One of the reasons that the Jewish people have survived and thrived for so long has been our ability to stay committed. This past Tuesday night, I saw this commitment firsthand as I ran back and forth between events in the Old City. I started my evening in our Spanish Yeshiva study hall which is celebrating its first anniversary. Aish is blessed to have students from all over Latin America come each year to study Jewish wisdom. It is a remarkable thing to hear the students argue about the Talmud in Spanish.
To kick off the year we hosted two very special guests. The Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shlomo Amar came to deliver the opening talk of the year. I told Rav Amar that it was good to see him again. The last time we were together was for the grand opening of the new Aish Chile Synagogue. We reminisced about the beautiful Shabbos we spent together in the community. It was special to have such a great Torah scholar speak at Aish.
In addition, we were honored to host the Argentinian Ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish. He is the first Rabbi to be an ambassador to Israel from anywhere in the world. I have known Ambassador Axel Wahnish for many years and he is an excellent person and serious educator. He is the personal Rabbi and spiritual guide to the current President of Argentina. We were honored to host President Javier Milei at the Dan Family Aish World Center a few months ago. Aish is the largest educational destination in Israel for Argentinian students.
I was honored to address our students. I told them that the Almighty has a plan for the world and for every one of them. Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish is proof positive that if a person works hard for the Jewish people Hashem will guide them to incredible places of influence. Looking around the room I was energized by the commitment to Torah of these young men. They will grow in their knowledge and then leave our institution to lead their community.
After I spoke, I quickly raced back to the Aish World Center where we were hosting a very special wedding. Some of the staff from the Mayberg Foundation had come to Israel for the spectacular wedding of Yacova Mayberg to Chai Margolis. Mazal tov to my dearest friends Louis and Manette Mayberg on their simcha. One of the guests, Marni Darbi who we work with at the Foundation, was inspired and asked if she could have her wedding to Rafi Levy at Aish. We responded immediately and made sure that a number of our students would sing and dance and make it a truly joyous occasion.
It was a wonderful wedding filled with love and laughter. The ceremony was expertly led by long time Aish Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik and I was honored to say a bracha under the chuppa. This was the second commitment I witnessed that night. A commitment to love each other and build a home among the Jewish Nation.
In the background of this wedding was an incredibly moving ceremony taking place at the Kotel plaza. Many times throughout the year the IDF has swearing-in ceremonies for soldiers at the Kotel. This night was for Paratroopers. In 1967, during the Six Day War, the Paratroopers recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem from the Jordanians. Ever since then tradition has dictated that their ceremony takes place in the shadow of the Kotel.
It was breathtaking to be standing at the wedding and hearing these young soldiers take their oath in the background. In spite of all that we have been through this past year, young Jews are still stepping up to commit to risk their lives to protect their Jewish brothers and sisters. This really defines the Jewish people.
These three commitments; to Torah, to love one another, to protect each other, is the secret sauce that is the heart and soul of the Jewish people. This is how we have perpetuated the Jewish tradition for so many years. We remain committed to each other and the Almighty no matter how much the world would rather we conveniently disappear. As we approach the start of the new Jewish year let us all reaffirm our commitments to love, treasure, and protect one another.
