Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 we have seen a profound increase in antisemitic speech, at demonstrations, on social media, written on walls and repeated in the media. We saw it with our own eyes at the recent Richmond City Council meeting. Antisemitism is the hatred that transcends political boundaries. Many American Jews are shocked that this ancient hatred has once again become permissible to speak in public. But antisemitism has been on the rise for many years now. Hamas and Iran have been calling for the annihilation of Israel and its Jewish population for decades. The alt-right and their defenders on conservative media have been attacking Jews since the mid-2010’s. The progressive left has made the eradication of Israel part of its ideology. Antisemitism is the hatred that cuts across all political boundaries and it always has. In response many of us feel a need to connect to Jewish community and in ways we never have. But it is critically important not to let Jew haters define who we are. In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob is on the run from his brother Esau. He pauses for the night and in his dreams has a vision of God, “Remember, I am with you: I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15) Upon awakening, Jacob says, “Surely God is present in this place, and I did not know it! How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven.” Jacob comes to understand that he and his descendants (us) are a living connection between God and humanity. To be a Jew means to know our history, our culture, our religious practices and our traditions and then to live them out as authentically and truly as we can. We can never let our enemies define us. We must define ourselves. Or, as David ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel said, “It doesn’t matter what the world thinks. It matters what Jews do.” Live your Jewish life openly and proudly and you will make a positive difference in the world.
Vayetzei, Genesis 28:10-32:3, Parashat Hashavua for Shabbat, November 25, 2023
November 23, 2023 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 we have seen a profound increase in antisemitic speech, at demonstrations, on social media, written on walls and repeated in the media. We saw it with our own eyes at the recent Richmond City Council meeting. Antisemitism is the hatred that transcends political boundaries. Many American Jews are shocked that this ancient hatred has once again become permissible to speak in public. But antisemitism has been on the rise for many years now. Hamas and Iran have been calling for the annihilation of Israel and its Jewish population for decades. The alt-right and their defenders on conservative media have been attacking Jews since the mid-2010’s. The progressive left has made the eradication of Israel part of its ideology. Antisemitism is the hatred that cuts across all political boundaries and it always has. In response many of us feel a need to connect to Jewish community and in ways we never have. But it is critically important not to let Jew haters define who we are. In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob is on the run from his brother Esau. He pauses for the night and in his dreams has a vision of God, “Remember, I am with you: I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15) Upon awakening, Jacob says, “Surely God is present in this place, and I did not know it! How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven.” Jacob comes to understand that he and his descendants (us) are a living connection between God and humanity. To be a Jew means to know our history, our culture, our religious practices and our traditions and then to live them out as authentically and truly as we can. We can never let our enemies define us. We must define ourselves. Or, as David ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel said, “It doesn’t matter what the world thinks. It matters what Jews do.” Live your Jewish life openly and proudly and you will make a positive difference in the world.