Aish was established just a few steps from the Western Wall. There were so many reasons that this strategic Judaic location was necessary. Many Jews searching for their heritage came to visit the Wall even if they couldn’t articulate what drew them close. Thus, many walked the few steps to Aish so we could teach them about the history of the Jewish people.
On a personal level this location gives me a daily reminder of the work that we have ahead of us. The work of strengthening the Jewish nation. Two thousand years ago Jews were ripped from their homeland and exiled from the land we loved. So much Jewish blood was spilled in Jerusalem. Yet, we never forgot Jerusalem. No matter where we found ourselves, we dreamed of returning and uniting in Jerusalem.
It was with this background and context in mind that I journeyed down south to once again visit the sight of the Nova music festival massacre on October 7. We have a dynamic couples Aish Destiny mission which has come to spend time in Israel connecting with each other and the Almighty. I was asked to speak during the visit to the holy field where so many young Jews were slaughtered by terrorists.
Before we gathered together, the leaders gave us time to walk around the memorial. Each casualty has their own memorial with their picture, and in the center of the site, there is a group picture that was made of all of these holy Jews. It is an understatement to say this may be the most painful place I have ever visited. To see the young Jewish faces who had their whole lives in front of them, tears one’s soul in half. Their only crime was being Jewish and daring to live in the only Jewish State in the world.
As we gathered together I decided to make two points which I think are important and convey some Torah thoughts to add context for our current situation. As Jews we wandered the world from country to country. We would embrace every new destination and work to enhance the lives of those around us. There is a reason so many Jews have won Nobel prizes. We always worked on behalf of our fellow man. Inevitably we would be persecuted, murdered and tossed out of our adopted countries.
Whenever we entered a country we automatically started to think about where we would go next if forced to flee. Israel is different. We are not leaving Israel. It is our home. No matter what the world tries to do to us on a physical or political level, we will never leave the land of our fathers again. Our enemies can lie and demonize us all day long at the United Nations, but we will never relinquish our homeland.
The world has not come to terms with the fact that after two thousand years the script has changed. We are no longer Jews who keep a packed bag in the closet ready to flee at a moment’s notice. We are home. We will defend ourselves and our families. We will stand behind the IDF because we know what will happen to us if we lay down our guns for a moment. The Jewish Nation is strong and it is finally back home where it belongs.
I then tried to explain where we see a precedent in the Torah for our current situation. Abraham was the most peace loving person in the world. He literally taught the world to love the one true G-d. Yet, when he heard that his nephew Lot, who had separated himself from his uncle, had been taken captive, Avraham picked up arms at a moment’s notice and went to war. When family is threatened and kidnapped, we drop everything to rescue them.
In this past week’s Torah portion of Chukas, a friend of mine, Elie Lowey, pointed out that when Moses confronted Edom and they refused to let the Jews cross their land into Israel, we chose not to engage and instead, journeyed around their land. Yet when we confronted the Canaanite King of Arad (Number 21/1), we prayed to the Almighty for victory and went to battle. What was the difference between these two nations?
The Bible says that this king took Jews hostage. Moses understood the principle from Abraham which underscores our entire existence. Jews never leave Jews captive. Anywhere. Anytime. Period. The power of our small yet special people is that as a family we stand together no matter what the pressure the world thrusts upon us.
It was this guiding principle that sent young Jewish men halfway around the world to Uganda to rescue Jewish hostages at Entebbe almost 50 years ago. We will never forget the hostages in Gaza. They are our brothers and sisters. We will never rest until they are free. Nova serves as a reminder of our responsibility to each other. Jews must look after each other. The world must know that as long as there are hostages we will not stop. We will continue to work until every last one of them is home.
This attitude does not make us war mongers or insensitive. Quite the opposite is true. Jews desire nothing more than to live in peace. We want to live in a society dedicated to the Almighty and to strengthening the world around us. It’s what we’ve done for thousands of years. Yet, when called upon, we will defend our family to the end. When challenged by the Almighty in Genesis, Cain said famously: “Am I my Brother’s keeper?” Jews have been screaming out for centuries: “I AM MY BROTHER’S KEEPER.” Let us pray that the Almighty swiftly returns the Gaza captives and grants us peace in our lifetime.
