My father role modeled for me the importance of donating blood.

I love the idea that every two months or so we get to roll up our sleeves and do something that is potentially lifesaving for another human being, without ever knowing who they are. A religious rabbi could be donating blood to an atheist who is unkind to Jews, and it wouldn’t matter. We are meant to learn the art of living with empathy and kindness, while simultaneously sticking to our principles and hard-core, unbreakable, values. Yes, I would like the world to operate by the code embedded in Torah, I believe that its ethics and morals are to be cherished and observed by all, but just because those are my innate beliefs, doesn’t mean that I should abandon my inner kindness, my empathy, for another, even if they are, in my opinion, a menace to society.

You feel me?

In this week’s Torah portion, Korach, we read about a man who had it all. Korach was charismatic, wealthy, spiritually gifted, articulate, and influential, yet he gave it all up because he was jealous of his cousins. He initiated a rebellion against the “system” of “nepotism”, seeking “equality”, while demanding that he be appointed as the High Priest in pursuit of “self-aggrandizement. Moses demanded that G-d clarify for the nation who is right and who is wrong, but he also sought out the rebels, begging them to repent, and demanded of G-d that He punish only Korach but none of his collaborators. Moshe was the OG Jew, the OG shepherd, who cared for the people, even when having to hold the primary culprits accountable.

On Sunday, we will commemorate the Rebbe’s 31st Yahrzeit. To me the Rebbe epitomized this balanced approach. He was a vocal warrior for Jewish tradition, he spoke up about the adherence of Jewish people and “Jewish” organizations to Halacha, he didn’t compromise on the word of G-d even if it “cost him” public support and financial backing, but he also had a unique ability to love, care and empathize with every person, no matter their background, level of observance or spiritual affiliation. Our society equates “wrong” with “bad”, and it’s simply not true. Many people are wrong, they’ve chosen an erroneous path due to education, upbringing, circumstances or brainwashing, but that doesn’t mean that they are bad. Almost everyone, Korach excluded, is worthy of receiving kindness, and we must learn the art of caring - not just for those who are on our team or don’t irk us the wrong way, but - for each individual with whom we are in contact.‍

Moses did it for Korach’s sidekicks; we can, and should, do the same.‍

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

I grew up listening to Country Yossi.

I vividly remember the lyrics in his song “Nebich of the Shteeble” which state “And, son, these are my final words to you, sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a Jew”. For almost forty-two years of my life, I never felt the need to “fight” for our Jewishness, yet, since October 7th the reality has shifted, and every Jew, from Beersheba to Bozeman, must fight for their people, their faith, their Torah way of life. Somedays it feels lonely, but I am reminded that David must have felt small near Goliath, Judah the Macabee must have felt tiny near Antiochus, and Esther must have been frightened by Haman. Yet we don’t back down, we stand tall and bright, because “sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a Jew”.

In this week’s Torah portion, Shlach, we read about the spies sent by Moses to scout out the land of Israel. G-d had promised them the land, it was a done deal, but instead of focusing on their reconnaissance mission to assess the best entry strategy, they decided that entry wasn’t possible at all and brought their paranoia to the rest of Jewry. Yes, there were scary giants. Yes, the fruit was humongous. Yes, it seemed unconquerable. Yet, with G-d on our side everything is possible, and we mustn’t fear. Just because you may have personal insecurities doesn’t mean you should disparage G-d’s land. Like it or not, the land is a gift from G-d to the Jewish people and sometimes we gotta fight for our survival.

“I don’t like Bibi”, “I don’t think America should join this operation”, “Trump better support Israel and take out the Iranian nukes that Israel can’t reach”. Whatever your opinion may be, we mustn’t ever get caught in the disparagement of our brothers and sisters in Israel, who aren’t perfect, but who love our land and are willing to fight for it. As Benny Gantz of Israel’s opposition “Hamachane Hamamlachti” party said, “when it comes to Iran there is not right and left, only right and wrong”. It’s easy to make the mistake of the spies, but it’s wrong. When G-d is on your side David can slay Goliath, Judah can defeat the Syrian Greeks, Esther can overcome Haman, and, if we must, we can do it alone.

Al Tira Yisroel, Al Tira. Do not fear!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

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