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VAYIGASH 5785
People of the Year
Cheryl and I went on a Bahama Cruise with her son Ilan and family a couple of weeks ago to celebrate Cheryl’s big birthday. I decided that on the cruise I would wear my kipa and not my Falcons cap. Now that had nothing to do with how the Falcons are playing these days. And rather than getting snarls or bad looks, it was just the opposite.
On the 1st day a big man in the elevator—with tattoos all over his body—grabbed my arm while looking at my kipa saying, “You people—you can just imagine how my heart was pounding—I love you people. I love Israel. I’m solidly behind you. You’re doing the right thing in Gaza and Lebanon.” Several times during the cruise, people who saw my kipa came up to me and said Shalom. An Army veteran came over to proudly share that when he was in specialty training, he went to Israel to practice with the IDF and told me he was so grateful for the special skill he learned.
This left me with a feeling that while there are people who hate us—and this past year we’ve come to learn how much they hate us—we need to know there are more people who love us, and we must appreciate just how much they love us.
Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik—Rabbi of the Spanish Portuguese Synagogue in NY, but who was also the dean of the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at YU when I received my master’s degree—was asked about his concerns regarding antisemitism, and particularly at universities. He responded: “I’m steadfastly optimistic. While rising antisemitism is cause for legitimate concern, there is no time in Jewish history where we’ve had more support from the non-Jewish world. We should recognize and appreciate that.”
Cheryl had packed a Chanukiah Menorah and candles because the 1st night of Chanukah would be on the 3rd night of the cruise, and we didn’t know if there would be a public Menorah lighting to fulfill the mitzvah. As it turns out, there was a public lighting on the 11th deck with Rabbi “Peggy” who lit an electric menorah, sang a Chanukah song and served latkes made in the non-kosher kitchen! It was something, but it wouldn’t help us fulfill the mitzvah of the Chanukah candles.
We weren’t the only ones disappointed by this. 2 young couples saw my kipa and introduced themselves. They too were looking for a proper candle lighting. We invited them to join us, and they did. Our cabin was a bit crowded, but the spirit was great. If I hadn’t worn my kipa instead of my Falcons cap, they wouldn’t have come and it wouldn’t have been as memorable.
Incidentally, on the last night of Chanukah we were in a Los Angeles kosher restaurant. We had come for a wedding the night before, checked out of our room that morning, and had nowhere to light candles. So, we brought them to the restaurant and—with 2 other couples who joined us—we chanted the brachot, lit the candles and sang Maoz Tzur. It was truly memorable. The lesson? You can do “Jewish” anywhere.
Today too many Jews are fearful of being obviously Jewish because antisemitism is on the rise. Jews comprise only 2.4% of the US population but are the targets of 68% of religiously motivated hate crimes! Following October 7, 2023, hate incidents against Jews spiked 400%! Just this week, Hadassah published the results of 2-year survey on antisemitism. It found: 64% of those [Jews] polled reported that hate and discrimination have directly impacted their lives, relationships, and professional environments. Additionally, more than half felt compelled to conceal their Jewish identity.
Commenting on the complicated relationship between Father Jacob and his brother Esav whose descendants our Sages identify with Rome and the Western world, they teach: Halacha b’yadua (It is a well-known Jewish law) Esav soney et Yaakov (the descendants of Esav will hate the offspring of Jacob). Rav Moshe Feinstein once asked: “Why is the word halacha (Jewish Law) relevant here? It’s because just as Gd’s law never changes, so also Esav’s hatred of the Jewish people never changes.”
Yes, there will always be those who hate us. But, as I see it, I think those who love and admire us are far more. Last weeks’ Time Magazine had its annual pic for “Person of the Year”: Donald Trump. And along with it, Lisa Su the “CEO of the Year,” Caitlin Clark “The Athlete of the Year,” and Elton John the “Icon of the Year.” To this list I’d like to add, the “People of the Year,” and the Jewish People, just by what they had to endure are truly the People of the Year!
My colleague Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg writes: What our people have undergone this past year defies belief! We have been physically attacked by Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Syria, Houtis…we’ve been physically attacked on the streets of Europe and America, and from Alaska to New Zealand! Who would have ever thought the elite college campuses would become unsafe for our children, and that here in America and in the so-called “civilized” world, it could be dangerous to wear a Jewish symbol in public? And to make matters worse, in response to all this, the world turned against us. From Black Lives Matter to white nationalists, from Kanye West to the Pope, from the BBC to the New York Times, from the U.N. to the ICC…it’s our fault, we brought this on ourselves, we’re “colonialists,” “oppressors,” practicing “apartheid,” “ethnic cleansing,” “genocide,” “violating human rights,” creating a humanitarian crisis. This, after they beheaded our children, raped our daughters, burnt parents and children alive, destroyed peaceful communities and shot over 30,000 rockets at Israel.
In one way or the other, it’s happened before: from the Greeks in the Chanukah story to the Persians, Germans and Russians. But today one thing is different that gives promise for our future. What’s different? We Jews to put into practice the meaning of the name of today’s Torah portion. Today’s parsha is Vayigash—usually translated as “approach,” not a common word. It begins: Vayigash eylav Yehudah (and Judah approached Joseph). The more common Hebrew word for “approach” is karav. Erica Brown, in her new book, The Torah of Leadership, explains: “We all have moments…when all we want to do is withdraw, turn around or run away…Vayigash is not merely to “approach” or “come close,” but to do so when the situation is highly charged or emotional.” In the past, what did Jews do in confrontation with those who would do us harm? We fled in fear.
This year was different. This year there was, as the Jerusalem Post calls it: “A New Wave of Jewish Reconnection. The surge of Oct. 8th Jews” after the pogrom of Oct. 7th. How?
- Despite the war, American Jews moved to Israel this year in record numbers.
- Israeli’s have increased their belief in Gd and practice of mitzvot.
- In America, there’s been increased synagogue membership, expanded enrollment in Hebrew school, and shuls are fuller on Shabbat.
- Israel Bonds and Jewish Federations had their most successful campaigns ever.
- Billionaire Jews have cut their funding to universities that allow Jewish students to be bullied and threatened.
- And there’s now a shortage of mezuzzahs and tefillin. Why? So many Jews are buying them for the 1st time.
Vayigash! In a most dangerous and challenging situation, we Jews have stood our ground. What have we, “The People of the Year,” done? We stood up as proud Jews approaching Gd!
It’s all summed up in this picture I’m holding from a grocery store in Jerusalem. It shows a stand displaying all sorts of basic items with a sign saying: “If you are having trouble in this difficult time, take any of these items free with our love.”
My friends, that’s Am Yisrael, the Jewish People. Am Yisrael Chai, this year—and in all the years ahead—may the Jewish People always be the People of the Year. Amen!
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