The following is my piece in the October 31, 2019 edition
of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:
The Publisher’s Perspective
The word of the day is perseverance. The quality of being able to
put forth a sustained effort to accomplish a goal regardless of the challenges
and complexities that we may face is one of the core characteristics that
defines us human beings and as Jews.
Throughout our history we have faced numerous obstacles which may
have appeared insurmountable at the time, yet our faith never wavered, and we
persevered despite the overwhelming odds.
The truth is, perseverance does not have to be solely associated
with global trials and tribulations that posed a direct threat to our Jewish
identity and the very existence of our people. Of course, there are dark
chapters in our history that pushed the Jewish community to the brink,
including the persecution by the Nazis during the Holocaust and the expulsion
of the Jews from Spain in 1492. There were pogroms against the Jews in Russia
in the late 19th century and early 20th century, as well as the Crusades in
medieval times, which left a trail of death and devastation in their wake,
including the destruction of the Jewish communities of Speyer, Worms, Mainz,
and Cologne. It took a tremendous amount of perseverance, as well as the Yad
Hashem, to overcome those monumental struggles.
We also face adversity in our everyday lives which tests not just
our patience, but our ability to persevere. For example, think about the high
winds that blew through our region over Chol Hamoed Sukkot. Did the schach
blow off your sukkah? Did your sukkah decorations get ruined? Did your sukkah
come down? None of those things are pleasant, nor are they ideal. The natural
response to each of those scenarios would be to get angry and perhaps come up
with a reason why there is no need to rebuild your sukkah with the chag
nearing completion. However, the proper response would be to shrug it off, pick
up the pieces (literally and figuratively), and reconstruct your sukkah so your
family could enjoy Sukkot accordingly.
Perseverance is also an apt description for the Jewish community
in Pittsburgh. One year after a heinous attack at the Tree of Life synagogue
that left eleven people dead, the community has pledged to rebuild and emerge
from the attack more united and stronger than before. It is the incredible
resolve of a community that was the target of anti-Semitism and sustained
unimaginable losses and pain that truly epitomizes what perseverance is all
about.
When it comes to the importance of dogged determination in order
to have a real shot at being triumphant throughout the journey of life, Vince
Lombardi, Jr., an attorney, former football executive and motivational speaker
who is the son of legendary NFL coach, Vince T. Lombardi, may have said it
best: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of
strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.”
As Jews, we do not have the luxury of lacking tenacity. Our inner
sense of steadfastness is what enables us to emerge from the darkest of days
with our faith intact and our special status as a nation unscathed. Regardless
of what each day may bring and despite our enemies’ best efforts, we can and
will persevere. The word of the day is perseverance.
No comments:
Post a Comment