Dear Friends,
"A Nation that Dwells Alone and is Not Reckoned among the Nations" they are different, not like us, not like anyone else, and shouldn't have a home or even a place among the nations.
These are the headlines we face every day or read between the lines, in leading newspapers, dripping out of the mouths of politicians or between their lines, even heralded by those who take a stand for others, but not for the Jews, because well they are different.
But these words are not new words, they were actually stated by Bilaam the non-Jewish prophet who is spoken of in the Torah, who thousands of years ago, came and attempted to curse the Jews, yet after seeing no faults he could highlight, ends up sharing some of the greatest praises and compliments, as well as the above line "A Nation that Dwells Alone and is Not Reckoned Among the Nations".
What did he mean in this quote and why is this powerful line such an important idea to understand?
Bilaam also states other powerful lines including the words "from their beginning, I see them as mountain peaks, and I behold them as hills", a reference to the fact that the Jewish people stem from the spiritual giants who were the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people, and also recognizing that they represent something powerful and beautiful on so many levels.
Another famous line, is Mah Tovu, "How Goodly are their Tents". A praise for how the Jewish people lived with each other, respected the space and modesty of one another, and also built in to their living cycles, time to gather to study, pray and become a better people.
These and many other lines which he states are not just a collection of random ideas, they are also the antidote and the power for being able to continue to live, thrive and make a powerful impact on the world, even as "we are considered a nation that dwells alone and not treated like anyone else".
Trying to simply become like everyone else in response to the negativity that we face, is actually something that undermines our essence and strength. Yet recognizing that what we live for, our values, our traditions, the principles which we hold so dearly, and then being proud of them, is actually the blessing that empowers us to thrive, no matter the odds or adversity that we face, is one of the keys to navigating and overcoming the challenges.
So yes, of course it is upsetting to see antisemitism rear its head again and again, to be treated wrongly by so many media outlets and politicians who are even beloved for their prejudice, or not called out for the wrongs they support, or to see those who stand up for injustice, except for when the victims are the Jews, in which case as per the new ADL Study, 1 in 4 Americans understand such violence. However, let us remember that as important as confronting it head on, our job is to be the beacon of light, kindness and morality that we are supposed to be.
The more we live a life of Jewish values, principles, kindness and more, and especially when we do it with pride, the more it empowers us to withstand all the negativity, and to continue to thrive, and make the world the beautiful place it is supposed to be.
So while some national teachers unions are working hard to stop fighting against hatred of Jews, when new antisemitic leaders seems to be ready to come to power in certain places, and we need to challenges these ideas head on, we must also stay focused on continuing to fight hard, to make the world ever brighter, one Mitzvah, one act of kindness at a time, and no matter the odds or statistics, we will continue to succeed again and again, in making a kinder and better world for all.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel