The Power of Transformation: From Gaza to Times Square
When Segev Kalfon was held hostage in Gaza, he witnessed fellow captives paraded on stages before evil crowds in cruel propaganda spectacles. In the suffocating darkness of the tunnels, he made a quiet vow: if he were ever put up on that stage, he would use it not for humiliation — but for faith. He dreamed of declaring Shema Yisrael, Judaism’s timeless proclamation of unity, before the very savagery that sought to break him.
By the time he was released, the staged ceremonies had stopped. The captors had removed the platform.
So he found another one.
Chosen for What?
In a well-known quote from "Fiddler on the Roof," Tevye gazes heavenward and ponders on his many misfortunes, "Dear G-d…I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"
For good or for worse, the nations of the world have always been obsessed with the Jewish people. Despite Israel's best efforts to prove that it is just like any other country, the world will always treat Israel differently. Indeed, what does it mean to be the Chosen People?