Golda Meir, Henry Kissinger & Jewish Identity
There is a well-known story about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir when she met with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Kissinger stated, “You must remember that first, I am an American; second, I am the Secretary of State, and third, I am a Jew.” To this, Golda responded, “Henry, you forget that in Israel, we read from right to left.”
Although the Jewish people constitute a mere 0.2% of the world population, we continually find ourselves in the limelight. Israel, comparable in size to the state of New Jersey, attracts a huge disproportionate amount of attention, making daily headlines worldwide and evoking strong sentiment and reactions from billions of people across the globe.
Throughout the past four millennia, nearly every culture and civilization has been fixated on the Jews, for better or worse. Despite efforts to assimilate, the world perpetually views us as different, holding us to a higher standard.
The world inherently recognizes that the Jewish people have a distinct Divine role to play on the world stage. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks would often relate: “Gentiles are embarrassed by Jews who are ashamed of their identity and respect Jews who respect themselves”.
The Jewish people are the canaries in the coal mine. It may always start with the Jewish people, but it never ends with us. Evil will always view the Jews as the first line of defense, but essentially they are against all good people. Our job is to fight it by becoming more proud and connected to our Judaism.
In this week's Torah portion, Vayishlach, we learn about Jacob reuniting with his brother Esau. As Jacob journeyed back home to Israel with his family, he discovered that Esau still harbored anger towards him and intended to confront him with 400 men, seeking to kill him.
The Torah teaches us that Jacob employed a three-pronged strategy to confront this dire threat. He prepared for war, sent gifts to Esau in an effort to appease him, and prayed.
Jacob's approach serves as a powerful lesson for Israel and the Jewish people today, emphasizing the necessity of readiness to combat evil militarily while pursuing peace without compromising our security, land, or identity. Simultaneously, it stresses the importance of prayer and the performance of Mitzvos, strengthening faith and invoking G-d's blessings.
Additionally, the Torah recounts that Jacob dispatched messengers to Esau, delivering a message that highlighted Jacob's enduring resilience despite dwelling with Laban. As the verse states, “And he (Jacob) commanded them, saying, 'So shall you say to my master to Esau, Thus said your servant Jacob, I have lived with Laban, and I have tarried until now'.” -Genesis 32 1:2
Rashi comments on the words “I have lived (גַּרְתִּי) with Lavan…” and shares a deeper insight to Jacob's message: The word for live in Hebrew is גַּרְתִּי which has the numerical value of 613. That is to say: I lived with the wicked Laban, but I kept the 613 commandments, and I did not learn from his evil deeds.”
Why would Esau, a known hunter and murderer, concern himself with Jacob's personal Jewish identity and observance? Wouldn't it be more effective for Jacob to impress Esau with his material wealth, hoping to gain favor?
Jacob comprehended that combating evil necessitates truth. By showcasing confidence in his identity and unwavering faith in G-d, Jacob conveyed a message of strength and hope, believing he would be saved from Esau's plans.
Jacob's initial message to Esau about his Jewish observance instructs us on how to present ourselves to the world. Contrary to assuming that emphasizing our commonality while downplaying our Jewishness is key to gaining favor among Gentile nations, Jacob's actions indicate otherwise.
Instead, exuding pride in our divine mission doesn't diminish but enhances esteem in the eyes of the world. As evidenced by Jacob and Esau's eventual reunion and peace.
However, this display of peace was temporary. The Torah further explains that although Esau invited Jacob's family to join him on the journey back to Mount Seir, Jacob sensed Esau's enduring animosity and insisted Esau go ahead due to their differing travel paces. The Midrash shares that while they did not reconcile then, a lasting peace between Jacob and Esau will eventually occur during the time of Moshiach.
When facing anti-Semitism, instead of feeling intimidated or concealing our Judaism in public, we must combat it by expressing more Jewish pride. For every hate crime or act of vandalism, we should respond with additional Mitzvahs and encouraging others to do the same.
During the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s, a mass migration of Jews to the U.S. occurred as they fled pogroms, wars, and anti-Semitism in Europe and other regions. Upon arriving in the "Goldene Medina (i.e. the land of gold and opportunity)", many felt that assimilation and maintaining a low-profile regarding their Jewish identity was necessary for integration and prosperity.
In the 1950s, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, the Rebbe, initiated the renowned Mitzvah campaigns encouraging people from diverse backgrounds and levels of observance to reconnect with their heritage proudly. This included affixing Mezuzahs, lighting Shabbat candles, Torah study, donning Tefillin, and sending children to Jewish day schools.
The Rebbe highlighted the intrinsic value of every Mitzvah, regardless of one's overall observance or education. By incrementally doing more each day, individuals fulfill their divine mission and responsibility.
One prominent campaign advocated by the Rebbe was the public lighting of the Menorah. Initially met with opposition due to concerns about drawing negative attention or sparking anti-Semitism, the Rebbe emphasized the Menorah's message of light, freedom, and hope as crucial for the world to witness and internalize.
Today, large public Menorahs can be found in city centers and historic landmarks worldwide. For the first time in many years, a Menorah was erected in the center of the Gaza Strip. Millions of Jews gained heightened pride and confidence in their Judaism and many Gentiles have been inspired to increase acts of goodness and kindness.
Remarkably, Gentile leaders and dignitaries often participate in and support Menorah lighting ceremonies. At significant locations like Berlin's Brandenburg Gate or the White House Lawn, the Menorah lighting has garnered respect for the Jewish community.
The story of Jacob and Esau mirrors the Jewish people's historical struggles, expulsions, and migrations. After thousands of years of refining the world, our responsibility is to stand proudly and work with our allies globally to combat evil and pave the way for a time of peace and prosperity for all nations on earth.
