Yesterday, I found myself in a vehicle for some 9 hours with 4 boys and some 500 donuts.
I made the quick trip to NJ to bring back my son from school, only this time along with a few of his classmates who will be spending part of Chanukah with our family and community. Of course, once I was going I used the opportunity to load up on holiday supplies for our upcoming programs (and help shlep back some items for other communities who heard I was making the trip...)
We had plenty of time for chatting in the car and I quickly found myself immersed in the sweet and refreshingly simple world of 12 year-old Yeshiva boys, Baruch Hashem. They were singing camp songs, chatting about friends,and most of all, planning the coming days of Chanukah. They asked me about senior facilities they could visit over the holiday and if I had any dreidel costumes they could wear at the mall to attract attention and hopefully distribute Menorahs to Jewish travelers who might need holiday supplies.
Somehow the conversation turned to some of the recent antisemitic comments and incidents in the news and I heard one of the boys say (while munching on a donut) , "Oh yeah, I did hear something about some famous person saying something nasty about Jews. He was crazy. Oh well.. all the more reason for us to go out and show people what a Jew is..."
That was it.
I didn't say anything at the time but my mind was racing. There was something so refreshing...so healthy... about hearing these words from a 12 year old. There was no over-talking the issue. No playing defense. No giving it undue attention. No feeling like a victim.
Don't get me wrong. Words matter. They can incite violence, G-d forbid. It is sickening to think about the millions of impressionable minds who digest repugnant lies coming from someone with influence. There is absolutely a need for Jewish leaders to call out hate and ensure that the world understands it is evil and never ends with just the Jews.
BUT...
I don't want this to become overemphasized, especially in front of our youth.
I want Jews to know that there are countless more people out there that support and respect Jews. Let's not give a bigger platform to those who make a lot of ugly noise.
I often see a lot of passion in the community after an anti-Semitism incident, G-d forbid. That passion is coming from a holy and good place. But here's a challenge - Let's always find that same passion for a Mitzvah or Torah Study. After all, our Judaism should be defined by who we are and our unique mission in the world -- not what others may think about us. That also happens to be the most effective way to fight anti-semitism -- promoting that which the antisemite wants to crush: Jewish vitality.
Antisemitism is a reality that sadly has to be dealt with. I applaud those working hard to make sure it doesn't get ignored or swept under the rug, G-d forbid. But for most of us, let's focus more on adding light. The most pressing issue facing Judaism today is the critical importance of Jewish education and embracing our unique identity and Torah-based values. In fact, one meaning of the name Chanukah itself is "education", coming form the Hebrew Word Chinuch.
Let's take something out of the playbook of the 12 year-old student.
More offense. More light. More Jewish Pride.
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This approach of proud and confident Jewish Living is one reason we work tirelessly each year to create moments of joy and pride each Chanukah.
I have been questioned why we invest so many resources into our Chanukah Programming? As someone once asked, "Isn’t Chanukah only a minor Jewish Holiday?"
The answer is quite simple. It is true that Chanukah is not a holiday on the level of Passover or Yom Kippur. But the light of the Menorah, especially when kindled in a public setting, teaches our youth (and all of us) an integral message of being a Jew in the 21st century:
One should never be ashamed, nor afraid, of being a Jew or living Jewishly in a public manner.
It is a privilege to be a Jew, an ambassador of light in the world. It's our job to let that light shine.