Walking Between the Raindrops

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun". These words were written by King Solomon about three thousand years ago. Sometimes we fantasize that painful and tragic moments from previous eras will never be repeated, and we are surprised when ominous indicators appear on our radar. It was about 90 years ago in the United States, when Charles Coughlin, a Canadian-born Catholic priest, electrified the radio airwaves with his rhetoric filled with overt Jew hatred. It is estimated that Coughlin had about 40 million weekly listeners who were glued to their radios, only too eager to digest the poison that he espoused. Coughlin was one of the key figures during the America First nationalist wave of the 30’s that successfully influenced the American government to be neutral in the days leading up to and in the beginning of the Holocaust. We all know too well how that ended. ​ We are living in interesting times amid a new and different America First movement. To be sure, there are versions of this ideology that are not hostile to the Jews and their ancestral homeland. After several years in word and deed, President Trump has demonstrated that one can be a champion of America First and be a friend and ally to Israel and the Jewish People. However, the next generation is emerging, and many of them have made clear that, in their viewpoint, America First and Israel First are mutually exclusive. The traditional view that America stood by Israel because of shared values is now being undermined not only on the left but more recently in the circles on the right. The center is dangerously shrinking and becoming lonelier. One of the most influential podcasters on the right, whose name I cannot bear to mention, has tens of millions of followers who listen and are influenced by his rhetoric. One of the positions the podcaster champions is that no U.S. citizen should be allowed to serve in the IDF, as that would constitute a lack of loyalty. He does not share the same position if anyone is a dual citizen of a country other than Israel. Most recently, the podcaster hosted an infamous Nazi sympathizer on his show and offered little pushback. The Heritage Foundation, a revered think tank in the Conservative movement, refused to distance itself from this podcaster. ​ One of the blessings for American Jews for the vast majority of its time in the United States has been the liberty of not needing to choose to be a loyal American and a proud Jew who is connected to Israel. There are cracks in the armor that indicate an unwelcome change might be coming. ​ In this week's parsha, our patriarch Avraham identifies himself as a “newcomer and a resident.” It would appear to be a contradictory way of describing oneself. If you are a foreigner, then you are not a resident, and vice versa. Avraham was teaching us that we must embrace this dual identity. Yes, we are loyal citizens to the host country, and we have a covenantal relationship with G-d for over 3,000 years. Both ideologies are aligned with one another and not mutually exclusive. ​ As Jews, we live with PTSD from our collective past. Some Jews always make sure to have valid passports, as you can never be sure. Even if someone else might think that it is an overreaction, one must not delude oneself into thinking that all is ok. While the mediums of communication have changed from the radio to the online world and its social media offerings, human nature and its weaknesses remain the same. Sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking that we can just wait until the storm passes. More often than not, the Jewish story has conditioned us to keep dancing between the raindrops. Have Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Upside Down World

Upside-down world. That description seems to fit the state of the world we are living in on so many levels. This week, Norway ordered a review of Israeli investments held in the country’s sovereign wealth fund after receiving complaints that some might be contributing to Israel’s military action in Gaza. Following an ethics council recommendation late last year, the oil fund sold out of Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq over concerns the company could be contributing to human-rights violations as it provides services to the so-called Israeli settlements (I prefer to call them communities) in Judea and Samaria. The enlightened ethics council from Norway apparently felt that a company providing phone and internet services to Jews in their ancestral homeland was too egregious and needed to be blacklisted. The attempt to demonize a whole segment of the Jewish population simply for living in the Land of Israel is not limited to people living in Judea and Samaria. It just starts there and evolves into a discussion of whether Israel has the right to exist. This rhetoric just does not align when you meet people from these areas who are full of love, optimism, and faith. This week, our community is being visited by Rabbi and Gez, who are in town for Akiva Shyken's Bar Mitzvah. A few months ago, their son Chananel was in the car with his wife Tze'ela en route to the hospital to deliver her fourth child. Terrorists opened fire at the vehicle and killed Tze’eala in cold blood. Her baby initially survived the attack and was named Ravid Chaim, but succumbed to his injuries a few days later. The family buried their wife/mother with their infant son within a very short time. The grieving father and husband has since been exuding strong faith and optimism despite the painful tragedy. His parents, who are visiting here, are also filled with love and kindness. It is a pleasure to host them here for Shabbos and hug and support them during this time. It’s with sad irony to note that in the upside-down world we currently inhabit, the company that provides phone service to the Gez family has been blacklisted by the ethical commission of the enlightened world. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Beyond Our Understanding

Our generation has been forced to eat humble pie. We are living in 2025 and the advances that we have experienced in our lifetime have been unparalleled in the course of human history. From self-driving cars to artificial intelligence and everything in between, Man has felt unlimited in his quest to conquer any frontier. Nevertheless, the 7 post October era has been a sobering reality for us all. The war that Hamas terrorists unleashed on that fateful Simchas Torah is seared into our memory. The question of WHY this occurred keeps on flashing in people’s minds. The past 20 months have been particularly brutal for the Jewish People. Hostages continue to languish in the most difficult of circumstances in Gaza. These events have triggered feelings of despondency and reflection. Some have attempted to answer the question, but no one can understand why this is happening from a theological perspective. There are no prophets among us, and our faith has been challenged, and we are forced to reconcile how a just and benevolent G-d can allow such realities to put our people in peril. We are confronted with the cold reality that we do not have an answer as to why G-d allows this to occur. This weeks Parsha of Chukas begins with the words זאת חקת התורה, or This is a Chok of the Torah. A Chok is a Mitzvah that doesn’t have a rational understanding of human comprehension. While it may make perfect sense to return a lost object or honor your parents, it doesn’t make much sense to sprinkle the ashes of a burnt red cow onto someone in contact with a dead body. The notion of not finding satisfactory responses to challenging theological questions has vexed the greatest rabbis for thousands of years. Moshe pleaded with G-d to understand His ways in the world. The Talmud explains that Moshe desired to discover the reason why the righteous suffer or the wicked prosper. G-d responded that the living could not comprehend the mysteries of the universe. A finite being cannot grasp the infinite, and it is beyond human comprehension. While on a superficial level, this may be unsatisfactory, on a deeper level, there is a sense of inner peace in knowing that you can’t understand or control everything in this mortal world. The notion that we don’t comprehend all of G-d’s ways in the world is an uncomfortable but necessary truth to learn. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yakov Fisch

Historic Moment

"Who knows 12? I know 12!" These words are from a rendition at the end of the Pesach Seder. The traditional response to this question is, "12 are the tribes of Israel." After the events of recent days, it appears that this question of "Who knows 12 ?" may have another answer. The most recent war that Israel waged with Iran is being called the "12-day war." There are so many layers and perspectives to unpack it's hard to know where to begin. The most severe consequence was the 28 fatalities as Iran fired about 550 missiles indiscriminately towards civilians in major population centers. They targeted a Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, which sustained significant damage. Every life lost is a tragedy that will permanently affect all the families of the victims. That being said, it's important to note how much worse the consequences were predicted to be. Each missile carried a warhead of at least a few hundred pounds and upwards to nearly two thousand pounds. Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli and American air defenses at an interception rate of around 90 percent. At least 31 ballistic missile impacts were reported in populated areas or critical infrastructure sites, including a power station in southern Israel and an oil refinery in Haifa. It's important to note that each missile could have killed hundreds or even thousands of people. The protective shield over Israel was felt both in the physical and spiritual realms. More importantly, it appears that the nuclear threat from Iran has been severely downgraded. The notion of Iran possessing nuclear weapons, combined with their regime's repeated declaration to destroy the State of Israel, was an existential threat to the lives of over seven million Jews. There is a large public area in Tehran called Palestine Square that had a clock that was counting down the time to the destruction of Israel. (This clock was taken down in an airstrike by the Israeli Air Force.) This should reinforce the understanding that the nature of the threat was from the regime in Tehran. We are filled with gratitude to G-d for giving the IDF the strength, fortitude, and courage to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, coming from this menacing regime. We are also filled with gratitude to President Trump and the United States for the historic action of dropping multiple bunker-busting bombs on multiple nuclear facilities in Iran. It is not an exaggeration to state that this action may have very well prevented a future Holocaust. As a community of faith, we continue to be forever grateful to G-d for being the ultimate Guardian of Israel, protecting His people in the sacred territory on this planet. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Rise Up as a Lion

Israel is at war. Again. The truth is that this is not a new war but rather a new chapter in a decades-long campaign by the Islamic Republic of Iran to wipe Israel off the map. This new phase takes place amid the ongoing multi-front campaign that Israel is waging with Iran’s proxies all over the Middle East. It is rare for one country to fight a three-front war. Israel is fighting a seven-front war. Another unusual aspect of the nature of this conflict is that Israel is battling an enemy that desires its annihilation. If anyone had any doubts about that, October 7 clarified our understanding of the threats Israel constantly faces. While initial news reports indicate that Israel has struck a punishing blow against the Iranian regime, it’s important not to be lulled into a false sense of security. Iran possesses a great capacity to retaliate and inflict much pain and suffering. The threat to our ancestral homeland is real, and millions of our brothers and sisters are in great peril. The heroic members of the IDF are extraordinary in their dedication and mission to defend and protect the homeland. May the Guardian of Israel continue to watch over them in this most tenuous moment. I am not a military or intelligence analyst and won’t attempt to be an armchair general. I do have thoughts from a spiritual perspective. It’s interesting to note that the current military operation has been called עם כלביא or Operation Rising Lion. This phrase originates from the Torah, in which Bilam refers to the Jewish People as a Rising Lion. Rashi has the following commentary on this verse. “When they rise from their sleep in the morning, they show themselves strong as a lioness and as a lion to “snatch at” the Divine precepts (to perform them immediately) — to clothe themselves with the Tallit, to read the Shema and to lay Tefillin.” This underscores the tenacity of the Jew who has been fiercely dedicated to G-d and diligent in connecting with His word. He jumps on the opportunity to be a Lion as an engaged and connected Jew. Lions are necessary on the battlefield and physical homefront. Lions are also needed on the spiritual homefront. In the “Never Again is Now era,” it is incumbent on all of us to rise up like a Lion, one way or another. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Privilege or Burden?

Shver tsu zayn a Yid — It's hard to be a Jew, said the old Yiddish proverb. Many of us have verbalized this phrase for a long time in one iteration or another, from the Kosher consumer in the grocery store who realizes that record inflation does not even take the skyrocketing prices of kosher groceries into account. It also may be uttered by any one of tens of thousands of Jewish parents who are committed to providing a K-12 Jewish education to their children and realizing that their tuition bill is north of fifty thousand dollars. Since October 7, this phrase has been uttered by countless Jewish university students as they are physically bullied and intimidated by rising Jewish hatred. There is a fascinating insight at the beginning of this week's parsha that helps reframe the issue. The Torah articulates the different roles and responsibilities of the Levites, the spiritual custodians of the Mishkan. There were three primary families from the tribe of Levi, and each had distinct roles assigned. The three Levite families were Kehas, Gershon, and Merari. In describing the role of the family of Gershon, the Torah uses interesting language. The Torah states, זֹ֣את עֲבֹדַ֔ת מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י לַעֲבֹ֖ד וּלְמַשָּֽׂא. It is translated as, "These are the duties of the Gershonite families as to serve and porterage." Was this a noble service or a mundane task of schlepping (another Yiddish word)? One idea that is offered is that there are two general ways we can embrace our communal responsibilities in particular and obligations as Jews in general. We can view it as part of a higher calling that we have been chosen and have a special destiny in history. Part of having a higher calling comes with more responsibilities. If someone embraces this worldview, they can view their Jewish responsibilities as a privilege and badge of honor. Another view is to view responsibilities in life as a Jew as nothing short of a burden. Such a person will regularly lament about how burdensome or unfair it is to lead a Jewish life. The Torah taught the Gershon family that they can choose how to embrace their communal responsibilities. They can view them as a privilege for which they can be thankful, or as a burden for which they can resent. While we may not belong to the Gershon section of the tribe of Levi, we are regularly asked to choose how we view our approach to Jews. How is it for you? A privilege or a burden? Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Why Shavuos is Relevant Today

As we celebrate the holiday of Shavuos, it is worth reflecting on the significance of this date and its impact on the Jewish People in particular and the world in general. Shavuos is the anniversary that G-d revealed the blueprint for humanity to live a life with the utmost holiness and Godliness on this mundane earth. G-d revealed this blueprint to us in what is known as the Torah. It is hard to overstate how transformative this transmission was to the Jewish People. The Torah unlocks the ability of a mortal being and allows him to live a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. The Torah enables the Jew to infuse spirituality and purpose into mundane and physical activities. The Torah has empowered the Jew to connect with the Divine even in the world's darkest moments and find that light in an increasingly dark world. In his book Derech Hashem, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (1707-1746) writes G-d created many spiritual manifestations in this world with His presence. However, one embodiment is more compelling and more intense than any other in this world. This manifestation of Godliness and holiness that one can connect to in this experience is more profound and superior than any other experience. Someone can only experience this profound manifestation through Torah Study. That is another explanation of the famous words of the sages, ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולם or the Study of Torah is equivalent to them all. I found this interpretation mindblowing and refreshing at the same time. It provides an entirely new and refreshing perspective on the power of Torah study. The conventional understanding of the purpose of Torah Study is to accumulate knowledge. For example, to know how to put Tefilin on his arm, he must study and be knowledgeable in the laws of Tefilin. However, there is another dimension that is entirely different and transcendent about Torah Study. It is the ability of a mortal being in this mundane world to connect with Godliness and holiness that will touch his soul to the core. For this reason, it is meaningful for our souls to study sections of the Torah that we have studied before, i.e., the weekly Parsha, or to explore areas of the Torah that may have little practical relevance. The truth is the connection to Godliness and holiness our souls connect with during this experience is so profound that it matters little what the topic is or how relevant the Talmudic discourse may be for the participants in the class. אשרינו מה טוב חלקינו! Fortunate is our lot in life that we have the gift of Torah! As we celebrate the Yom Tov of Shavuos, let us reflect on this unparalleled opportunity for spiritual experiences that the Torah offers us in the jungle of this mundane world. Have a Great Yom Tov, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch