OUR GUARANTORS

 There are times when our minds start to wander and interesting thoughts enter our thinking process, especially, when we read of the many frightening forecasts of how many Jews are being lost to Judaism. I have never subscribed to being a pessimist, especially, when it comes to the future of Yahadut, for our dependence on Hashem gives us confidence for our survival.

   I recall the story when the Nazis occupied Lublin, Poland.The Jews were gathered in the city square and surrounded by the cruel Nazi troops who ordered the Jews, “Dance Jews and sing one of your songs”, and the whips began to fly. One of the Jewish men began to sing an old Chasidic tune, in which the person asks G-D to be reconciled with him, “Lomir Sich iberbeten, iberbeten, Avinu shebashamayim”, and the Jews all joined in with great gusto. The Nazis enjoyed the scene roaring with laughter, beating the Jews as they sang.

   Suddenly, the words of the song changed and they began to sing very loud, “Mir vellen zey iberleben, iberleben, Avinu shebashahmayim”. “We will outlive them, outlive them, our Father in Heaven.” What an amazing story, and even more amazing that the truth of these words have come about, which continues to give me an optimistic and a positive attitude to the future of Yiddishkeit here in the Galut and in Israel.

   Why am I sharing this with you? While in Disney Land Magic Kingdom with my children and grandchildren and great-grand-grandchild there was an announcement on our app that a mincha/maariv minyan will take place. To my amazement, there were over a hundred people gathered at “Tomorrow Land” for Tephillah. At that moment I remembered those words, “Mir vellen zey iberleben”

What an amazing truth that The prophecy of suffering Jews saw the future of Yiddishkeit come about in all its glory. 

   This observation has great bearing on this week’s Parsha,Yisro. In this Sedrah it is recorded the most important occurrence in Jewish History - the cosmic event in which G-D revealed Himself at Sinai in order to give the nation the Torah. It is due to this awesome event that our sages continuously try to recapture the feelings of our ancestors who stood amidst the glory and the splendor of Sinai.

There is one passage of the Talmud that has always troubled me.

The Gemorah states regarding the sentence,ויתיצבו בתחתית ההר, “ They stood at the foot of the mountain.” This teaches us that G-D held Mt. Sinai over their heads and said to them, ‘”If you accept this Torah, fine, if not, there will be your burial.” 

   Very enigmatic, for it seems that the Almighty had to coerce the Jewish People into observing its many laws. This begs the question, why, and what does it really mean?

   Hashem asked our forefathers for sureties before giving them the Torah. 

They replied, “Our Forefathers and our Prophets will be our guarantors.” Hashem rejected these proposals. Finally, the nation said, “Our children will be our guarantors,” and G-D accepted their offer. 

The idea is quite simple but profound. The Divine gift of the Torah was too precious to be given to a single generation, it was meant as a legacy for all time, bequeathed to every future Jewish generation.

   The coercion that I mentioned was not for that generation receiving the Torah, for they accepted it without reservation, but for future generations. They had to be forced to do so, for they seemingly did not want to take the responsibility of placing such a Book of Laws and Rules without them being present. That is why Hashem responded that if they did not accept the responsibilities for future generations, there will be their burial.  For if future Jews did not accept the Torah, and neglected their responsibilities as Jews, they would meet their tragic end as Jews.

   This must be our pledge and our responsibility to make sure that our children and all future generations are well educated and encouraged to carry on the heritage and the legacy that was accepted at Mt. Sinai - A Loyalty Pledge of Allegiance to G-D and His Torah.

   This responsibility is not to be passed off to someone else for it is the responsibility of every Jew and Jewess.  It must be fulfilled and it must be done NOW.  In our hands lies the future of Yahadut, and we must not minimize the consequences if we ignore our duties as Jewish conveyers of our heritage.

Permit me to conclude with an amazing story related about Golda Meir. When she served as the first ambassador to Russia, she went to the Shul in Moskow on Rosh Hashanah, and was amazed to see over 50 thousand Jews gathered to welcome her.  That had come at the displeasure of the Soviet regime, to declare their love for Judaism, their loyalty as Jews, and their feelings for Israel. The crowd surged forward and in a bellowing united force, shouting “ Golda, Shalom, Shalom, Goldele, laben zolst du, Shana Tovah , Goldele”. Long life to you Happy New Year Goldele. She was overwhelmed with emotion, and said to them, “A dank zich vos ihr zeit gebliben Yidden”, Thank you for having remained Jews”.

   Need I say more, that’s what Yidishkeit is all about. Our crucial and immediate   responsibility is to assure that our future generations will remain dedicated and committed Torah oriented Jews.

 Our glorious tomorrow is a strong Jewish today.