As I sit by my computer after marching in the Israel Day Parade and prepare for my trip with NORPAC to advocate for Israel this coming Tuesday, I consider how impactful it is to stand up for Israel. In speaking with our bnot sheirut and an Israeli teacher who have never been to the parade before they shared how there is nothing like this in Israel. I responded that there is no need for something like this in Israel. There they live this pride and support for Israel daily.
But, as I marched today and prepare for NORPAC I also feel some sadness. Why is it that we are still holding signs and speaking about the hostages who have not yet been freed? Why am I preparing to speak to senators and congressmen about Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas? Why do we need to speak about anti-Semitism on college campuses?
I considered how I could find encouragement and comfort as well. This past Thursday evening we celebrated a wonderful bat mitzvah event with our sixth grade girls. It brought to mind how years ago, when my daughter became a bat mitzvah, I learned Trei Asar with her for her bat mitzvah. We originally chose that sefer because there are 12 books and bat mitzvah is 12. As I came home today with some of that dejection I described, I realized that Trei Asar was the source of comfort that I needed today.
Rabbi Berel Wein wrote a book called Who Knows 12 about Trei Asar- written in 2015. In Rabbi Wein’s introduction from 2015, he writes,
“I was 14 years old when I first encountered Trei Asar as a subject of study at my beloved yeshiva in Chicago. Sixty five years later in Jerusalem, as I study Trei Asar once more, the words are the same but their meaning is far different than what it was when I was an adolescent. Much has happened to me and to the Jewish people over the past sixty five years. This book was completed and edited in the shadows of the pain and costs of war against Hamas in Gaza. I never imagined that I would experience such a conflict in my lifetime or live in such an openly anti-Semitic world as I do in 2015. The words of the prophets of Trei Asar have been a personal comfort to me in these difficult days.”
Wow. Incredible. Gaza, Hamas, anti-semitism. He could have written those words today.
As Rabbi Wein aptly says,
“This book is a very personal one, It reflects how the words of the prophets speak to me about contemporary issues that face the Jewish world of the twenty-first century. The words of the prophets of Trei Asar should therefore not be viewed as only ancient history or moral preaching, but rather as a commentary on current events and present- day issues.”
So, it is essential to learn Trei Asar so that we can understand the times we are going through or as Rabbi Wein says
“ …so we are not doomed to being constantly blindsided by unexpected events, overly frightened by impending difficulties and hopefully confused by what currently befalls us. The book of books has accompanied us over thousands of years on our journey through the world and its civilizations. It continues to do so today- and we would be very wise to study it, consult it, and live by its values and holy messages.”
In his book Rabbi Wein speaks about four themes in Trei Asar that we are living through today: (He quotes pesukim for each of them).
Jewish survival and Jewish pride- the Jews will not be destroyed and they will survive not with their heads down, but with power. And, at some point other nations will recognize Israel’s greatness, realizing they were wrong all along.
The nations of the world will join us- instead of battle us- perhaps as we have begun seeing in the Abraham accords… (In front of us at the parade there was a group of Chinese Israel supporters marching. We often focus on the anti-Semitism in today’s world. It is so wonderful to see that there are those outside of the Jewish people who support us).
The return of Jews to Israel- 7.7 million Jews live in Israel today.
When the Jews return the land will flourish- When Mark Twain visited Israel in the 1860s he said that Israel was desolate with a "silent and mournful expanse". Today, Israel is thriving and vibrant.
How encouraging and hopeful as we see the words of Trei Asar happening today before our eyes.
Since October 7th as parents we have been struggling with how to speak to our children about what is happening with encouragement. As educators we worry- how do we keep our students aware and engaged in “fighting” for Israel and the Jewish people, without scaring them about visiting Israel or about anti-Semitism?
We first need to realize, as we all intuitively know, that we need to speak to our children about what is happening- in a developmentally appropriate manner. If they don’t hear it from us first, they will hear it from someone else or the media.
I recently read an article by Ilana Kendal “Talking to Your Kids About Rising Anti-Semitism”- and her points relate to anti-Semitism and the war in Israel as well. Aside from the importance of validation and encouraging questions, she shares:
We need to provide context.
As Jews, we have a long history of persecution. It’s important to let our kids know that the violence we see today is an expression of longstanding evil. From the time of Abraham, we have represented change, going against the grain, and this has always been met with resistance. In its essence, part of being Jewish is believing in change, in a better world. By placing current events in this context, we provide important education about our mission as Jews. We can talk about the Biblical struggles, Crusades and pogroms as a legacy of opposition against the values we stand for. We can tell our kids, “Those bad people don’t like the goodness the Jewish people stand for” or, “Jews represent God and good in the world but some people just want to live without rules.” Placing current events in a broader spiritual context gives meaning to the specific battle we are facing. As we strengthen our children’s identity, we likewise strengthen their capacity to cope.
And, sharing Rabbi Wein’s four points from above are wonderful ways to provide context and encouragement.
Foster Action-
Research indicates that being active in the face of a difficult situation can actually lower the rates of stress and PTSD. Action is not fixing, solving or even stopping the pain. It is finding ways to move from passivity to activity.
Events like the parade, NORPAC, the political action unit our 7th graders are engaged in now and the various activities we have engaged in since October 7th to stand up for Israel and the Jewish people are the actions that they need to remain resilient.
Find role models-
Speak about those who have not only survived, but also thrived after difficulty. Kendal gives an example, “You know what Bubbie Jean would do when she was scared walking at night?” I asked. “She would repeat ‘Shema Yisrael’ over and over again. She told me she felt God was protecting her.” It wasn’t that she was fearless; it was that she found courage through her faith. Looking around for our personal role models or people in history who have contended with anti-Semitism shows our children the resilience of the Jewish spirit and places all of us in a larger context. We become not only individuals grappling with fear, but warriors in a noble spiritual battle. Empowering our children to become part of this legacy can transform their experience and give them the strength to tackle their fears.
Throughout this war we can point out role models for our children. Like Agam Berger who shared as she was released the words-
"I chose the path of faith and with the path of faith I have returned.”
Or Sapir Cohen who mysteriously thought she was sick before she was kidnapped and a message appeared on her instagram suggesting she start saying Tehillim 27 daily despite not being religious. By the time she was kidnapped she knew it by heart and said it daily.
These role models can be found daily with stories of chayalim, the kidnapped, the injured and their families.
But, as I marched today and continue to prepare for NORPAC, I feel a sense of hope- as depicted in Trei Asar and I as I see our children stand up for Israel and the Jewish people with a legacy of faith.
Advisory Update:
Sixth Grade: Students did a lesson on how to navigate working in groups when things don’t always go so smoothly
Seventh Grade: Students discussed why people tend to be “bystanders” and how to change that reality.
Eighth Grade: Students did a lesson as part of the Substance Abuse unit on alcohol.
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