Earlier this week, I had the honor of meeting Reb Shloime (Sol) and Esther Werdiger, special souls who do so much for the Jewish people and the furtherance of Torah Judaism. Sol is the CEO of Outerstuff, the leading manufacturer of licensed youth sports apparel for NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, US Olympic Committee, FIFA and much more. Yet, this business tycoon and his wife are soft-spoken, refined, kind, and accessible to the community, loving our people and the preservation of our traditional lifestyle above all. They are beacons of light, bringing unity through sports to our fractured world and they never forget what their parents experienced for the “crime” of being Jewish.

In this week’s Torah portion, Eikev, we read about the commandment to recite Grace After Meals, Birkat Hamazon (Bentching), after eating a meal. The Torah says, “You will eat, be satiated, and bless God, your God, for the good land He has given you.” It’s basic, yet foundational: When we are blessed, even with a delicious meal, we are obliged to express our gratitude to Hashem for what we have been given and this is expressed through prayer, Torah study, Mitzvah observance, kindness to those in need, and respecting those who came before us and taught us to be the people we are. Bentching is more than just mumbling some Hebrew words, it’s about feeling, and expressing, gratitude for the blessings in life and demanding of ourselves that we reciprocate by creating a positive impact in the world.

There are a lot of people who do good, incredible Jews who are selfless in devotion and philanthropy, but, for me, sitting with the Werdiger’s was something else. They were humble, relatable, real and modest; I didn’t feel like I needed to walk on eggshells, I felt like I was sitting with family. They appreciate the Mesiras Nefesh, self-sacrifice, that their family before them needed in order to survive as Jews, and they therefore go above and beyond, whether at the Agudah, for their beloved Gerer Chassidim or to an individual in Flatbush who may need a dose of Chessed. As Sol said on Fox News during FIFA, "We grew up with the premise…that you can stay true to your religion, true to your tradition, and still accomplish whatever you want in this country...Antisemitism is rearing its ugly head...We raised our kids and grandkids to love this country...The benevolence of this country...this country is giving you all the opportunities...”. He is full of gratitude. I get to meet many special people, but meeting Sol and Esther is definitely at the top of that list.

If you don’t believe me, just ask the South Korean Ambassador to the UN!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

Looking around our Bozeman Shul at Mincha on Tisha B’Av fascinated me AGAIN. Montanan Jews, along with Jews visiting from around the world, gathered to pray, connect and be inspired at the waning hours of our collective day of mourning. We prayed Nachem, asking G-d to comfort us with the ultimate solace which is the coming of Mashiach. We even had the honor of a visiting Bar Mitzvah boy, Ezra, being called to the Torah for the very first time just forty-eight-hours after turning thirteen. Seeing the different flavors of Jews gathered in unison, reminded me that while we do have our differences, more often than not we have so much in common. It’s convenient, and sometimes invigorating, to focus on what divides us but our oneness is the reality almost always.

In this week’s Torah portion, Va’Eschanan, we read the most powerful statement in Judaism “Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad” which means “Hear oh Israel, G-d is our G-d, G-d is One”. This verse is proclaimed by Jews in the moments before death and in the early stages of toddlerhood, it’s recited in good times and during hard times, it’s recited when we go to bed and when we awake in the morning, it’s recited on Purim and on Tisha B’Av, it was recited at Auschwitz and is recited at the Western Wall. It is the proclamation that reminds us that G-d is One and Only, He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient, and when we actively recognize this truth it’s impossible to be divided. When immersed in the One, there is no fragmentation; we see One in everyone and everything.

Last Friday, Chavie’s cousin Chaya who works for the Aleph Institute asked me to bring a Shabbos package containing Challah, wine and candles for Daniel, a prominent Jewish businessman and philanthropist, who was attending a conference in Big Sky. While Dan wrapped up in his Talis and Tefillin to pray, Menny joined him in Tefillin too, and when they got to the Shema, Dan invited Menny to say it together, which they did beautifully. Shema is so powerful because it’s the acknowledgement that, while we are obliged to do our very best and make good choices, at the end of it all nothing, and I mean nothing, happens outside of Hashem’s providence so therefore there is no basis for disliking or fighting with another. Being in G-d’s presence can only bring people together, if it does the opposite, it’s not G-d’s presence.

More Shema; less division.

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!