Those Shameful Thoughts and What They Really Say about You
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A Jewish woman in Palo Alto said I showed no compassion for Palestinians. Here's what I told her, and why Jewish self-doubt is our greatest threat.
October 7th brought us to the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists murdered about 1200 people in southern Israel, 250 hostages were put into dark underground tunnels in Gaza in subhuman conditions. Women were violated, babies burned, children and parents killed before each other’s eyes.
Since that horrific day we have witnessed a rise in antisemitic incidents all over the world. Physical assaults on visibly Jewish individuals, shootings and attempted attacks targeting Jewish centers and synagogues, stabbing and assaults in major cities like New York, Paris, London and Berlin, students harassed on campus, and the murder of Jews on the Festival of Light in Bondi Beach.
And now the attempted hijacking of a plane from Dubai to Israel, with the intent to crash it in Israel. The plane was 2.5 minutes away from crashing when, thanks to the heroic actions of the captain, three Israelis managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the copilot. Two reserve pilots on board safely landed the plane in Saudi Arabia.
Social media has spread blood libels and lies about the Jewish people and Israel. Podcasters and wannabe politicians bash Israel to gain likes and popularity.
But what troubles me most is the brainwashing of our own people.
The week of the High Holidays I spoke in Palo Alto, California. The audience was warm and receptive. I was asked to take questions and a woman stood up.
“I have a problem with what you said. You expressed no compassion for the Palestinians. Not for their children and not for their suffering.”
We looked at each other for a moment. We are after all sisters, part of the same tribe. I took a breath and then responded.
“I am here as a spiritual leader and not as a politician. My talk was about preparing ourselves for the High Holidays. I do, though, feel the need to respond to you. Of course we don’t want any innocent child or adult to die or suffer. But there is a Jewish law that we live by. When one comes to kill you, you must stand up and strike first. We did not ask for this war. We are seekers of peace. But if you are going to set our homes on fire, and murder us while our children are lying in their beds, we will defend ourselves. War is horrible but our enemies do not rest. We must live. With all our might, we must live.
“I will tell you something else. I am proud to be part of this nation. I am proud of our soldiers. Our soldiers have dropped leaflets, made calls, trying hard to preserve the life of innocents while they themselves have lost lives and limbs…”
“No! No!” she shouted out as I was finishing my sentence. Her head shook vigorously.
We are each allowed to ask questions, to voice opinions, to think out loud and have a conversation. As Jews, we care about the loss of innocent life while battling against those who want to kill us. But I see a danger here that I must call out.
Others are rewriting our story.
Social media is indoctrinating our youth.
Others claim to speak for us “As a Jew” when they are clueless as to the true meaning of what it means to live as a Jew, and to die because you are a Jew.
We have lost our pride, our shine. We believe that we must apologize for our triumph over evil.
A nation that loses its light is a nation that is plunged into darkness. Light means memory, roots, truth, legacy, heritage, and connection. The moment we begin to doubt our legitimacy, we die.
Amalek is the first nation who tried to destroy us after we exited Egypt. The Jewish People were redeemed after years of slavery and oppression. Amalek came and attempted to nick our spiritual armor. That is why the Hebrew word ‘Amalek’ equals the numerical value of the Hebrew word ‘safek” – doubt. Every generation has its Amalek who tries to destroy us by making us doubt ourselves, our right to exist.
This plan of destructive self-doubt began in Egypt. The Egyptians compared us to insects, multiplying and taking over their land. Their answer was to enslave us and throw our baby boys into the Nile River. We fell into despondency.
Hitler’s murder of six million Jews began with his minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. He worked together with Julius Streicher to dehumanize the Jews. In newspapers, radio speeches, and posters, Jews were depicted as rats, parasites and plague. Schools taught children that Jews were a separate, dangerous species that needed extermination. Tell a lie often enough and it becomes a truth.
Today we see a dangerous trend happening before our eyes. Once again we are being cast as subhuman, undeserving to fight for our very existence. “By any means” we are told. Any violent act done against our nation is okay.
To me, the greatest danger is the self-doubt that has crept into the spirit of too many Jews.
I was born upon the ashes of the Holocaust. My bubby for whom I was named walked into the gas chambers of Auschwitz holding her youngest grandchild in her arms. She cried out the words of the Shema and then she was gone.
Yet, I am here, a stubborn shoot of life that refuses to let my story die.
To live with memory means that I know what I live and stand for.
The world is happy to create stone monuments, set up commissions to study the effects of antisemitism, and build another memorial for the Jews. I don’t need your Kaddish.
I call out to my brothers and sisters to stand with pride. Cast away self-doubt. Be passionate for your people. Bear witness and live with memory. Don’t allow others to extinguish the fire in your soul.
We are a nation of lions. Never apologize for living.
Amen V’Amen!
I don't understand how people forget that the Palestinians were the first ones to kill men women and children on that evil day of the 7th. If a group of people came here to the United States and did the same the United States will reign hell and brimstone to get back to those evil people so what is the difference of Israel fighting back. So you're trying to tell me that the only difference is because they're Jewish it doesn't matter. I converted to Judaism 20 years ago. And even now when I hear the national anthem of Israel I start crying why because the Jewish people have been suffering since the beginning of time. It's crazy that we have people saying the justice for Palestine, and you just saying that to be part of the The clique, well I really knowing anything about what is going on.
She is a true believer and the best advocate for Jews. She’s my cousin and she’s real and what she says is all true.
Everything you said was wonderful.
My brother said, after the Holocaust, people said, "Never again." Brother said that he never believed that. BUT, he didn't ever think...in our lifetime!!!!!!
How the youth are being influenced by the crazy leftists is worse than sad!!!!!
Am Yisroel Chai🙏❤️🙏
First of all, what Palestinian people?
The first form of attack is language.
The apology is owned by Gazans, and Hamas and their sustainer: Iran.
You speak the truth, but without the investment of money and time to educate Jews to see it, there is space which a deluded and anti-semitic social media, universities, etc, seek to fill. This helps to create the doubt you describe. But can you really blame Jews who are fed by the delusions around them without a way to respond?
We can and should fight the lies via political/economic/military means, but it means little if our own people aren't even aware of what they are losing. Of the many legitimate ways to commemorate Oct. 7th, the most important could be to support outreach organizations, dayschools, synagogues, friends etc. to strengthen Jewish identity. Simply sending out this and other articles on aish.com is a start. Knowledge is the path to overcoming the debilitating doubt.
Thank you for saying everything you said !!! Excellent article. We never have to apologize to be Jewish . Only be very proud to be Jewish.
Amen
Never, but never must a Jew apologize for being Jewish. You are the chosen people. A chosen people by the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and for ever and ever.
The G-d of Israel will punish those who turn their backs on Israel. Many in this world don't have an idea as to the wrath of G-d, what it means and what it entails. Keep the faith and pray every day, for the G-d of Israel loves you..
Am Yisrael Chai!
The so-called Palestinian squatters on our ancestral land brought this war upon their own heads by enabling and actively supporting Hamas. I have no sympathy to spare for a people who pay bounties for the killing of Israeli Jews, who literally danced in the streets to celebrate the slaughter of Jewish women and children, who laughed and cheered when the bodies of Jewish terror victims were dragged through Gaza. For those who all too readily forget what innocent Jews suffered on October 7 and despair when Israel strikes back, I say, the Gazans encouraged Hamas to sew the violent wind and now have no right to whine when they reap the whirlwind.
I will not apologize for living! as a proud Jew
I will not apologize for living as a proud Jew. As the Rebbetzin noted, we do not celebrate the death of innocents.
Everything said is 100% correct. But when will this end? When can we continue to exist and thrive as Jews, in peace, love and harmony? Not so much for me, a senior citizen, but for my children, and when the time comes, for their children & grandchildren. Amen
A refreshing voice of clarity like her late mother Z'L
I will not apologize for living either! And furthermore, I will continue to proudly wear my Judaica jewelry.
Beautiful, truthful comments by the always eloquent Rebbitzen Jungreis-Wolff.
Many Jewish people inexplicably have less compassion for their own people than other people; these are the same people trying to kill Jewish people!
No one wants Palestinian children to be victims, with the exception of Palestinian leaders, who plant arms beneath Palestinian schools and hospitals.
Re: Many people having less compassion for their own people. How right you are! Sadly, this fact is nothing new. 🙁
Fear can kill compassion and understanding.