With Passover at our backs we our counting our way up to Shavuot. But I can admit that after “reliving” the many miracles that lead to our exodus from Egypt and reaching a crescendo with the Splitting of the Red Sea, I find myself wanting more. With the mounting crises in Gaza, in Israel, the Middle East, and on many campuses in North America, it seems that we could use a miracle or two right about now. After the spectacle of the Splitting of the Red Sea and our current events I am growing impatient. What comes after this miracle of the Splitting of the Red Sea?

To explore this question I wanted to share a midrash. There we learn:

A Roman Matron asked Rabbi Yosi ben Halafta, “In how many days did God create the world?” He said, “In six, as it is said, ‘Since six days God made…’ (Exodus 20:11) “And since then,” she asked, “what has God been doing?” “God sits [on the Heavenly Throne] and makes matches: the daughter of this one to that one, the wife [i.e. widow] of this one to that one, the money of this one to that one,” responded Rabbi Yosi. “And for merely this you believe in God!” she said. “Even I can do that. I have many slaves, both male and female. In no time at all, I can match them for marriage.” Rabbi Yosi, “Though this may be an easy thing for you to do, for God it is as difficult as splitting the Red Sea.” Whereupon, Rabbi Yosi took his leave. What did she do? The Matron lined up a thousand male and a thousand female slaves and paired them off before nightfall. The morning after, her estate resembled a battlefield. One slave had his head bashed in, another had lost an eye, while a third hobbled because of a broken leg. She said to them: “What do we have here?” and they each said to her: “I don’t want this one” [with whom you matched me.” Immediately, she summoned Rabbi Yosi and she brought him to her and said: “Your God is not like our god, and your Torah is true, pleasing and praiseworthy. You spoke wisely.” (Genesis Rabbah 68:4)

What has God been doing since the creation of the world? God has been making matches. But how difficult is that? It is as difficult as splitting the Red Sea. Like the Matron we could easily assume that making matches is easy, but we would be wrong.

I was thinking about this midrash when learned of this touching story about Alon Mesika. Alon is an Israeli jeweler. His 23-year-old son, Adir, was tragically murdered at the Nova festival along with most of his best friends. Adir died trying to fight back and protect his girlfriend, Yuli, who ultimately survived. After sitting shiva, Alon told himself that he needed to stay busy. Coincidentally, he heard from one of Adir’s friends that there was a soldier hoping to propose who was looking for a ring. Alon invited him to the Diamond Exchange to pick up a diamond ring. The full story is in the video below:

Alon aptly said that while Hamas is trying to destroy he is committed to doing the opposite and build Jewish homes. . Inspired by Adir, what started with one ring as grown, months later, Alon has handed out his 81st diamond with no plans to stop.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe said, “If you see what needs to be repaired and how to repair it, then you have found a piece of the world that God has left for you to complete. But if you only see what is wrong and what is ugly in the world, then it is you yourself that needs repair.” Amidst the darkness Alon has accepted the invitation to join God in the holy work God has been doing since the Splitting of the Red Sea. Where the Matron and Hamas have failed, Alon is doing the holy work of making matches. While we find ourselves in dark times, we all should be inspired by Alon. While others might wallow in sadness, he is doing something to fix this broken world.