It's time we stopped playing defense and started playing offense. What do I mean? The Jewish people have been around for thousands of years, but our identity has morphed over time. So who are we today? What defines us as Jewish people? Is it our enemies and their baseless hatred? Or is it something else?
The answer lies in this week's Torah portion Behaaloscha. There, we learn that the Jewish people are referred to as both a "camp" and a "congregation." Of course, every word is specific and intentional, so why use different terms? They have two different meanings that tell us everything we need to know. A camp is something many different species employ to protect themselves from predators and environmental dangers. We know this definition well, as our people have faced the threat of persecution time and again, and at times, we've allowed ourselves to become defined by these evil empires. This is a travesty and sells ourselves short, denying our true greatness. That is why the Torah provides a better description Eida or congregation. The connotation is a group that shares a purpose and vision for the world, a people that unite to accomplish what no one can do alone. This definition speaks to our impact on the world and the true reason for our existence.
Today, we, too, face overwhelming challenges in Israel and around the world. We can easily fall prey to victimhood and allow the tyrants and terrorists of the world to define us by their hatred. This would further drain our morale and defeat us from the inside out. We must remind ourselves and our people that the Jewish people were first defined at Mt. Sinai when G-d gave them the Torah, and their mission in this world has never changed. We have been tasked with illuminating the darkness and elevating the mundane by revealing its holy potential. This is what should always unite us and define us, no matter what the hatters may say.
We are a congregation of lamplighters, a people that celebrate life and all of its potential. Now is our time to set aside our differences and celebrate the common goal we all share of making this world a home G-d with the coming of Moshiach speedily, amen!
Mission: Think of our purpose as Jewish people and find partners you can work with to fulfill our mission.