Efrat, Israel
It was truly a magical moment. On
our first Shabbat after making aliyah last
winter, we arrived at Shirat David, Rabbi Shlomo Katz’s shul in Efrat, and were
showered with handshakes, hugs, and dancing around the bimah by the packed shul, as they sang in unison, V’shavu banim following
an aliyah.
Then,
on the last two Shabbatot in July, three different new olim had their own magical moments. So many olim in one shul, in one community in Israel, is quite rare. Yet
such occasions are becoming more frequent. Nefesh B’Nefesh – the wonderful handholding Israeli organization that helps
new olim navigate the vast Israel
systems and requirements, prior to and during their aliyah and for potentially years after – has remarkable statistics
showing that over 4,000 new olim from
the U.S. and Canada have moved to Israel since October 7th.
That includes 2,000 just this summer, on over 14 group flights. Additionally,
there have been over 13,000 requests to opening aliyah files since October 7, 2023, an increase of 76% compared to
the corresponding period last year. Our own aliyah
in February was part of this record-setting trend and the very positive development
that has no end in sight.
We
all know what has helped to drive this surge. Antisemitism in the U.S. is at
levels we have never seen before since the world witnessed, on October 7th,
the most extreme evil and butchery perpetrated on our people since the
Holocaust.
A Seat at the Table – at What Cost?
As
Rabbi Katz said, Rosh Chodesh Elul this year is unlike any we have seen, and we
have changed as a people since last Rosh Chodesh Elul. Today is the time for
the Jewish people to change their habits and their feelings if they have not already
done so. No, I do not mean that everyone needs to make aliyah; I would never suggest that because aliyah is a very personal decision, which must be based on parnassa opportunities, family and
friend support systems in Israel, where one’s children live, etc. As much as one
would like to make the move, it may not happen, unfortunately, no matter how
much the U.S. declines.
What
habits and feelings must change then? Following October 7th, we
must change the way our Orthodox community relates to our government and
politicians. Thank G-d for our community leadership. For many decades, they have
traversed difficult political terrain, supporting political candidates that
have belief systems that counter ours in order to have a seat at the table and to
receive necessary funding for Orthodox institutions, from security to education
and everything in between. That is how politics works and one must play to
pay.
After
October 7th, however, playing the same political gamesmanship can no
longer come at the cost of the safety of Jews in the U.S. and, most importantly,
at the cost of existential threats the State of Israel faces, unlike any time
in its history.
What We Don’t Ask
Living
outside of Israel has given our Orthodox lay leaders much to consider. Of
course, we ask candidates for every office, from the local councilman to the president
of the United States, whether they support Israel. Usually they answer, “How
can you question our support of Israel. Of course we support Israel. Look at
the record amount of defense funding we give to Israel.”
Unfortunately,
in our political world today, it is not what politicians say but what they do not say and what they do not respond
to what we do not ask them.
For
instance, to their claim of supporting Israel with defense funding, we might ask,
“Well, of course you do, and you also send tremendous amounts of money to
countries that are building nuclear weapons and use the money to buy weapons
and build huge tunnel infrastructures to destroy Israel. Thank you for the
security funding, but how about first stop arming those who want to kill us so
that all that security funding would not be so vital?”
The illogical world of politics
puts lives of Israelis at risk daily.
Another
example: They will say, “We are against antisemitism on campuses.”
What
they are not asked and therefore do
not answer is: “Will you state publicly that, unless universities protect the
safety of Jewish students, you will vote to pull funding from the university
under Title VI?”
The
illogical world of politics allows antisemitism to be rampant across the U.S.
today and, by politicians’ inaction, tacitly sends out dog whistles of
approval.
Who Is a True Friend?
We
have seen far too many “friends of Israel” who have sincerely supported Israel
and then, when their political backs are pushed against the wall by their party
leaders, fall over each other to stab Israel in the back. How many Israelis
have been killed as a result of the scores of billions of dollars these “friends
of Israel” have sent to Iran and to complicit Palestinian “relief”
organizations?
A
current political race is for the retiring Senator Ben Cardin’s Senate seat, in
which former Governor Larry Hogan is running against Angela Alsobrooks. Former
Governor Hogan has quite a record showing that he has been and will always be a
friend to the Jewish people. He supports the safety and security of Israel and
never allows party politics to throw Israel under the bus.
I’d
like to believe that Angela Alsobrooks would do the same, but on what basis can
one compare her record to Hogan’s? She has basically no record on Israel. When asked
about Israel, she said, “I endorse Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Yes,
so do Chuck Schumer, Chris Van Hollen, President Obama, and so many others,
whose actions have caused great harm.
Alsobrooks
has said, “One of the things I’m proudest about is my ability to listen, and I
think that’s one important quality of leadership.”
I
am sure she has that ability, and I hope all of us reading this have that
ability. Ben Cardin introduced her to the Jewish community leaders with “She is
a remarkable individual.” I am sure she is, and I hope all of us reading this
are.
Changing the Playbook
Some
of our wonderful Orthodox community leaders participated in Angela Alsobrook’s host
committee recently and attended her get-to-know-her fundraiser. Such political
expediency was great prior to October 7th. We have a long
history of hosting and supporting the campaigns of candidates with whom we may
not agree in many areas but who are likely to win. This is the way to acquire
support and needed funding for the Orthodox community, as mentioned above.
Today,
however, we Jews are living in a very difficult period, unlike any other since
the Holocaust. We need to change our political playbook. It is our collective
job, as one people, to educate the public and the politicians about good vs.
evil, thereby protecting our friends and family in Israel as well as the lives
of the precious soldiers. Our collective support is sacred. We must bestow it
on those who understand and foster our love for Israel and who believe in the right
of Jews to walk campuses and neighborhoods while proudly displaying our identity
as Jews. Feeling safe is our G-d-given right in the United States of America.
If
Baltimore’s Orthodox lay leaders feel it is in the best interest of the
Baltimore Orthodox community to join host committees and/or attend events, they
should make it clear that they support all candidates – no matter their
political affiliation and no matter whether they might win or lose – who unabashedly
support our Jewish people’s right to safety in the U.S.A. as well as Israel’s
right to live in peace. We must ask the right questions and listen keenly to
the answers to what was asked and to what they did not say so that we do not elect politicians who have facile
answers, such as providing for Israel’s “defense” while also supporting enemies
who have genocidal intentions and do not recognize our right to exist.
Please,
let’s use the collective power of the Orthodox Jewish community, and with G-d’s
backing, lead the way in the new reality in which October 7th has
placed us all.
