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EMOR 5784
Chosen People? Chosen For What?
These past few weeks were filled with celebration and commemoration. First there was Passover which was different this year as we remembered our redemption from Egypt with a prayer for Gd to redeem our hostages from Gaza. Then just 6 days later, with a special sadness we commemorated Yom Hashoah Ug’vura, Holocaust Memorial and Heroism Day. Exactly one week later our sadness continued with Yom Hazikaron, the Memorial Day for Israeli soldiers who had died in defense of the Holy Land. The next day—last Tuesday—was Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day.
A Jew’s emotions these past few weeks were all over the place. I can’t help but think of the words of the holiday Kiddush we recited on Passover where it all began. We blessed Gd: Asher bachar banu mikol am (for You have chosen us from all the nations). We said it, but it doesn’t always feel like it.
If you consider the Jewish world today, you can easily fall into despair with: Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, the continued captivity of our precious hostages, and the unrelenting threat of Iran. The metastasizing antisemitic cancer rapidly spreading throughout college campuses, the systemic hate of Jews even among professors and administrators of institutes of “higher” learning, the distortions and lies of the media, the bias and discrimination of Jews by members of Congress, can easily breed a sense of hopelessness.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton writes: When so-called “friends” issue eloquent statements but fail to take meaningful action, we can’t help but wonder, how will this end?
The post-October 7 energy of being part a united, tenacious people, determined to defeat our enemies, restore security and fight for peace for all decent people, feels like it is dissipating and giving way to the cruel reality of what feels like an endless existential loneliness and isolation. The adrenaline that powered our soldiers and their families in Israel, that energized protests and advocacy in America, and that inspired contributions and donations from all over, is draining, potentially leaving in its place fatigue, fear, and despondency.
We expect the UN to unfairly condemn Israel. It would not surprise us if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu for war crimes. But when America withholds a weapons shipment to Israel while she’s fighting a savage enemy, it leaves Jews and those who love Israel wondering if we have anyone we can count on.
IF this is what being the chosen people feels like, maybe we can be less chosen and more safe and secure. As we were remembering the 6 million martyrs of the Holocaust recently, the IDF began the invasion of Rafah to finish off Hamas and rid the world of today’s Nazis. Reflecting on this, I thought about some of the lessons of the Holocaust for us. No lesson is more poignant that a story of the Klausenberger Rebbe.
The Klausenberger Rebbe, Rav Yekusial Yehuda Halberstam, was taken to Auschwitz, where his wife and 11 children perished. He survived the war and came to America, where he remarried, had more children, and built a grand Chassidic movement. He moved to Israel where he built a thriving community in Netanya and established the Laniado hospital. He was truly extraordinary.
Let me share with you a story about him from Auschwitz: The SS guards began taunting him, teasing, pulling his beard and pushing him around. The vile soldiers trained their guns on him as the commander began to speak. “Tell us, Rabbi, do you really believe that you are the Chosen People?”
The soldiers guarding the crowd howled in laughter. But the Rebbe did not. In a serene voice, he answered loud and clear, “Most certainly.”
The officer became enraged. He lifted his rifle above his head and sent it crashing down on the head of the Rebbe. The Rebbe fell to the ground. There was a rage in the officer’s voice as he said, “Do you still think you are the Chosen People?”
Once again, the Rebbe nodded his head and said, “Yes, we are.”
The officer became infuriated. He kicked the Rebbe in the chin and repeated, “You stupid Jew, you lie here on the ground, beaten and humiliated, in a puddle of blood. What makes you think that you are the Chosen People?”
[This is an amazing reply.] With his mouth gushing blood, the Rebbe replied, “As long as we are not the ones kicking, beating, and murdering innocent people, we are the chosen people.”
Are we the Chosen People? You be the judge. Before our precious soldiers entered Rafah, they did several things that no other army in the world ever did. American leaders and the media told us that it would take weeks to evacuate the refugees from Rafah, but within 3 hours, over 100,000 refugees from East Rafah were safely relocated. They said it would take weeks for the IDF to enter Rafah from the moment the evacuation began but the IDF, in a staggered operation, entered Rafah within a few hours with no civilian casualties.
The IDF did this by not only announcing they were coming, they not only notified civilians to relocate, but helped them. What other army has ever done such a thing? The IDF dropped leaflets, sent text messages, and made phone calls. A recording of one of those calls to a Gaza citizen was released and it reflects the contrast of our peoples. Listen:
IDF soldier: We must do everything within our means to prevent any fatalities. That’s why we must help you relocate.
Gazan citizen: We want to die, and our children also must die.
IDF soldier: No, Gd forbid.
Gazan citizen : We love death the way you love life.
It’s been said by Palestinian leaders again and again: “We love death the way you love life.” As long as we love life, even while they celebrate death, we are the Chosen People. As long as we have the most moral and ethical army in history, and are fighting the most moral war ever despite opposing savage monsters, we are the chosen people.
Before the soldiers entered Rafah, they gathered to do what the Torah instructs Jews to do before going out to battle—they prayed, asking Hashem for victory and for peace. So long as we pray for peace while our enemies pray for war, we are the chosen people.
We don’t rely on the media, America, the international community, or the UN to know that we are the chosen people. It is up to us to be proud, practicing, ethical, Torah Jews to demonstrate we are indeed the chosen people.
The Klausenberger Rebbe suffered devastating losses in his life, but he never lost his faith in Hashem; he never lost his resolve or his mission. Yes, he suffered and grieved, but then he put one foot in front of the other and not only survived—but thrived as he inspired a generation. He did it by never doubting for a moment that he was a member of the people chosen by Gd.
My friends, since October 7th, we grieve as well. We have suffered, but as members of that same people with that same mission, we too will thrive, no matter who supports us or stands with us. Happy 76th birthday Israel. Am Yisrael Chai, the Chosen People of Israel shall live! Amen!
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