This week's Torah reading is a special one for the Sabbath that occurs in the middle of the holiday of Sukkot. The intermediate days of the holiday are not as holy as the first and last, but the Sabbath has its own special splendor.

This week's reading is about the reconciliation of God and the Jewish people after the sin of the Golden Calf. Moses intercedes on the Israelites' behalf, and God rewards him with a new set of tablets -- and a renewed connection.

In the same way, the ceasefire deal that went into effect Friday, October 10 -- ending the war and heralding the return of the remaining Israeli hostages -- marks a renewal of the relationship between the Jewish people and God.

The October 7, 2023, terror attack took place on the last day of Sukkot -- which was also a Sabbath that year, and which is celebrated in Israel as Simchat Torah, typically one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar.

The terror attack turned happiness to shock and despair. But the subsequent victory, won by ordinary men and women (including those who fought for Donald Trump's political victory), has restored happiness to the holiday.

Three Bible verses come to mind. One is from last week's traditional additional reading from II Samuel 22, which talks about redemption from one day of weakness. Verse 49 talks about triumph over corrupt men -- "hamasim."

Another, sent to me by a friend, cites Nehemiah 8:17, which describes captives returning to Jerusalem from exile, and celebrating the holiday of Sukkot for the first time in generations -- another prophetic image.

The last is Jeremiah 31:16, often cited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- first as a promise, now as a fulfilled pledge: "and the children shall return to their own border."

May we savor the joy of the coming days.