Rabbis' Blog - Chabad Lubavitch

A Jew Remains A Jew

Thursday, January 30, 2025 - 4:18 PM

This month the U.S. Commerce Department announced it would consider business entities owned by Jews to be “minority business enterprises.” The advocates for this new policy argued that since Jews make up about 2.4% of the American population, they should therefore benefit from business grants geared towards ethnic minorities in this country.

In a society that values labels and categories, defining whether Judaism is a religion, culture, nationality or ethnicity is an ongoing debate. Without expressing an opinion on this matter, I’d like to highlight a seemingly small detail in this week’s parsha that sheds light on the unique nature of the Jewish nation and the importance of every individual Jew.

Two weeks before the exodus from Egypt G-d commanded the Jewish people to slaughter a lamb or sheep on the fourteenth of Nissan as a sacrifice and to smear its blood on their two doorposts and lintel. That night they would eat the roasted meat with Matzah and Maror and remain indoors until morning, while G-d killed all the Egyptian firstborn sons; the final plague that would break Phraoh’s obstinacy and pave the way for the long-awaited redemption.

The blood on the Jewish doorways that night served as a signal for G-d to not strike the inhabitants of their homes, as the verse states: “The blood will serve you as a sign on the houses in which you are: I will see the blood and I will mercifully pass over you, and there will be no destructive plague among you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13)

There were, however, certain exceptions to the rule. The eleventh-century sage Rashi notes that the precise wording of the verse indicates that if an Egyptian firstborn son was spending the night in a Jewish home, he was killed in the plague, despite the blood on the doorposts. And if a Jewish firstborn son was spending the night in an Egyptian home, he was saved despite the fact there was no blood on the doorposts of that home.

While this seems like a technicality, it reveals something radical about G-d’s love for every single Jew. Imagine how assimilated and lost a Jewish child must be to be spending the night in an Egyptian home on the eve of Exodus! While millions of Jews were observing the first Seder in history, this guy turned his back on his people and hung out with their enemies!

And yet, G-d saved this Jew and invited him to join his brethren in the redemption from Egypt, to be present at the revelation at Sinai, and to be an integral part of the Jewish nation.

This teaches us the unique value of a Jew, which transcends all quantifiable measures of observance or stated allegiance. A Jew remains a Jew no matter what, and we all have the mandate and privilege to inspire and welcome even the most stubbornly assimilated ones to acknowledge their heritage and become active participants in Torah study and Mitzvah observance.

Time to Set the Record Straight

Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 2:52 PM

On Tuesday, at Rep. Elise Stefanik’s confirmation hearing for ambassador to the U.N. the following exchange happened with Senator Chris Van Hollen.

Van Hollen: “Do you subscribe to the view… that Israel has a biblical right to the entire West Bank?”

Stefanik: “Yes”

Van Hollen: “[This is] a view that was not held by the founders of the State of Israel.”

While I commend Rep. Stefanik for publicly declaring the truth and am delighted that many in the new administration share this view, this part of Senator Van Hollen’s response was unfortunately on target. Not only did the state founders not publicly declare this view, but it remains virtually absent from the official public relations talking points of its representatives until today.

If the representatives of the United States are publicly proclaiming the truth, the time has come for Israel to do the same, publicly and unabashedly. Now is a good time to correct this historic and tragic error.

This week’s Torah portion Vaeira opens with G-d’s promise to the Jewish people they will be redeemed from Egyptian slavery and inherit the Promised Land. “I will bring you to the land regarding which I raised My hand to swear that I would give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a heritage; for I am G-d.’”(Exodus 6:8)

The land is ours. Not because it was a Jewish state 3,000 years ago. Not because ever since then there has been a continuous Jewish presence. Not because the United Nations agrees that this is the Jewish homeland. Not because an independent state was proclaimed in 1948. These facts, when devoid of the true basis of our claim, fail to hold firm in the current struggle. The basis of our right to the land is that G-d, the Creator of the world, gave it to us as an eternal inheritance, as recorded in the Torah.

Israel is facing tremendous challenges. We hope and pray for G-d’s protection, and that true peace and tranquility reign there for all. However, we must know and appreciate why Jews belong there in the first place, and be open and candid about it. Even if Israel’s detractors and enemies refuse to share these beliefs, they will certainly respect Israel for being honest in its beliefs.

While it would be wonderful to influence Israeli society with this, I believe this message is relevant to every Jew in the world. Although I discourage engaging in useless debates on the topic, every Jew automatically represents Israel to a circle of friends and acquaintances. Just being confident and secure with the knowledge that we have the strongest, irrefutable claim and right to the land is enough to project this truth to everyone and make an impact.

I highly recommend watching this video entitled Israel's Deed of Ownership | The Rebbe's Roadmap to Peace, Episode 1 to appreciate this perspective’s fundamental truth, intellectual depth, and practical relevance.

Redemption of Perspective

Friday, January 17, 2025 - 1:40 PM

These days are very intense for so many. The terrible war that started on October 7th is at a critical juncture and, with so much on the line, there are furious debates and conversations about the proper path forward. Upon reflection, it seems pointless for the masses to discuss these matters at all. We are not military strategists, government operatives, political leaders, or diplomats, so why do we even invest so much emotional energy in talking about issues we cannot practically influence?

Democracy is about representative government. The vast majority of the citizenry cannot formulate plans for building roads and bridges, setting up a healthcare system, or training and maintaining an army to maintain security, so we hire people to work in government to do the job for us and leave the nuts and bolts of accomplishing these goals to these professionals.

However, decisions must be made, and the human choices these elected professionals make will be determined by the values they believe in and live by. Every citizen in any democracy has a civic duty to vote for a representative who will represent his or her value system in government. Every individual must understand their value system well and discuss and debate it. Even if you don’t have the solution to every problem, you have the right and obligation to analyze every choice made by your representative government and determine if it fits with your value system.

In this week’s parsha, we learn how G-d communicated with Moshe at the burning bush and instructed him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery to freedom. During the dialogue, Moshe asked to understand the purpose of this redemption. Could their pain and suffering not go away while they stayed where they were?

G-d responded they needed to leave Egypt in order to come to Mt. Sinai and receive the Torah. It was not just about leaving the construction sites and settling in a land flowing with milk and honey. The Israelites were destined to break away from the flawed and corrupt worldview and culture of their Egyptian hosts and receive the Torah which would provide them a true and holistic approach to reality. A worldview that would hold true through the test of time, trial, and tribulation. A divine gift that would enable them to be a light unto the nations and prepare the world for an era of true peace and tranquility.

This is the value system we must know well and apply because these are the only values that can ensure security and prosperity for Israel and Jews around the world. The more familiar we are with the Torah’s value system, the better equipped we are to empower the decision-makers to make the right choices. Even Jews who have no right to vote in Israel’s elections can impact the zeitgeist of our brethren in the Holy Land, and familiarity and fluency with our heritage are critical.

I invite you to join me at Chabad on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:00 pm for an enlightening multimedia seminar entitled “How Israel Wins - The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Vision for Achieving Lasting Peace.” Instead of discussing the specifics of what Israel’s politicians or the IDF should do today, tomorrow, or next week, we will discover how the Rebbe articulated the Torah’s principles with which we can appreciate the grim reality in the Middle East and the proper approaches to solving the many problems we face as a nation. Dinner will be served.

Please click here to register.

Support under all circumstances

Friday, January 10, 2025 - 12:37 PM

As fires raged in Los Angeles this week, I reached out to a friend to ask how he was doing. In a short video message, he assured me he and his family were safe while showing me how close the danger was. Then he sent me the following message: Thank you for checking in. Yesterday I was calling people I know in the Pacific Palisades to check how they were doing, but did not know how it felt to get such calls. Now that I am receiving such a call, I realize it’s a good feeling. Good to know.

That night I learned an important lesson. When a friend is in crisis you do not need to have the solutions to the big problems to be helpful or relevant. Just showing up, either in person or through a phone call or text message can go a long way. If you feel self-conscious or worry about being a bother, reach out anyway. Even if there is no response to or acknowledgment of your call, your concern was noted and has a positive impact.

Today is the fast day of “Asarah B’Teves” (the Tenth of Teves), which commemorates the siege of Jerusalem by the armies of the Babylonian empire in 425 BCE. This siege eventually led to the destruction of the First Holy Temple and the first major Jewish exile from Israel two years later on “Tisha B’Av” (the Ninth of Av).

The prophet Ezekiel, who lived in exile at the time received a prophecy of this tragic event in real-time and recorded it for posterity. "Son of man, write for yourself the name of the day, this very day; the king of Babylon has besieged Jerusalem on this very day.” (Ezekiel 24:2). The Hebrew word for “besieged” in this verse is “samach” which is highly irregular since “samach” is typically used in the context of “support” which is the opposite of a siege.

By using a word with this double meaning to describe the siege the prophet is conveying to us how we can undo the “siege and destruction” of Jerusalem and end this terrible exile. Supporting each other under all circumstances, even in situations comparable to a siege, is the first step to unity. Even if we do not have the solutions to the problems, unity creates the context in which all problems can be solved.

There is an ancient Jewish saying that states “Following a fire, one becomes wealthy.” This means that harsh expressions of divine discipline are followed by divine grace and kindness. May all those directly impacted by this horrible crisis experience only blessing and success from now on, and may our strengthened unity usher in the final redemption through Moshiach, when peace and prosperity will reign for all.

The Web of Light

Friday, January 3, 2025 - 2:22 PM

As we were winding down the Chanukah Playland I received a message from a rabbinical student named Mendel. He is part of a group of six young men hired by Chabad of Texas Towns to bring the joy of Chanukah to remote Jewish communities and individuals across our great state. Their RV is outfitted with everything needed for such celebrations, including a giant menorah they set up in malls to host public parties.

On Sunday they were in Odessa, Texas and after setting up the tall menorah in the shopping mall, they fanned out to find some Jews with whom to share menorahs, dreidels, and latkes. Mendel encountered two Middle Eastern fellows excited to tell him about their many Jewish friends and acquaintances. In the middle of their conversation, they video-called an Israeli friend who used to live in the area and introduced him to Mendel.

“Avi, do you have a menorah for Chanukah?” Mendel asked.

“No,” he replied. “And I’m not sure where to get one tonight. I’m driving now and will be in El Paso in a few hours.”

Mendel immediately contacted me to arrange for Avi to get his menorah to do the mitzvah for the rest of the four nights of Chanukah. After some logistical arrangements, Avi left my home a few hours later with a menorah, candles, and a plate of schnitzel - and I was once again reminded of the powerful “web of light” the Rebbe gifted to the world with the global Chabad Lubavitch network and the fifty-year-old Chanukah campaign.

Since 1974 the mitzvah of menorah lighting and the Chanukah message have permeated the public square with giant menorah displays and reached the homes of countless Jews who would have otherwise forgotten about this holiday entirely. By now, there is hardly a location on the map where a Jew cannot somehow access the tools he or she needs to fulfill this crucial mitzvah of light.

As we pack away our menorahs, let us remember the message of ever-increasing light and utilize every opportunity to perform more mitzvot and encourage and facilitate others' doing so as well. Ultimately, the world will be filled with the divine light of all our combined mitzvot, with the arrival of Moshiach, who will usher in an era of true peace and tranquility for all.