From The Desk of Rabbi Yehuda

It was big news in Westport this past week. The Bible that was used at the inauguration of George Washington, was here local, on display. 

I didn’t know much about this Bible, but upon reading of it I discovered that when he was administered the oath of office the President’s hand was on the page of the story of our Patriarch Jacob giving blessings to his children, the 12 tribes from which each of us descend. 

The swearing in took place a long time ago —but it pales in comparison to the blessings of Jacob to his progeny which transpired over 3500 years ago. It’s quite wondrous when you think about it. 

The miracle of our survival. Or more accurately the miracle(s) of our survival. It isn’t one miracle it’s an infinite series of miracles that have unfolded — each generation experiencing their own subset of miracles. 

But the truth is, the biggest miracle of all, is not the physical survival of the Jewish nation rather the spiritual and intellectual survival. It has required tremendous precision, care, and toil to ensure this. The very same Torah with the same reverence, adherence and love for the  sacred principles. Mezuza, circumcision , Shabbat, Kosher, Holidays all intact with no sign of erosion. Incredible and miraculous. 

The past seven months have been really tough for us all. Our existence has been physically threatened in so many arenas. We are a nation that dwells alone and yet the state of Jewish life has never been stronger. Jewish pride  and identity are stronger than ever.  Star of David necklaces sales, Mezuza purchases, Tefillin laying & Shabbat candle lighting are at all time highs. No, we’ve been physically attacked but the soul of who we are has been polished.

Whether the actual page that the Bible was open to for George Washington’s oath was deliberate or not, we may never know. One thing is for sure however, the blessings from our Forefather Jacob — also named Yisrael — are stronger than ever.  The nation of Yisrael and the land of Yisrael have endured, prospered, been challenged and overcome. This is our history. Our story. Our lives. Together, we constitute the greatest miracles of all times the miracle called Israel!

With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,

I didn’t know him but he made a profound effect on me and many others this past week — may his soul rest in peace!

Moshiko Davino was killed in battle during the war of Protective Edge in 2014. His Tefillin — which he always brought with him into battle —is the only thing that survived the explosion that took his life. 

With the scent of the fire’s dust still strongly on the Tefillin bag, his mother Ruchama (who can possibly imagine her pain?) presented his Tefillin to Prime Minister Netanyahu who promised to wear them and dedicate this mitzvah to the elevation of her son’s soul and for the elevation of all our fallen. 

This past Sunday, the PM posted a photo of himself wearing these Tefillin with the above commentary. How thoroughly touching!

The PM also included in the caption a passage from Deuteronomy that states, “and all the nations of the land will see that the name of G-d is upon you and will be fearful of you”. He included this passage as it references a statement of the Talmud’s Rabbi Elazar the great  — who explains that the fear of the nations —will specifically be induced by the Tefillin that we place on the head. 

This photo touched me deeply and gave me comfort. Over the past months I’ve been voraciously reading the news and I’m incredibly proud and indebted to the bravery and selflessness of our dear brothers and sisters in Israel. Yet the ferocity of our enemies is alarming. It seems like an impossible feat to vanquish them. That is, unless G-d is brought into the equation. 

Our existence is indisputably a miracle. This isn’t the first time that we’ve been besieged by enemies, attacked from all sides quite literally and despite all that we are a thriving nation —an eternal nation. We’ve endured the worst and achieved the greatest. 

Moshiko Davino may have paid with his life but it wasn’t in vain. The photo of the PM in Moshiko’s Tefillin was just what we needed to show our enemies —the name of G-d hovering over our eternal nation in our eternal homeland —led by those who have sacrificed so greatly and continue to inspire us all. 

Turns out, I too needed to see it — for after all, it’s only by standing tall, proud, strong and connected to the One Above the are we assured total success and the vanquishing of our enemies — AMEN!

This past week Dina and I had the joy of celebrating our grandson’s bris. 

So many thoughts flashed through my mind. Wishes for little Gedalya named after his great grandfather, worries for some of the troubling developments in the world, anticipation and excitement for all the opportunities that Gedalya will have — and the list goes on. 

My grandparents had the same feelings no doubt. The same wishes, anticipation, worries at a totally different time and generation.

Yet the core underlying wishes were exactly the same. It was the same for the grandparents of my grandparents too and-so it was, for the entire unbroken linked chain stretching back to Moses at Mount Sinai. 

It’s a cool concept. Actually let me correct that, it’s a mind blowing concept. Dor L’dor — through thick and thin — the values, principles and underlying wishes of every single generation was the preservation of that gift that was handed to us at Mount Sinai— the Torah. 

Ironically, our unyielding and selfless system of preserving and sharing this Divine wisdom is the fury of the world. The truth about the nation that invented the word mentsch, that greets one another with the word shalom, that reveres life and tikun olam, that innovates, teaches and  gives charity like no other people, provokes lies, discomfort and ultimately outward aggression. 

Most of all, standing at my grandson’s bris as he was flanked by two sets of great grandparents (may they be healthy and strong) I was praying — praying that he take a page out of their book, their great grandparents book — that same book that was the prayer on all of our great grandparents lips for millennia!!

Dor L’dor. Let’s keep up the heroic efforts of ensuring Jewish continuity and vibrancy despite the challenges and despite the news headlines.  Truth always prevails — Am Yisrael Chai!!