Once Proud Nation Loses it Way

If there were a Top 10 list of great and consequential leaders of the last century, most people would put Winston Churchill at the top. Churchill, nicknamed the "British Bulldog" by the Russians, rallied the British people and Western society to defeat the Nazis. It is easy to forget that England faced immense political and military pressure to negotiate or surrender in 1940, especially after the fall of France. A faction in the War Cabinet, notably Lord Halifax, pushed for peace talks or surrender to Hitler. But Prime Minister Winston Churchill insisted on absolute defiance and rejected any surrender. Churchill famously declared: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'" Within this context, it was surprising to hear that the Bank of England announced plans to remove Churchill from the five-pound note and replace him with a squirrel or a beaver. ​ A nation can only continue to thrive if it knows its past and the story that forged its identity. As Pesach approaches, it is once again an opportunity to retell our story to the next generation. The story of how Avraham followed the word of G-d when he left his homeland to walk toward his destiny. His grandchildren traveled to Egypt and endured pain and suffering before experiencing arguably the greatest event in world history with the Exodus. The Jews formalized their covenant with G-d at Mt. Sinai and, after some delays, marched proudly into their homeland. ​ As accusations persist that we are occupiers and colonialists, it remains vital to share our story with the next generation. Failing to do so carries consequences too severe to contemplate. We can look at Churchill being replaced by a squirrel as a nation that has lost its way. ​ Have a Peaceful Shabbos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Faith at Night

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Charles Dickens famously wrote these words as the opening to his book, A Tale of Two Cities. I relate to these words now, as we live in extraordinary times. On the one hand, the United States and Israel have dealt devastating blows to a regime that was not shy about its genocidal ambitions towards the Jewish State. On the other hand, our brothers and sisters are running in and out of bomb shelters, and that's the best scenario. There are less favorable and even tragic outcomes as Israel battles for its very survival with an enemy that wishes to wipe it off the earth. Diaspora Jewry is not immune to struggles related to its survival. This week alone, there were three prominent synagogues in North America that were the target of violent incidents, and it's a miracle that no one was hurt or killed. ​ With this heavy cloud in the backdrop, we are also preparing for the joyous holiday of Pesach. How can we maintain the proper mindset during our Pesach preparations in these challenging times? ​ I would like to share an insight into the Haggadah that offers us a compelling perspective on this issue. Rabbi Elazar Ben Azaria is quoted as saying that he does not recall the source of retelling the story of the Exodus at night until he was enlightened by the teaching of Ben Zoma, who identifies the biblical source for this lesson. While on Pesach night, there is a special mitzvah to retell the story of the Exodus, why are we so concerned about all the nights of the year and Ben Zoma’s teachings right now? ​ Here too, there is an idea that the Night referred to by Rabbi Elazar and Ben Zoma is not “night” in the literal sense but rather night in the metaphorical sense. Night is often a time of fear and uncertainty, both literally and metaphorically. When Rabbi Elazar is referring to “night” in our haggadah story, he is trying to reconcile all the tragic and horrific events that were unfolding to the Jews, with a strengthening of his faith to overcome these struggles. He was addressing the question of how we can celebrate an ancient miracle of the Exodus with Jews living under severe distress. Rabbi Elazar was asking this question while the Land of Israel was under brutal Roman occupation, which intended to snuff out any vestiges of Judaism from our ancient homeland. The question, though, remains timeless. How can we celebrate our emancipation and freedom with all the stress and anguish in our lives? It was only until Ben Zoma came along and taught us to thank G-d and remember the Exodus ALL the days of our lives that the idea concretized for Rabbi Elazar. Faith is not an easy thing. Faith is not for fair-weather fans. Faith takes perseverance, dedication, and endurance. ​ Have a Peaceful Shabbos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch ​

The More Things Change, The More they Stay the Same.

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose". These words are from Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, a 19th-century French journalist. The phrase is loosely translated to English as “the more things change, the more they stay the same." These words have been taking up much of my headspace this week. As a new phase of the war between the USA and Israel vs. Iran unfolded, and we were reading the Megila on Purim in real time, it felt like deja vu. Not unlike Haman in ancient Persia, the modern-day Supreme Leader fit the role with his genocidal ambitions against the Jewish people. One of the most popular days in Iran for the past 40-plus years has been Al Quds Day. Quds Day or Jerusalem Day is held on the last Friday of Ramadan, and is an annual day of protest organized by the Iranian government against Israel. While nominally about Jerusalem, the Quds Day rally serves as a forum for regime figures to call for hostilities against Israel and the liberation of Palestine, envisaging the inevitable elimination of the “Zionist regime.” “Death to Israel” is a common chant at the rallies, often accompanied by “Death to America. One of the most popular areas that the Iranian regime designated in Tehran is called Palestine Square. In June 2017, coinciding with the annual Quds Day rallies, Iran unveiled a large digital clock in Palestine Square. The clock was programmed to count down from 8,411 days, corresponding to a 2015 statement by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who predicted that "Israel won't exist in 25 years". He claimed in his statement that there will be nothing left of the Jewish state by 2040. The statement was made in the aftermath of a September 2015 nuclear deal signed by a previous American administration with Iran. When news broke of the killing of the Supreme Leader and much of that leadership, it was uncanny as to how much it resembled the outcome of his ideological heir in the Megila. The Purim story, as it is well known, does not mention G-d, but His presence is felt everywhere. A turning point of the story is that after Mordechai implores Esther to go to the King and plead the case of the Jewish people, Esther implores Mordechai to gather the people in fasting and prayer. Between the diplomacy of Esther and the prayers of Mordechai, the tides were turned, and Haman met his fate. One of the blessings that we recite prior to the reading of the Megila is dedicated to thanking G-d for the miracles that were “בימים ההם בזמן הזה.” The translation is “in those days in our time.” While much has changed in the past approximately 2,000 years since the Purim story, much has remained. We continue to pray that “May the One who answered Mordechai and Esther in Shushan Habirah answer us.” ​ Have a Peaceful Shabbos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Hidden in Plain Sight

With Purim just around the corner, the usual preparations are underway. We recall the heroes and villains of the Purim story and may think we know the entire story from reading the Megilla every year. There is a most interesting postscript to Megilla that is not widely known. Queen Esther and King Achashveirosh had a son, Darius, who succeeded his father as King of Persia upon his father's death. King Darius was consequential in that he allowed the Second Temple (Beis Hamikdash) to be rebuilt. The rebuilding of the Temple was first permitted by Cyrus the Great around 538 BCE after he conquered Babylon. Construction began but was halted due to local opposition. During the reign of Darius (522–486 BCE), Persian officials questioned whether the Jews had proper authorization. Darius ordered a search of the royal archives and found Cyrus’s original decree. He reaffirmed the decree, ordered the work to continue, funded it from imperial revenues, and protected the project from interference. (All this is documented in the Book of Ezra.) ​ What’s striking about this historical side note is that Darius was born to the King and Queen in the Persian palace while the King and his closest adviser, Haman, were plotting the genocide of the Jewish People. As their ill-fated scheme was being cooked behind closed doors at the Palace, he was fathering a child who was not only Jewish (as he was also the son of Esther), but he would go on to allow for the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. To suggest that this outcome is ironic would be a great understatement. ​ The Talmud teaches that the name Esther is associated with the Hebrew word “Hester,” which means “hidden.” Indeed, the Book of Esther is the only Book in the entire Tanach that does not mention the name of G-d. A casual reading of the Megilla suggests that G-d plays no role in the outcome. A closer analysis indicates that while there is no overt mention of G-d, He is very much present, albeit in a more hidden manner. The birth of Darius and his subsequent reversal of policy, becoming more benevolent toward the Jews and allowing them to rebuild the Temple, is just one of several examples that are most compelling. ​ As we struggle in so many areas of our personal lives, we may feel discouraged when our prayers don't seem to be effective. At this time of year, we should once again draw strength from the Purim that just when it appears that all is lost, we just might be standing on the soil with the seeds of salvation that are getting to sprout. ​ Have a Peaceful Shabbos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch