalom!