Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - April '23

The Jewish Voice, Page 3
Changing the Conversation:
From Anti-Semitism to
Pro-Semitism
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler
It feels like Germany in
the 1930s again. Except this
time it’s South Florida and
it’s 2023!
We’ve learned that
various “Hate groups”
declared February 25, 2023,
a “National Day of Hate”
targeting Jews specifically.
Jews are concerned, feeling
vulnerable, and even afraid.
Join with your community
to honor, commemorate
and celebrate the Jewish state
at our series of special events.
Holocaust Remembrance Day
(Yom Ha’Shoah)
Israel’s Memorial Day
(Yom HaZikaron)
Israel’s Independence Day
(Yom Ha’Atzmaut)
Visit jewishpb.org/israeldays
for more information.
Jewish Voice IsraelDays23 6.75x12.indd 1 3/16/23
From the rabbi
Why is this happening? Why are they picking on us hard- depth and relevance of an enigmatic Talmudic teaching, we
uncover the spiritual source of anti-Semitism and how we
working, innocent Jews more than on any other minority?
Are we truly that evil? Has the world really learned nothing can conquer it.
In an impassioned sermon delivered on Purim 1962, the
after all we’ve been through?
Admittedly, these groups are trained to push the limits Rebbe — the spiritual leader of our generation — clarified
of the law, but largely to stay within its broad confines. the true cause for anti-Semitism and empowered us with the
They want to provoke us to react — to debate them, to tools to block it at its core. He quoted an enigmatic statement
insult them and, G-d forbid, to use violence in response to in the Talmud (Kiddushin 33b) that states that the reason anti-
their deplorable actions, all while they gleefully film and Semites attack the Jews is our violating the sin of “Possessing
live-stream the event to present us in a poor light to the rest False Weights.” When purchasing a pound of produce or
of the world. Chabads across Florida have worked closely meat, we assume the measurements are precise. But when
with local and federal law enforcement agencies and we one party is deceitful, they will use a false weight to measure
are in close contact with our local police departments and the product to their advantage. The Torah prohibits us from
private security agencies. even owning an imprecise weight, never mind using one in
As we stand just weeks after the Festival of Purim, a devious transaction.
which celebrates the disarming and neutralization of anti- The Talmud’s statement seems to make no sense! Why
Semitism 2,200 years ago, I’d like to share a profound on earth would possession of inaccurate weights have any
idea that sheds light on this hatred. Through unlocking the connection with anti-Semites attacking us? But the Rebbe’s
explanation put it all in crystal clear perspective:
As modern-day American Jews, we tend to have double
standards in the balance of material and spiritual pursuits —
we will leave no stone unturned in our attempts to support
our financial needs, but when we discover that kosher meat
is slightly more expensive than treif, suddenly we get cold
feet. We wouldn’t be caught dead using an old iPhone, yet
we have no qualms about using our grandfather’s tefillin
because we “can’t afford” to buy a new pair.
We are sure to be fluent in Shakespeare, the Wall Street
Journal or, at the very least, all the movies that came out in
the past 30 years, but when it comes to Talmud, Torah, or our
Jewish heritage, we’ve barely given it five minutes of our
attention. We’ll vigorously endure a painful gym membership
to ensure the health of our bodies, but we don’t even bother
to ask what the needs of our souls are.
We’ll “religiously” pursue every cruise and vacation, but
we can count on one hand the number of times we’ve visited
the Holy Land and her sacred sites. We wouldn’t miss out
on a Bruce Springsteen concert for the world, but Shabbos
in shul is something we squeeze in only if nothing more
interesting is happening. Our kids will be given the finest
education in nothing less than Ivy League schools, but their
Jewish education suddenly ended in their early teens.
It is these double standards that we all exercise in our
personal lives that are the cause of the double standards in
how the gentiles perceive us.
When we carry “false weights” within ourselves — giving
undue prominence to our material pursuits and the needs of
our bodies over our spiritual interests and the needs of our
souls — the nations of the world hold us to a far harsher
standard than they use against anyone else. It is important
that we are scrupulously honest, not just in the external
physical world but also in our internal spiritual world, for
they are intrinsically connected. But when we have a double
standard within ourselves, the nations of the world judge us
by a double standard too!
Instead of reacting to the hate, let’s approach this
challenge with wisdom, character, responsibility, and poise:
Let’s not allow the haters to define us; it’s up to us Jews to
define ourselves. Being Jewish is not just about being anti
anti-Semites; it’s about embracing our Judaism, our Torah,
and our unique and holy mission upon this Earth.
It’s time for us to declare that we’re not just Jewish
because they hate us but rather because He chose us. Let’s
deliberately put our fingers on the other side of the scale
weighing it down toward mitzvahs and Torah and our G-dly
mission on this Earth.
If there’s a mitzvah that you don’t usually do, commit to
doing it today, just to counter the unequal weights. And if you
don’t fully believe in it yet, then do it for the team! Foster
unconditional love of our fellow Jews by calling a friend you
haven’t spoken to in a while just to wish them a Good Shabbos.
Light Shabbos candles Friday before sunset. If you don’t
normally honor the Shabbos with Kiddush wine, whip out
a Kiddush cup (or any cup) and recite the Kiddush over it,
surrounded by friends and family.
Pick a mitzvah you don’t normally do and take it on today,
just to get our national scales back in the balance.
Let’s counterbalance the “Day of Hate” with a “Shabbos
of Love” in which we deliberately love each other and love
our G-d with even more passion than they hate us. Let’s
replace fear with bold faith, joyously recalling that it’s not the
anti-Semites who control the agenda but rather our beloved
Father in Heaven who is yearning for a relationship with us.
“Never Again” means we will never cower to the bullies.
We will never hide our faith but double down instead, with
a depth of faith and the courage of our convictions. Because
if we don’t respect ourselves, then how could we possibly
expect them to respect us?
Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm
Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Show.
Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com.
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