The Secret To Our Survival
A couple years ago, the Wall Street Journal published a heartwarming article, titled "The Shul That Rose From the Ashes," written by Josh Nass. In it, he describes his grandfather's childhood in Malakhovka, a suburb of Moscow, and his eventual emigration to America in 1972 after surviving the horrible persecutions of pogroms, the Holocaust, and the communist government's attempts to stifle Jewish observance.
Josh recalled, "Speaking only Yiddish, he took the first job he could land. His most ardent wish was for his three children to be raised with a Jewish education and values - something impossible in Russia. He eventually lived to see his hopes fulfilled. All of the next generations in our family received a Jewish education."
Despite the Jewish population in Malakhovka being only a small fraction of its original size, the Jewish community there continues to thrive under the leadership of Rabbi & Mrs. Tamarin, the Chabad emissaries to Malakhovka. The community now boasts a newly constructed synagogue, complete with a Mikvah, community center, Jewish day school, dining hall, and chess club.
Recently, Josh and his family traveled to Malakhovka to dedicate a new Torah scroll in honor of his grandfather. He shared, "We were there to honor a man who had fled Russia to pursue religious freedom in America, but what came next surprised us. We learned that my grandfather's brother's grandson prays in that very Shul to this day, extending a continuum for our family that stretches back almost a century. This little shul, literally risen from the ashes as a symbol of Jewish perseverance, holds a minyan three times a day. Jewish children learn Torah there. In that new Torah, then - and in the hearts of family and friends - my dear grandfather lives on.
The next generation of Jews in Malakhovka will be responsible for carrying the torch their grandparents passed down to them. Only then can the Jewish spirit that he and this town represent truly be replenished for the ages.”
Throughout history, the Jewish people have faced persecution from various superpowers and tyrants, from ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, to more recent oppressors like Nazi Germany, communist Russia, and Jihadist terrorists. However, we have miraculously outlived them all and continue to thrive to this day.
The secret to Jewish continuity over three thousand years of our history lies in a simple principle. Just as a scientist seeks to discover the essential properties of a natural element under various conditions, Jewish survival can be understood in the same way.
The Jewish people are one of the oldest nations, and throughout the centuries, they have lived under diverse and challenging conditions, dispersed across the world, speaking different languages, and absorbing various cultures. Yet, the single constant factor that has preserved our people through all challenges is our adherence to our spiritual heritage through the study of Torah, observance of Mitzvot, and providing a Jewish education to our children.
It is not our land, language, culture, race, or genetics that have made us indestructible, but rather our commitment to our spiritual values and teachings. This adherence to our unique heritage has allowed us to withstand the onslaught against the Jewish body and soul by dictators and tyrants throughout history.
The Talmud (Brachot 61b) tells the story of how Rabbi Akiva taught Torah in public at a time when the Roman government under the Emperor Hadrian prohibited such activity.
Another sage, Pappus ben Judah, said to him: “Akiva, are you not afraid of the government?” Rabbi Akiva replied with the following parable.
"A fox was once walking by the bank of a river and saw fish darting from place to place. 'What are you fleeing from?' he asked the fish.
'To escape the nets of the fisherman.'
'In that case,' said the fox, 'come and live on dry land together with me.'
'Are you the one they describe as the cleverest of animals?' the fish replied. 'You are not clever, but foolish. If we are in danger here in the water, which is the environment we need to live in, how much more so on dry land, where we are bound to die.'
'Torah is to Jewish survival', said Rabbi Akiva, 'as water is to fish. Yes, we are in danger, but if we were to leave Torah, which sustains our identity, to enter the dry land of the Romans, we would certainly die."
In this week’s Torah portion, Eikev, we learn about some of the fundamental ideas in Judaism, including the primacy of Jewish education. As the verse states, “And you shall teach them to your sons to speak with them, when you sit in your house and when you walk on the way and when you lie down and when you rise (Deuteronomy 11:19).”
Our Sages explain that this verse is referring to the responsibility of parents to teach their children Torah and provide them with a Jewish education.
Torah learning is not just another academic discipline like science, economics or physics. Rather, Torah embodies G-d’s infinite intellect and serves as His blueprint for the creation of the world. It provides us with a moral compass to lead a happy and meaningful Jewish life. Torah study enables us to experience an infinite bond with G-d and see the world through a positive and transcendent lens. Torah study provides us with the tools to overcome and rise above the challenges, stress or anxiety that we may experience throughout our day.
Maimonides explains, “He whose father failed to instruct him, when he becomes conscious thereof, is obliged to educate himself. You have not a single commandment among all the precepts to balance the one concerning the study of the Torah, but the precept to study the Torah stands out against all the rest of the commandments, because study leads to practice”.
The Mishnah teaches us the importance of dedicating time each day to Torah study, as it provides spiritual nourishment for our souls just as food nourishes our bodies. Even for those of us with busy business pursuits or pressing responsibilities, we should strive to allocate at least a few minutes of our day to study Torah.
In recent decades, technology has significantly expanded the opportunities and convenience of Torah study. Thousands of apps and online classes are now accessible in multiple languages, allowing us to engage with meaningful and relevant content from the comfort of our homes, offices, or during daily commutes.
The abundance of opportunities for Torah study in our times is a prelude to the ultimate redemption. As Maimonides states, “At that time (i.e. Messianic era) there will be no famines and no wars, no envy and no competition. For the Good will be very pervasive. All the delicacies will be as readily available as is dust. The world will only be engaged in knowing G-d...As it says, “For the Earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
