September 20th, 2024

At the turn of the Millenium, I was working as a Cantor for a synagogue in a beautiful and stereotypically affluent Connecticut suburb.  The community had a disproportionate number of wealthy residents in a mix of old money and new money, and enough Jews to support reform, conservative, and orthodox synagogues. Many of the Jewish families had relocated from nearby New York City, and they all seemed to be well-accepted by the long-term residents.

Christian and Jewish, everyone in that town was white. So it seemed odd to me when, at a monthly local clergy meeting, a minister mentioned that “Our town has always taken pride in its diversity.” Incredulous, I later mentioned it to a friend, saying, “Can you believe that?! He called our town diverse!” I didn’t expect her response, “He meant YOU.”  She went on to explain that when the locals spoke about “New Yorkers”, that was code for “Jews”.

We are simply different. No matter how assimilated we feel, no matter how at home in our Diaspora surroundings, we are simply different and will always be looked upon as such. Since October 7th, one can’t get through a single day without being reminded of this fact. 

Of course, my parents taught us that Jews are different, and in a good way. We are leaders in every field we enter. We are a People that has survived millennia. Our values are for life, peace, charity, acts of kindness, tikun olam, making the world better. But since October 7, whenever I turn on the news I hear how terrible we are, and by “we” I mean Israel and all who support her. After the recent beeper attack on Hezbollah, the news report on the Today Show merely announced that some babies were killed. This was Mission Impossible, James Bond stuff, yet THAT was where they chose to put the focus. (Please spare me your emails accusing me of not caring about babies being killed.) 

You don’t need me to tell you that the news is one-sided, or that antisemitism is at an all time high. You don’t need me to break your heart with more daily announcements of fallen Israeli soldiers. You don’t need me to point out that social media gets your blood boiling because these kids are so stupid, or that your email box is overflowing with articles and comments that are written every hour in defense of Israel. Every day, I have ten to twenty ideas to write about. Too much. Overload. Genug.

TGIF in a big way. This Shabbat, as with every Shabbat, I will not be at my computer, I will not hear news reports, I will pray for the safety of the soldiers and the release of the hostages. I will take a walk and take a break from the daily stress. And I will be proud to belong to a group that is, and will remain, eternally different, because the difference is a beautiful one. 

Am Yisrael Chai!