An Unexpected Gift

This week I received one of the most unusual, beautiful, and meaningful gifts.

A piece of artwork arrived in the mail, commissioned by a former congregant who is currently incarcerated. He wanted to thank me for all that I do and for responding to his letters.

During his time in prison, he has found tremendous comfort and strength in reconnecting with Judaism. He has become a voracious reader, studying Torah commentary, praying from his siddur, and reading books by authors such as Noa Tishby and Flavio Barbiero. In one of his letters he wrote, “Reconnecting with my Judaism reminds me of the amazing bond the Jewish people have with each other.”

The theme he chose for the artwork was “Jewish Pride.”

As I reflected on his gift, I realized that Jewish pride is not about superiority or triumphalism. Jewish pride is the quiet confidence that comes from knowing who we are, where we come from, and what we stand for. It is the determination to remain Jewish despite those moments throughout history when others sought to marginalize, silence, or even destroy us. It is the courage to continue building Jewish life, generation after generation.

The story of the Jewish people is one of extraordinary resilience. Across centuries and continents, we have faced expulsions, persecution, violence, and hatred. Yet we have never allowed those experiences to define us. Instead, we have continued to build communities, create scholarship, pursue justice, celebrate life, and pass our traditions to the next generation.

We are living through another challenging chapter today.

As a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, my heart has been especially heavy as I watch the dramatic rise of antisemitism in Canada since October 7, 2023. Jewish communities across the country have experienced attacks on synagogues, vandalism of Jewish institutions, public harassment, and hateful demonstrations that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago.

We are not immune here in the United States. Jewish institutions have faced threats and acts of vandalism. Jewish students on university campuses have reported feeling increasingly isolated and targeted. The Anti-Defamation League continues to document a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents, ranging from harassment and intimidation to threats of violence against Jewish individuals and organizations.

These realities are deeply troubling. Yet if there is one lesson our tradition teaches, it is that fear alone cannot be our response.

This week’s Torah portion from the book of Numbers, Sh’lach L’cha, tells the story of the twelve scouts sent to scope out the Land of Israel two years after the exodus from Egypt. Ten returned overwhelmed by fear and convinced that the obstacles before them were too great. They tried to convince the Israelites not to enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb saw the same challenges but believed they could be overcome since God was leading the way.

Their difference between the 10 scouts and Joshua and Caleb was one of perspective. They all saw the same reality. Yet Joshua and Caleb viewed it through the lens of faith, courage, and collective responsibility. As a consequence of their fear, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for an additional thirty-eight years. Of that generation, only Joshua and Caleb would live to enter the Promised Land.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote: “The real giants were not the Canaanites but the Israelites’ fears. Their mistake was to think that the challenge was out there. It was in here, inside their minds.”(Covenant & Conversation, onSh’lach L’cha)

The challenges facing the Jewish community today are real. Antisemitism is real. Division is real. Polarization is real.

But so too are Jewish strength, Jewish resilience, and Jewish community.

How do we respond?

We can show up.

We can attend Shabbat services. We can participate in synagogue life. We can support our local Jewish Community Centers and Federations. We can study and learn. We can engage in meaningful conversations about Jewish history, culture, and identity. We can build relationships with allies who stand with us against hatred and intolerance. We can educate others about who we are and what Judaism teaches.

Most importantly, we can strengthen the bonds that connect us to one another.

Elie Wiesel once said: “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

Jewish pride is not simply a feeling. It is a commitment.

It is choosing connection over isolation, learning over ignorance, hope over despair, and community over fear.

The artwork will soon be displayed in my office, where it will serve as a reminder of something essential about Jewish life.

No matter where we find ourselves, our tradition offers a path toward meaning, purpose, and belonging. More importantly, it reminds us that none of us walks that path alone.

The bond that connects the Jewish people across generations, across continents, and across circumstances is stronger than the challenges that confront us.

As long as we continue to nurture that bond through learning, community, and shared responsibility, we can be like Joshua and Caleb, facing the future with confidence, courage, and pride.

Shabbat Shalom!