Present as Prologue – Reflections on the Morning After
(in Israel, in America, and in the World writ large)
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Isaiah 41:5 from the Haftara
רָא֤וּ אִיִּים֙ וְיִרָ֔אוּ קְצ֥וֹת הָאָ֖רֶץ יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ קָרְב֖וּ וַיֶּאֱתָיֽוּן׃
The coastlands look on in fear,
The ends of the earth are trembling.
The best way to prevent what some assume to be apocalyptic outcomes is not to assume that they are inevitable and fall into a fetal position, but to work steadfastly to prevent those scenarios from happening.
Worry is noted in our DNA—as is trauma. To assume a fetal position today, the morning after, regardless of your political leanings, is worse than worthless (either by your choice in American Politics or Israeli governmental positions — i.e. all politics is local).
The world today has alighted on (or in) a new political reality — one that many have feared and some have prayed for (again, all politics is local).
For the Jewish community writ large, crying out that ‘the sky is falling’ is a seriously worthless endeavor and I might add, a defeatist and self-immolating scenario. While not one of us is a prophet, and no one can say what will happen as time unfolds (as it always has), one thing is certain: to cry, to tear out one’s hair, and allow this newfound reality to traumatize your life (for me or for anyone) . . . is both foolish and self-defeating,
We have been at this type of crossroad before, we have been both divided and yes, even at times united — but the fool’s play here, the one path leading to a destructive future is to un-invest and disengage from the future of the Jewish People and the future of this country, the United States of America. Nothing is as destructive as throwing up one’s arms and giving oneself away to hopelessness and despair. And I say this to all of the Jewish people. to our friends and our allies, and all of the American People, regardless of whichever side of the divide(s) any one of us has found ourselves in the last year’s time or from time immemorial).
Succinctly: Never give up on “US”– the costs of doing so are just too high.
Isaiah 41:5 from the Haftara
רָא֤וּ אִיִּים֙ וְיִרָ֔אוּ קְצ֥וֹת הָאָ֖רֶץ יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ קָרְב֖וּ וַיֶּאֱתָיֽוּן׃
The coastlands look on in fear,
The ends of the earth are trembling.
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In both looking back and in looking to the future, Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav teaches us (perhaps warns us): ‘Kol HaOlam Kulo — Gehser Tsar Me’od: HaIkar Hee, Lo Lifa’chaid’
“The Whole World is a Very Narrow Bridge — the main point is: Do Not Be Afraid.”
