The Kalaniyot - CHRONICLE Online/The WORD 1/01/26

Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah

January 1, 2026

12 Tevet 5786

Parashat Vayechi

I just returned from my first trip to Israel after October 7. While my family and I did many of the fun and touristy things that one would expect on a trip to Israel, I felt something pulling me south toward the site of Hamas’s invasion and violence. We went to the field near Kibbutz Be’eri where the Nova Music Festival took place. When we got there, I was immediately drawn to the kalaniyot—the red anemones that are the national flower of Israel.        Kalaniyot typically blossom briefly during the very early spring in Southern Israel. They don’t last very long. So, while the hostages were being held in Gaza, Israelis started making ceramic kalaniyot and planted them in Southern Israel so that when the hostages were released, they would see the beautiful flowers waiting for them regardless of the season. Some of you may recall that the cantor taught us a song “Porchim L’Shuvam,” by Ishai Ribo. about these beautiful flowers and their connection to the hostages.   The ceramic kalaniyot took on even greater significance to us when we found out that our friend who is a ceramicist in Israel participated in the project. She made many of these flowers and taught others how to make them as well.   Today, Israel is still waiting for the remains of one last hostage to be released, but the beautiful ceramic kalaniyot remain. And in a sense, they’ve become a symbol for Israel itself. Israel’s enemies thought that the Jewish state would bloom for a short amount of time before withering and dying—just like the desert flowers.  However, Israel has made it clear that the Jewish state will find a way to make those kalaniyot last much longer than others expect. Israel is not going anywhere. The beauty and strength of Israel will endure. Although the visit to the Nova site was incredibly difficult and heart-wrenching, I found myself leaving with a sense of hope—thanks to the kalaniyot. Israel still has a lot of healing to do. The war is not completely over. For example, our Jeep driver in the Rimon Crater was leaving for reserve duty in Gaza just a couple of days after our tour. But, it’s only a few weeks until the real kalaniyot start to bloom.  

Shalom, 

RAF.