I grew up listening to Country Yossi.

I vividly remember the lyrics in his song “Nebich of the Shteeble” which state “And, son, these are my final words to you, sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a Jew”. For almost forty-two years of my life, I never felt the need to “fight” for our Jewishness, yet, since October 7th the reality has shifted, and every Jew, from Beersheba to Bozeman, must fight for their people, their faith, their Torah way of life. Somedays it feels lonely, but I am reminded that David must have felt small near Goliath, Judah the Macabee must have felt tiny near Antiochus, and Esther must have been frightened by Haman. Yet we don’t back down, we stand tall and bright, because “sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a Jew”.

In this week’s Torah portion, Shlach, we read about the spies sent by Moses to scout out the land of Israel. G-d had promised them the land, it was a done deal, but instead of focusing on their reconnaissance mission to assess the best entry strategy, they decided that entry wasn’t possible at all and brought their paranoia to the rest of Jewry. Yes, there were scary giants. Yes, the fruit was humongous. Yes, it seemed unconquerable. Yet, with G-d on our side everything is possible, and we mustn’t fear. Just because you may have personal insecurities doesn’t mean you should disparage G-d’s land. Like it or not, the land is a gift from G-d to the Jewish people and sometimes we gotta fight for our survival.

“I don’t like Bibi”, “I don’t think America should join this operation”, “Trump better support Israel and take out the Iranian nukes that Israel can’t reach”. Whatever your opinion may be, we mustn’t ever get caught in the disparagement of our brothers and sisters in Israel, who aren’t perfect, but who love our land and are willing to fight for it. As Benny Gantz of Israel’s opposition “Hamachane Hamamlachti” party said, “when it comes to Iran there is not right and left, only right and wrong”. It’s easy to make the mistake of the spies, but it’s wrong. When G-d is on your side David can slay Goliath, Judah can defeat the Syrian Greeks, Esther can overcome Haman, and, if we must, we can do it alone.

Al Tira Yisroel, Al Tira. Do not fear!

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!

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Earlier this week I popped into Detroit for a few hours to comfort my dear friend Mendel Scharf who was sitting Shiva, mourning the passing of his beloved mom Chana. While in town I had the distinct honor of visiting Dorris Chandler, Paul’s mom, who is a ninety-four year old regal woman. She is on the ball, full of Yiddish wit and wisdom, and so proud of her Jewish heritage. Dorris grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, one of only two Jewish families living there at the time, and her parents instilled in her a love for Klal Yisroel. She must’ve said Baruch Hashem ten times in our hour together and I loved it every time. (I apologize to all my Detroit friends who I couldn’t visit due to time constraints).

This week’s Torah portion, Behaalosecha, talks about Aaron the High Priest and the daily kindling of the Tabernacle Menorah of seven branches. Chassidus teaches that each of us has an inner Menorah with seven emotional branches, and if prepped properly with oil and wick, it can illuminate healthy, even holy, emotions that work in unison with our intellect. The seven Middos are Chessed – Kindness (Love), Gevurah – Severity (Fear), Tiferes – Beauty (Mercy), Netzach – Victory (Prevail), Hod – Splendor (Sincerity), Yesod – Foundation (Bonding), and Malchus – Kingship (Service). Cultivating, refining and redirecting these facets of our soul creates an inner aura that emanates light to our surroundings.

Sitting with Dorris, or Devorah, was sitting with the undefeated Jewess.  She exuded our infinite light, carrying the values of Hashem’s Torah from generation to generation. Dorris’ husband Maurice, or Moshe, who passed away last year at the age of ninety-seven, was from Nasielsk, Poland, as seen in the incredible documentary “Three Minutes - A Lengthening”. Despite the horrors of his childhood, he didn’t back down, he didn’t disconnect; he remained a devoted Jew until his last breath. I am always in awe when I sit with the living Menorahs of Judaism who saw it all and remain undeterred.

Am Yisroel Chai; today and forever.

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!