Over this last month of war, so many of us are attached to our WhatsApps-family and friends whose lives are disrupted, literally living in shelters. Just over the last two days, multiple Zoom meetings with organizations in Israel–Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, were disrupted by sirens, with those present rushing to sign off to get their loved ones to safety.

From thousands of miles away, I witnessed this stress, chaos, and heartbreak up close and personal.

While just a few weeks ago, the Torah taught us the mitzvah of the eternal light, this week, the Torah teaches about another fire that should not be extinguished.

We learn, “A perpetual fire shall be kept burning upon the altar; it shall not be extinguished.”

Chizkuni, the 13th century French commentator, taught that even while the Israelites were journeying through the desert, God’s honor demanded that precautions be taken that this flame be kept going. Rabbi Yehuda explains they did this by using a metal dome fixed above it to ensure the flame kept going.

This fire is much more than a physical fire on the altar. We have witnessed the inner fire of the Jewish people once again during these most difficult times. Jewish schools continue to cancel Israel trips that were planned years ago. Families wishing to celebrate Seder in Jerusalem will take the words, “Next Year in Jerusalem” to literally mean just that.

And yet, the strength continues. On my own family WhatsApp, we received news of a cousin’s engagement while he continues to serve in the IDF. I was sent a picture of a 13-year-old celebrating her bat mitzvah in a bomb shelter while she was supposed to be on a trip to Japan. Each story is one filled with heartache while also filled with the Jewish spirit that tomorrow can be a brighter day.

These last few years, we added chairs for our hostages who were not at home. This year, we are truly grateful that every hostage, alive and dead, are home or at eternal rest.

This year, add another chair-for a young boy or girl in Israel or in the United States who is severing Israel or the United States, who is not sitting with their family in order that we can sit with ours. Remember that these small actions allow the mitzvah of the flame to continue to burn eternally on the Divine altar.