Yaniv Hayoun did not plan for a miracle. He was not looking for drama.
He simply planned an ordinary day of travel back to Israel from Dubai.
Yet, Hashem chose him for a miracle.
On September 30, flydubai flight 1073 was cruising from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when it suddenly nosedived. We are still learning more details, but it is clear that the copilot attacked the captain and attempted to crash the airplane. Yaniv, together with a few other everyday heroes rushed the cockpit and apprehended the terrorist.
He was able to pull the aircraft back from pummeling toward earth. Two off-duty pilots took over, and eventually landed the flight in Saudi Arabia.
It was a miracle in the sky.
Yaniv did not plan it. But, he did step into it when presented it from – or in – Heaven. When Hashem chose him, he stepped up.
When G-d chooses you, you need not be a pilot. You need not be law enforcement. You need not be a medic. But you can still fly a plane. You can still subdue a would-be murderer. You can still save lives.
Tomorrow night we will be celebrating Simchat Torah. We dance with the Torah.
Lest you think the you are not worthy of dancing with the Torah, think about Yaniv Hayoun. He didn’t plan to subdue a terrorist. He didn’t plan to fly an airplane. He didn’t plan to save lives.
But, he was chosen for it. When G-d chooses you for something, it’s proof positive you have the skills, talents, and abilities. All you need to do is choose back. To step up.
On Simchat Torah, the reason we dance with the Torah – as opposed to learning it – is because it’s our inheritance.
We were chosen to receive the Torah.
You don’t need to be a trained Torah scholar. You don’t need to be raised in a religious home. You don’t need to have a PhD.
You just need to be a Jew. You need to accept that you were chosen.
And, grab ahold of the Torah and dance with it!
L’Chaim!