Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - December '23
P. 3

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

                                                         From the rabbi




      The Reason They Hate Us                              The Bible is making it crystal clear that anti-Semitism   25:33); Jacob dressed in Esau’s clothes (Genesis 27:15),
                                                        is only possible when Jews stray from their identity as   stole Esau’s blessings (Genesis 27:35), identified himself
      By Rabbi Dovid Vigler                             Torah Jews. If we’re serious about overcoming anti-  as Esau (Genesis 27:19), and even married Leah, who was
         Never before have we                           Semitism and creating a safer world for ourselves and our   destined for Esau (Genesis 29:17 Rashi). He was given
      seen so much blatant anti-                        children, it’s time for us to experience some deep inner   his very name “Jacob” since he was clutching onto Esau’s
      Semitism. From the highest                        reflection. The Torah  is  our  Divine  Shield  —  an  Iron   heel (Genesis 27:36).
      offices to the classrooms                         Dome if you will. Are we allowing the haters to hurt us      Indeed, Jacob finally realized he hadn’t been true to
      and sidewalks, this pathetic                      by negligently removing our own bullet-proof vests and   himself all along. And that’s why the Torah tells us that
      support for bloodthirsty                          exposing ourselves to their “rockets and missiles”?  he emerged from this encounter limping” (Genesis 32:26)
      murders continues to defy                            It’s time to stop shooting the messenger. Bringing   — he wasn’t stable in his own shoes. With clarity and
      reason. And, as usual, it’s the                   them down won’t stop others like them raising their ugly   fortitude, Jacob decides to no longer try to be Esau —
      fault of the Jews!                                heads with ever more brazen animus. As one anti-Semite   from this point on he would be Jacob. As long as Jacob
         Since time immemorial,                         is neutralized, another raises his ugly head. This is never   wasn’t being Jacob, he was hated by Esau. The moment
      we have speculated on the                         going to stop from the outside until we change something   the Jew has the courage to embrace his Jewish identity
      reason they hate us. But you don’t have to be a rocket scientist   drastically from the inside.      fearlessly, the enmity of the anti-Semite melts away and
      to realize these explanations are nothing but an excuse: They      Anti-Semitism cannot be dismissed simply as an   the curse is transformed into a kiss.
      said we were hated because we were rich, but we know we   irrational hatred. It can only bear fruit when we are      The Torah is not just a history book. The story of our
      were just as persecuted when we were poor. They claim to   spiritually weak. It’s time for us to stop playing defense   forefather Jacob is our personal story. Like Jacob, we
      abhor us because we were segregated, but they killed us when   when it comes to anti-Semitism — instead of allowing the   have been persecuted for as long as we can remember.
      we were integrated. They despised us for being capitalists,   anti-Semites to define our Judaism, it’s time for us Jews   And like Jacob, the hatred will end not in the halls of
      yet they couldn’t tolerate us when we were communists.   to define our own Jewish identity. It’s time for us to love   the UN, Washington, or The New York Times but in the
      They were hostile to us when we were strangers in their   Judaism more than they hate Judaism. It’s time for us to   conviction of our hearts and the commitment of our souls
      land, but now they are cruel to us when we finally have our   believe in our own heritage more than they reject it.  to our own faith and heritage.
      own homeland. They claimed that they kill us because of      We see this truth at play in the dramatic confrontation      It’s time to stand up for ourselves and for our Torah.
      the settlements in Israel, yet the very same terrorist groups   between Esau and Jacob. After thirty-six years of running   No game was ever won just by playing defense.
      murdered us before a single settlement was ever built in 1967.  away from Esau, Jacob is finally preparing to face his      We have chosen to spell anti-Semitism with a small
         Any attempt to cure anti-Semitism by appeasing those   blood-thirsty brother who marches ominously toward him   “a” and a capital “S” because we refuse to allow them to
      who hate us is truly the definition of insanity — expecting   with 400 mercenaries. Yet, when Esau finally confronts   define us. From this day forward, we will define ourselves.
      different results while doing the same actions we’ve already   Jacob, inexplicably he kisses him (Genesis 33:4). What      Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of
      done before. It’s time to think out of the box and set the record   suddenly changed?                Palm Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze
      on anti-Semitism straight, once and for all.         The night prior to the showdown, the Torah tells us   Radio Show. Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com.
         All we need to do is look into the Torah, where the reason   of one of its most enigmatic narratives: that Jacob was
      for anti-Semitism is made abundantly clear at the very   alone and struggled with a stranger all night long (Genesis
      beginning. Nearly 3,700 years ago, the Torah introduces us   32:25). If he was with the stranger, then clearly he wasn’t   Your ad could be here!
      to the very first anti-Semite — Esau, brother of Jacob. After   alone!
      Jacob was blessed with the blessings of Isaac their father,      Our sages explain that Jacob was indeed alone. The       Call
      Esau begged Isaac for his own blessing too. Isaac was unable   man he was struggling with was himself as he faced his
      to do so because “I have already made him a master over   own identity crisis. All night long, Jacob was grappling   561-746-3244
      you (Genesis 27:37). When Esau persists, Isaac blesses him   with his inability to be true to himself as it dawned upon
      with a unique loophole: Only when Jacob will transgress the   him that he had been trying to imitate Esau since his

      Torah, you will be able to persecute him (Genesis 27:40).  earliest youth — at birth, he was holding his heel (Genesis   to find out how!
         Amazing!                                       25:26); Jacob purchased the birthright from Esau (Genesis

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