Jewish life and history has long been described as an illustrious chain. Each link intertwined with a preceding link stretching back and standing witness to events and moments that continue to inform and inspire.
Earlier this week, uniquely, at an otherwise standard IDF ceremony — reserve soldier Uriel Dreyfus was promoted to Lt. colonel. What stood out was that Uriel is a descendant of Alfred Dreyfus, who was famously and falsely accused of treason in the French army. Anti antisemitism at its best that ripped apart both French society and the worldwide Jewish community at the end of the 19th century. Ultimately he was acquitted and promoted but the damage was done and “ The Dreyfus Affair” will go go down in infamy.
Skip forward 125 years and Uriel his progeny was promoted in the IDF. “When I entered the gates of the IDF as a young soldier I carried this memory with me” said Uriel at the ceremony.
Not too dissimilar to each of us who carry the memory of our forebears with us — informing, affecting and hopefully inspiring our lives. Those
links in the chain.
The week we read the Parshas Behar and Bechukotai. Behar means The Mountain. The origin of the laws — the Torah —that was gifted to us over 3300 years ago. The event that forever changed the world and charted the course for the “illustrious chain”, that we are all linked to.
The Torah as the anchor with each of us celebrating and observing our Heritage and our identity — link by link stretching backwards and illuminating the forward — Dor L’dor!!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor
P.S. SHAVUOT— the Festival when we received the Torah. Join us in Festive Celebration — Here.