Trump's Shabbat Proclamation and America's Founding Promise
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In the wake of the attack in Australia, we must rise like Maccabees—united, unafraid, and proudly shining our Jewish light.
Another Jewish massacre, this time in Australia on beautiful Bondi beach. Thousands gather to light the menorah, to join together in celebration. Before shooting, did the gunmen take a moment to ask, “What type of Jew are you? Are you left or right? Are you Israeli? Are you religious?”
Of course not. Just as in the Holocaust, no one cared. A Jew is a Jew. As the world burns with Jew hatred, the Jewish people must stand unified in our response.
We are fighting for our very existence. Once again we see the terrifying images of Jews left dead on the ground. Bodies strewn as people run in fear for their lives. Babies. Elderly. Women. Blood everywhere. A Holocaust survivor killed as he tried to shield his wife. A rabbi, father of young children, murdered as he tried to bring the light of Hanukkah into the world. Our holy days have become times for spewing mass hatred and slaughter.
It is not only in Australia that we have been reminded that Jewish blood is cheap. Attacks, violence, hatred-filled social media, rock concerts openly supporting terrorists, and jihadists in suits have become the new norm. It is in vogue to spew hatred against the Jews. Those who are in the position of power to respond cower in fear, afraid of the mobs marching with banners celebrating October 7th and openly chanting to “globalize the Intifada”.
As the world grows darker, we are celebrating the gift of our Hanukkah lights. If our menorah could speak to us tonight, what would it say?
The menorah would whisper, “My dear child, do not be afraid. Do you think that what you see is new, that you stand alone confronting evil? Remember your strong roots, those who stood up courageously before you. Infuse yourself with their strength. Do not live as victims. You are the victors!”
The Greeks did not destroy our Temple in Jerusalem. Instead, they tried to defile it by filling the sacred space with foreign gods and pigs. They outlawed Torah study, circumcision, Shabbat, and forced young brides to give themselves over to Greek officers before their wedding night. Their goal was to break our spirit, to destroy our soul.
Two heroes stood tall and gave us spiritual genes so that we may discover our inner light and never crumble in fear. Judah the Maccabee refused to listen to those negative voices who tried to discourage him from defeating his daunting foes. Yes they are mightier and more. But we have the spirit of the Jew that beats within our hearts. We are the lions of Judah. Judah refused to bow and be intimidated. He reconnected his small army with their inner flame, and miraculously the victorious Jewish forces successfully overcame their cruel enemy.
Yehudit was the heroine who would not hear of surrendering our faith to the Greeks who wished to destroy us. In a city that was surrounded, where her fellow Jews were starving and parched, and ready to give up, Yehudit refused to give in. She challenged the Jewish commander Uzziah, who had asked the people for five days before capitulating to the enemy.
“Do you only have five days of faith”? she asked. “Is God not greater than a mere few days and if you do not see salvation, then you’re done?” Yehudit restored the spirit of the nation, as they reconnected to their spiritual power within.
The Maccabees returned to the Temple, cleared it out of all its devastation, and searched for pure oil with which to light the menorah. Only one flask was finally found. One flask of oil that burned for eight nights.
The miracle of the oil was the miracle of our eternal inner flame. The message is clear. Whether in the Temple, on the battlefield, stuffed into the cattle cars, massacred on October 7th, or murdered on Bondi Beach, you, the Jewish people triumph.
Have the courage to stand up and proudly proclaim, “I am a Jew! I will defeat your hatred for my nation with my love of my people.”
We are a small nation, but our spirit fills the world. You may try to extinguish our light, yet our flame continues to rise. We defy you.
Tonight when you light your menorah, take a moment and utter a prayer. Ask God to bless you with the spirit of the Maccabees. Have the courage to stand up and proudly proclaim, “I am a Jew! I will defeat your hatred for my nation with my love of my people. I will light my menorah by my window so that I can boldly shine my light.”
Find your grit and determination. Look them in the eye and say: We are the sons of Judah and the daughters of Yehudit. Hold onto their vision and be tenacious in your faith.
It is time to be a Maccabee. Be a light.
Am Yisrael Chai and we need to be modern day Maccabees
Its too late to halt Muslim immigration they are already here.. Canada is now SEVEN percent Muslim.. and was only two percent Muslim five years ago.. It is not a matter of if the carnage of Australia and Manchester happens in Canada it is only a matter of when... So what to do? You are correct be a Macabee.who were the Macabees? They were warriors who carried WEAPONS and knew when, how and upon whom those weapons were to be used.. Some Jews have firearms and are highly proficient in their use... Some have obtained licenses that will legally allow them to carry those firearms and may G-d forbid it USE those firearms to protect their lives, the lives of their families and the lives of their community... The evil doers will be cut down and shall perish.. Av Harachamim must be a reality
Amen!
Help halt Muslim migration into Western Lands.
Slovie, your mother is so proud of you!
Agree; but also, I fear, it is time to do another thing the Maccabees did: arm ourselves and shoot back!
Look at the illustration; the Maccabee depicted is carrying the most lethal personal weapon of the day. Is there a lesson there for we the contemporary Maccabees?
Would YOU like to accompany me to the gun range my Dear? Trust me you would not be the only Jew there with me..
Inspiring ! We have survived throughout all attempts to destroy us. While our enemies have vanished .
It's important to point out that the "we who have survived" you speak of has throughout history mostly been loyal Jews.
Consider that the Hellenists in the Chanukah story have vanished along with our enemies.
Similarly, descendants of the Annusim / Marranos are mostly gone. Holocaust survivors' children and/or grandchildren who have assimilated in staggering numbers have broken the chain of Judaism. Non-orthodox Jews are practicing diluted forms of our religion (if at all).
Though the statistics look bleak, the fact (as Chanukah shows) is that our survival doesn't depend on numbers; first & foremost, our loyalty to Torah is what gains Divine protection for us.
A truly lichtigeh Chanukah to all.
A Siddur in one hand .. but a gun in the other one.. You need to be a Macabee.. and that means being both a Good Jew and an armed one..
Perhaps you need some reading comprehension. In this very article, in the very FIRST PARAGRAPH, the Rabbi and author himself says “a Jew is a Jew”- nobody asked about politics, practise, identity or denomination. Yet here you are, judging other Jews and claiming only one way is valid. Really, that makes you no better than a religious zealot proclaiming “from the river to the sea”. Keep your judgement to yourself. A Jew is a Jew. May Hashem protect and deliver us all, every one.
The terrorists want to destroy Israel and the Jewish people just like the Nazis( may their name be erased) and make the world and Israel " Judenrein " ( free of Jews) the Maccabees of old and the new ones are fighting for their survival and land, and anyone that thinks otherwise is ignorant of Jewish history and the Jewish people's history to the land of Israel, when the land of Judah was changed to " Palestine " by the Romans to stop the revolting of Jews in their land, so Judea/ Palestine/ Israel belongs to the Jewish people the others that claim the land, are Arab Muslim terrorist imposters and are no better than Nazis( may their name be erased) who murdered 6 million Jews and 5 million non Jews
Some Annusim converted back to Judaism, also there is and was kiruv movements for people to learn their heritage, also Chabad goes to different locations in the world, to ignite the spark of Judaism in Jews, some people that marry non Jews, some of the non Jews convert to Judaism, also the ultra religious and Modern Orthodox Jews, and Jews in Israel are mostly traditional, plus the Sephardic community usually marry other Sephardic people and sometimes Askenzi Jews, and some non Jews like the one that wrote a commentary in language similar to Hebrew was a convert from the family of the Emperor of Rome calked something with a O
Inspirational article.
Thank you Slovi !!! Beautiful article ! Very inspiring ! AM YISROEL CHAI 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱Now and forever !!!!
Yeshayahu 9:1 “The people who walked in darkness, have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, light shone upon them.“
Light it up, Am Yisrael Chai
Right, and also Am Yisrael Chai, any empire that tried to destroy the Jews are in history books and gone, and the Jews are still around like Hashem promised that we are the holy nation of Israel