Earlier this week the largest Jewish American rally took place it Washington. It was historic and the energy was electric.
As the rally kicked off, the first speaker (Tovah Feldshuh) made an astute observation. “Usually, ten Jews result in ten thousand opinions, today we have tens of thousands here, as One, to proclaim Am Yisrael Chai!”
So true. One people. One Torah. One land. One G-d.
Shema Yisrael…. Hashem Echad —the L-rd is One.
Natan Sharansky made a similar point. “When we started the struggle in the former Soviet Union we were thinking, how can a few people bring down the most evil empire of the time, alone?
The fact is, we knew that we were not alone. The Jewish people and the State of Israel were behind us.
There’s a knowledge that exists as a Jew that isn’t a mere intellectual knowledge rather, an essential knowledge. The knowledge isn’t derived from any outside proofs rather from something that lies deep inside each of us. It’s our core identity.
Standing at the Rally in Washington and looking at the wide spectrum of Jews in attendance this truth was palpable, and no doubt felt, the world over. I have no doubt that the hostages too feel us just as Sharansky did.
Yet as unified as we are at the core, we need to ensure that this results in continued action. Each of us in our own way, with our unique talents and resources. For only then, is the true unity of Am Yisrael realized!!
Am Yisrael Chai!