No More Complacency

Jewish History has taught us that every place that Jews lived outside of Israel, ended up with three painful results. We were either expelled from that place, or we assimilated and abandoned Judaism, or we suffered extermination, G-d forbid. This has been a reality from which there is no escaping.

We have been blessed to be able to live in Israel for the past forty-two years. I was the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Century City in Los Angeles.

Over the years, I have remained in contact with numerous friends and family, and visited the States fairly regularly.

To be honest, I always left these visits with a very bad feeling. Jews seemed so smug and complacent that they had it all. I felt that they even felt a certain superiority over their struggling Jewish brethren. I did not enjoy praying in synagogues in America, and kosher restaurants annoyed me, seeing Jews that clearly had their priorities out of whack.

During my current visit to the States, I see that all of that has changed. Synagogues in Los Angeles have removed their Jewish symbols to protect themselves from vandalism. All of them either have security guards or codes in order to enter.

There is actual respect and admiration for the Jews living in Israel. The anti Jewish sentiment in America is very real and very worrying.

It is likely that October the Seventh changed the Jewish world dramatically. There is a strong revival of religious observance and Jewish identity has never been stronger.

There is no question that Hashem has a plan, and is running the show. Truth wins in the end and we are witnessing a serious Jewish wake up call.

That false sense of security that materialism and ostentatiousness once brought, is being exposed for its lack of substance.

The truth of G-d and the Torah is becoming more and more clear. But the miracle of Israel and the welcoming arm of its inhabitants to Jews all over the world, should give great comfort.

Unlike our past exile, that did not end well anywhere, a happy ending awaits all Jews if they would only open their eyes and come settle in the eternal home of the Jewish people.