You Know More Hebrew Words Than You Think
5 min read
The IDF uniform is not simply a costume and it should never be confused with a symbol of warmongering. It’s the holy garb of a holy nation charged with a holy mission.
When a convert stands in the mikvah about to immerse, undergo a radical transformation, and be born anew as a Jew, the Beit Din, the Jewish court, asks a series of questions. One of the most poignant is one that long seemed to many of us to be an antiquated question: "You know that Jews have been subject to persecution, antisemitism, and attempted extermination throughout the millennia. If you become a Jew, you will join this hated, targeted people. Are you prepared to share in the destiny of the Jewish people both for good and for bad?"
At every single conversion I have had the privilege to be involved with, the candidate responded to this hypothetical question in the affirmative. Until recently, this question has felt like a technicality, something we must confirm in theory but would likely never be relevant in practice. After all, while joining the Jewish people means giving up cheeseburgers and bacon and other physical pleasures, it wouldn’t likely mean giving up one’s life.
On December 8th, Staff Sgt. Yonatan Chaim, 25, was killed fighting in Gaza. He died a Jew, but he wasn’t born that way. Yonatan Chaim, originally from Hilton, New York, was born Jonathan Dean, Jr. After studying the Holocaust in college, he converted to Judaism and in 2020 he moved to Israel. His cousin, Joelle Marie Muscolino, described him as “sweet, amazing, loving, smart, caring, talented, passionate, uniquely fabulous.” She said that he had “lived in Israel for a bunch of years now and had made it his home, a home where he was loved and celebrated for everything that he was, without judgment, to live freely and happily as Yonatan Chaim, just as his loving heart, soul, and body so deserved to…He felt compelled to protect Israel, the land who had given him so much, from the brutality of the terrorist, evil, savage attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihadists. He died bravely fighting to defend Israel’s Democracy, the Jewish People that call her home just like he did, and for Judaism around the entire world.”
Yonatan Chaim, of blessed memory
When Yonatan Chaim stood before the Beit Din to convert and was asked if he understood that by becoming a Jew he too would be the target of antisemitism, subjected to hate, he likely never dreamt how serious and real a question that would become, that it would in fact become for him a question of life and death.
Antisemitism is the world’s oldest hatred. It has existed since the inception of our people. In different generations it takes different forms, today manifesting in both its classic forms and in its expression as “anti-Israel” sentiment. For 2,000 years our enemies have sought our demise, they have systematically attempted to exterminate us and, aside from rare exceptions, for the most part we were passive victims and martyrs to their plots and plans.
But we are living in a new era, we are living with the miraculous modern State of Israel. No longer will our people go like sheep to the slaughter. No longer are Jews defenseless and helpless. Israel has one of the strongest armies in the world and like Staff Sgt. Yonatan Chaim, the selfless, brave and tenacious soldiers fight to defend not only our brothers and sisters in Israel, but Jews around the world.
As Purim approaches, a time ordinarily characterized by tremendous joy, happiness, and light, many are struggling with how to observe it against the backdrop of sadness and darkness as one war continues to rage on and another one looms. Some are wondering if it’s appropriate to dress up as an Israeli soldier for Purim this year. On the one hand, what a way to show whom we admire, respect, and want to emulate. On the other hand, it might be perceived as insensitive that those who put on the uniform as a costume wear it for one day and have the luxury to take it off, while others must wear it for weeks or months on end, fighting in it and risking their lives in it on the front lines. Others may be concerned that it may give the impression that we are glorifying or celebrating war by “dressing up” in an army uniform.
Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah Kook wrote: "Fighting to protect our homeland is a mitzvah, the mitzvah of the entire Jewish people. Therefore, everything connected with it, every gun and every weapon that is our response to our enemies, everything associated with establishing and protecting Jewish sovereignty, it is all holy."
I have heard from some in Israel who believe Americans should abstain from wearing an IDF uniform this Purim and I have spoken to others who think nothing would show more love, identification, and support. Each person and each community will decide for themselves but one thing should be clear: The IDF uniform is not simply a costume, and it should never be confused with a symbol of warmongering. It is the holy garb of a holy nation charged with a holy mission. It is worn by the defenders of a people that pray for peace more than any, by those who value and celebrate life more than any, who fight with a moral clarity and go to extreme measures to protect innocent lives, more than any other army or people.
We pray for the fulfillment of the words of our prophet Isaiah: “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not take up sword against nation; They shall never again know war.”
There was a video doing the rounds of a child asking his Mom for a superhero costume for Purim, and chose an IDF uniform. The end shows the boy saluting a soldier. I think if we were to frame dressing up in IDF regalia in this way, it gives very different message.
Sheep to the slaughter is a Quote from Tachanun which is said almost every Monday and Thursday during shachris
in my opinion Rabbi Goldberg is of the most well-balanced rabbis out there, knowing how to say and write, with the right tone at the right time. I Am sure that his Torah outlook is sterling, , but for the context of the article, as well as the readership, this was the best way to put forth the message.
I too was very touched to learn about Yonaton Chaim. However no orthodox Rabbi should ever use the term like sheep to the salughter, a term used by those who somehow felt themselves stronger, smarter and more worthy to live then those holy martyrs murdered by the evil Nazis yemqch shemam.
Important piece!
Beautiful,sensitively written article.The thought of the personal self sacrifice those soldiers and their families are going through every day brings me to tears every time i think of them.
Many of them dont even know it but they are all so holy ❤🇮🇱🙏
Good, poignant article, and in particular about the fallen Jew, Yonatan Chaim, may his name be for a blessing.
I do take firm exception to "No longer will our people go like sheep to the slaughter." We did NOT go like sheep to the slaughter in Europe. We had no weapons. Nothing. They -- the Nazi regime -- had guns, killer dogs, brutality, and the rest of it. We fought when we had the wherewithal, e.g., with arms smuggled into the Warsaw Ghetto. The death of the perpetually-held calumny of our being passive victims is long overdue.
Agreed!!
Not only that, but we held on to our spirituality, morality and humanity as much as possible under the hands of the Nazi beasts -- a real Kiddush Hashem, which amoral anti-Semites couldn't begin to understand.
A sheep may be sacrificed on the altar to Hashem. I would rather be a sheep than a wolf.
WHY did we have no guns? Because, in defiance of Torah law, we decided to rely on others to save us. If you don't want to be led like "sheep to slaughter", arm yourself, learn how to shoot, and NEVER relinquish your weapons without a fight. If it comes to that, remember what Mordecai told Esther; "Maybe it was for this purpose that H' put you in this situation".