Last Shabbat I stayed in Petach-Tikva, both my parents and in-laws live there, a mere 5 minute walk. Being the officially hottest summer ever registered, and the hottest days in this unbearable summer, it indeed was a heavy decision where to eat each meal.
Harder than going around in the boiling heat with a Tallit and carriage is the “in between” feeling. As it says in Genesis, “A man shall leave his father and mother and unite with his wife and become as one flesh”, after the great excitement of the wedding, after two years+ of marriage I can declare that indeed you leave a family behind. Leaving one home behind, you gamble on building a new one, but that requires a great deal of work, and time. In the meanwhile your pretty much on your own.
It really fell on me when Shabbat departed, when we went to my parents to celebrate my Mom’s Birthday, and we discovered the family was ready to go to a restaurant for that very celebration. It struck me as absolutely amazing that we wouldn’t even have known about everyone celebrating, if we haven’t happened to drop by.
Though I now understand there was no reason to tell us, since there was no room in the car for us anyway, why should we be told were left out? Still the fact that my family was fully functioning without me, had it’s effect nevertheless.
Part of the price we pay for growing up and earning independence, is the other side of independence- having less of a backing, needing to stand on our own legs even if we are still too weak.
I feel that is the meaning of the Rabbi’s choice of Wisdom over Prophecy, after the destruction of the Temple. Even though growing into our own Wisdom instead of leaning into G-d’s loving hands weakens our stand. Cutting the strands of Prophecy lets us truly grow from the hardships, strengthen our personal stand.
Just as we pray and prepare for the return of Prophecy, I pray for the return of my family of childhood. Just as we prepare for such a Prophecy that will enhance and be enhanced by Wisdom, I try grasping such a way of seeing it all as a process for the greater good, by the will of G-d.