A Holiday Message

Rabbi Simon Benzaquen

A story is told about a rabbi who was walking home late one night in his village; the streets were deserted and the houses were dark. Only one candle burned – that of the cobbler. The rabbi stopped by the window and softly tapped on the glass. "Rev Chaim, is it not late for you to be working on a pair of shoes?" Rev Chaim answered, "I must finish this pair of shoes for Moshe for Yom Tov and my candle is not yet finished. I have a few extra moments to work while the candle is burning."

The rabbi thought to himself – what a wonderful and inspiring message that is. As long as there is light, as long as there is time while the candle continues to burn – one can still achieve and repair, or finish a pair of shoes. A person can still hammer on and work, whether it is on a pair of shoes or on issues of great concern that face us today as Jews.

From time to time there have appeared many articles concerning one of the most important issues that we face in our time – assimilation. The questions persist – How can we stop or reduce assimilation? How can we stop our Jewish brethren from disappearing? We all know that assimilation and intermarriage are suffocating Judaism; and we need to face the issue head on – not with apologies, but with a devised plan that will be true to ourselves as Jews, lest we lose ourselves in our lethargy.

While this issue of the disappearing Jew is addressed globally, we in our community must do our part to reduce assimilation and avoid the spectrum of the vanishing Jews. We must show ourselves, and the world, that we have not given up. As dismal as it may seem, the candle of Judaism still flickers and there is still time. There are Jews who are still worthy of turning the precarious situation around.

I think that one of the ways to do that is alluded to in the portion of the Torah that we read on the first day of Rosh Hashana. To see more on this subject, I would refer you to my web sight torahvista.com on Parashat Ki-Tetze, dedicated to honor our sister congregation Ezra Bessaroth on their milestone centennial celebration. I would recommend you to log onto the sight, I am sure you will enjoy and appreciate its content.

Our Torah recounts how Sarah gave birth to Yitzhak. Sarah realizes that Hagar and Yishmael are still living under their roof. As Yitzhak grows up she cannot accept the bad influence that Yishmael is having on Yitzhak. Sarah demands that Abraham send Hagar and Yishmael away. Abraham refuses, and only at the directive of G-d, who insists that Abraham should listen to his wife in everything she communicates to him "Shemah Bekolah," does he fulfill the wishes of Sarah. Abraham provides Hagar with the necessities for survival. On the way, the provisions run out and Hagar could not bear to watch her son die. She places him under the tree and walks away.

Our Torah describes Hagar's attitude as she moves away from her son, "Let me not look upon the death of the child." And she begins to cry.

It is at this point that our Torah relates, "And G-d heard the voice of the lad." Is it not interesting that the prior sentence states that Hagar was crying and yet who does G-d hear? G-d hears the lad crying. To which G-d directs his remarks to Hagar stating; "Why are you bewailing so much? Do you think that G-d does not hear the cry of the child? Get up from your wailing and complaining and take hold of the child. Do something about the situation." And what does G-d recommend? "Lift up the lad and hold him by his hand." Yes, we need to lift up the people that are fatally injured in the spiritual wilderness. All we need is to make them see the water, like Hagar saw the water and drunk so she could survive. The water of survival of Judaism is our Torah.

But, we need to take the children by their hands – we need to lead them – we need to encourage them and most of all we must never give up on them. If we give up, the results will be the dismal picture that is presented in our media and among our pessimists.

The Jew is not vanishing – the Jewish soul is thirsty. It needs water, it needs nourishment. G-d says to Hagar, "Why are you over here and your child is over there. Now get moving – move closer to each other."” We are all parents to so many starving souls.

Rise up Hagar – Rise up! Seize the Day! Find new ways to reach out – encourage more interest in others and show them that their sense of self-worth as a Jew is in their hands and that they can validate themselves by moving out of their spiritual wastelands into the luscious fields of Torah.

Bewailing a situation never got us anywhere, unless it leads to a change in venue and attitude. We CAN change the system – but it takes initiative and understanding and especially taking hold of their hands, show them we are truly interested and we do not stand in judgment of them. Rather, we will win them back with the honesty and beauty of Torah. The sound of the Shofar pierces our very being, not the Terua, the wailing, but the Tekia, the straight forward blast of optimism and encouragement.

May this year bring us closer to our complete redemption and may we be blessed with "Anyada Buena y dulce kon salud buena" (a good and sweet year with good health).