“The Jew is that sacred being, who has brought down from Heaven the everlasting fire, and has illumined with it the entire world. He is the religious source, spring, and fountain out of which all the rest of the peoples have drawn their beliefs and their religions.” – Leo Tolstoy
“It is difficult for all other nations of the world to live in the presence of the Jews. It is irritating and most uncomfortable. The Jews embarrass the world as they have done things which are beyond the imaginable. They brought the world the Ten Commandments which many nations prefer to defy. They violated the rules of history by staying alive; totally at odds with common sense and historical evidence. They angered the world with their return to their homeland after 2000 years of exile and after the murder of six million of their brothers and sisters.” – Olive Schreiner, South African novelist
How to react!!!
If society has attempted to lower our esteem with slogans of hate, it is our responsibility as a peoplehood to lift our spirit with a feeling of pride and dignity. Observe how the Middle East is surrounded by brother killing brother and how Israel is spending its energy in an attempt to keep mankind more alive. Israeli universities are searching for cures, while others are striving to attain nuclear power in order to destroy and annihilate.
Never, can we be more proud of our history and spiritual pasts as the approaching days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur arrives. We pray for health, life, joy and peace in a state of reverence. The sound of the shofar sends a chill down our spines and the sombre tone of our prayer enters our souls with meaning and humanitarian purpose.
Remember! We pray for life- not death…
Let us be proud of who we are, and NOT what the world wishes us to be…
After losing 3 siblings in one year, your words of condolence and comfort were extremely appreciated.
Jewel and I wish you the best for a happy, healthy and peaceful new year
Shana Tova
Rabbi Sidney Shoham
