Geula: Where the Trees of the Field Clap Their Hands!

Geula: Where the Trees of the Field Clap Their Hands!
By Esther Mandella

Yeshayahu 55:12 says
For ye shall go out with joy,
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, 
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

https://en.wikisource.org/…/Bible_(Jewish_Publicatio…/Isaiah

Have you seen a tree clap today? Have you heard a mountain sing? How about a hill? Above are the words of the great and poetic prophet Yeshayahu. If you have listened to the distant clap of a tree, you might not be too far off from personal geula, redemption!

Rashi tells us that these verses speak of an end to our exile from Eretz Yisrael. I see this as not just an end to physical exile, but spiritual exile as well! We are being drawn close to G-d each time we take a moment and choose in our heart to connect with Him.

Have you ever seen the painter Bob Ross on television? He is fascinating to watch! He begins with a few colors on a canvas, and soon, before you know it, with a few brush strokes a tree appears, and soon a forest opens up in front of your eyes!

That is what geula feels like! Yesterday, you went outside and maybe didn’t even notice the trees. The hills that stood in the distance were an afterthought as you drove about doing errands, doing this and that. But today . . . You decided to spend time with Hashem. You asked Him to speak with you through His Torah, through inspired teachers and rabbis and through your simple davening.

Now, you go outside, and you notice the neighbor’s child smiling, the birds are chirping, the wind has a sweet aroma, and what’s that? The winds are blowing through the trees, making it appear as if they are clapping their hands. You clasp your own hands together involuntarily.

You meet with a friend on the same derekh, path. You speak words of emuna, faith. Did you know some translations of the verse above talk of the people of the mountains singing as well? You find yourself singing words of Torah.
It is like Hashem has claimed for His own, and you can’t help singing His songs, thankful to be a part of the dance! As you feel His presence today, sing, clap your hands and feel the taste of geula sparkle within your smile and your fingers. And look up, the mountains just might be singing along!