I once asked Rabbi Berel Wein if Judaism fared better with persecution from the outside or with integration among its neighbors. He responded without hesitation that Judaism has been a much more successful enterprise when surrounded by antagonists. As sad and surprising as this observation is, it makes a good deal of sense. During periods of societal acceptance, Jews have achieved greatly in Torah scholarship and secular endeavors. However, these same eras often challenged Jewish identity as integration increased. Many Jews were lost to assimilation. Conversely, times of persecution compelled Jews to confront and defend their identity more strongly.
Consider American Jewry in 2020: Of an estimated 7.5 million Jews, 27% don’t identify with the Jewish religion, and 32% don’t associate with any Jewish stream. Intermarriage rates reach 72% outside Orthodoxy. Only 56% of those raised by one Jewish parent identify as Jewish. Despite the blessings of American life, these statistics suggest that Jewish continuity isn’t guaranteed in welcoming societies.
Since Simchas Torah 5784, Jewry has been under attack in almost every corner of the world. The epicenter of this war is obviously in Israel, where civilians were violently attacked, abused and captured. The ensuing war has claimed the lives of hundreds of brave young soldiers. But the battle against Jewry has not been limited to Israel. Already on October 7th, pro-Hamas rallies erupted around the world in an orchestrated effort to delegitimize and malign Israel and any Jews who support it. The effort to attack world Jewry has moved to campuses, businesses, city councils, synagogues, Jewish neighborhoods, seats of government, city streets and beyond. For many, it has felt like a siege. Western complacency and an expansive interpretation of free speech has enabled these attacks to continue without consequence. Jews find themselves on the defense around the globe.
But this is also an opportunity. In the last year, Jews from around the world have displayed leadership we could only imagine a year ago. In Israel, we witnessed young men leave their families for months on end, endangering their lives to protect their people and their country. We saw brave women acting as single mothers, wives, breadwinners and homemakers while their husbands and sons were at the front. In the Diaspora, the response has been equally impressive. People have committed themselves to numerous pro-Israel initiatives. Some flew to Israel with supplies, while others led missions or offered professional services to those in need. Many organized Shabbatons, BBQs, and concerts. Some found niches collecting gear and supplies for soldier friends. Others confronted campus bigotry and antisemitism, lobbied governments, joined letter-writing campaigns, or counter-protested pro-Hamas rallies. Some visited Israel and brought heroes and traumatized families to their communities for respite and fundraising. A few even left their jobs to fundraise or establish chesed centers for Israel.
The Kotzker Rebbe once related the following story. A young man approached him saying that he had completed all of the Talmud and wanted to be tested. Despite the boldness of the request, the Kotzker Rebbe responded unperturbed. “What is the answer to the captain’s question?” he asked. “The captain’s question?” the young man asked. “Yes, what is the answer to the captain’s question?” The young man demurred. He could not remember any captains asking any questions in the Talmud. The Kotzker Rebbe explained: “In the book of Yonah, Yonah tried to run away from Hashem. He boarded a ship to Tarshish, which soon was caught in a terrifying storm as a result of Yonah’s actions. Yonah removed himself from the experience by going to sleep in the hold of the boat. The captain of the ship found him there and demanded – ‘Why are you sleeping?’ That is the captain’s question.”
Even people who are well versed in all of Judaism can remain asleep while the storm rocks the boat. Are we awakening to Hashem’s message? The past year’s events have stirred a dormant sense of Jewish pride. While not everyone has awakened, and many are fatigued from months of effort, this period has undeniably reminded us of our Jewish identity’s significance. Our task now is to kindle Jewish pride among all willing Jews and help them find their place on the deck of this ship as we navigate this violent storm together.
Rabbi Ya’akov Trump is the Rabbi of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.