As we stand under the chuppah, the pinnacle of joy, we break a glass as a sign of mourning, and as we bury our loved one, in the deepest state of despair we say Kaddish, a prayer of hope. We are not a confused people, we are clear-eyed and hopeful.
My social media feed is filled this morning with people euphorically celebrating today’s inauguration of President Biden or despondently mourning the end of Trump’s presidency. If there’s anything this past year should have taught us, it is to be humble and acknowledge that we have no idea what’s in store. We are joyful not confident, sad but not despondent.
There is much discussion these days about the prayer we say for the president, many seeing it as an endorsement of sorts. It is not. It is an expression of “seek(ing) out the welfare of the city to which I exiled you” (Yirmiyahu, 29:7). More specifically, it is a recognition that “the hearts of kings are in the hands of God,” (Mishlei, 21:1) and despite our confident political analyses, it is God who ultimately decides what will be.
הַנּוֹתֵן תְּשׁוּעָה לַמְּלָכִים…
He who grants salvation to kings…
may He grant this wonderful country health, prosperity, and peaceful healing.