Built for Survival

Late Sunday night, I returned from a week long trip to Israel with educators from college campuses across North America. Birthright invited each of us on this trip for two primary reasons. First, it allowed us to process some of the most challenging aspects of this war with our colleagues-- before guiding you, our students, on Birthright trips this summer. Second, and even more crucial, it provided a platform for us to share with Birthright management-- the stories of what life is like for students on American campuses.

I have so much about my experience that I want to share with you all, and it could never fit in one sermon. To hear more about my trip, I encourage you to stick around after dinner for the discussion. 

In this week’s parsha, Yitro, Moses’s father-in-law Jethro, observes a significant weak spot in his leadership. Jethro notices that Moses alone is managing every single complaint in the community.

Can you imagine?

He tells Jethro that people come to him at all hours of the night and day to inquire about God. Moses spent all his time managing disputes between people and responding to questions about the teachings of God. So. in short, Jethro teaches Moses how to develop a system of leaders in the community who could help manage these issues, leaving only the most critical matters for Moses to address. 

As I re-read this story a few days ago, the themes of cooperation and communal responsibility stood out. While things were never perfect in the desert, this partnership among community members allowed the Israelite's to work together to pursue their common goal of survival. 

I also saw this value of communal responsibility reflected throughout my time in Israel. One of the sites we visited in Jerusalem was the Chamal-- or civilian command center. Chamal is short for - Cheder Matzav L’milchama - translating to “the war room.” Throughout Israel, these civilian command centers popped up in the early days of the war. Volunteers were there to offer support however they could to the people who were fleeing the Gaza border and later from the north. Refugees were spread throughout the country and relocated to hotels, Airbnbs, and empty apartments. But they arrived with little to no personal items. The volunteers at the Chamal began collecting donations of food, clothing, toiletries, and more from all over. They also connected refugees with volunteers who could offer rides and deliver goods-- and others who provided medical and psychological services. 

As the war persists, their mission at the Jerusalem location has shifted slightly. While they continue to collect goods and connect refugees to resources, the “storefront” at the Chamal, which carries quality clothing--  available for free or a small donation-- has organically grown into a community center. Somebody donated a high-quality espresso machine, so they set up a small cafe, providing a cozy spot for refugees in Jerusalem to connect. During our visit, people were inside chatting on the couches and working at the tables, doing their best to thrive in this new yet temporary normal. 

We also met many refugees in our hotels at Kibbutz Tzuba and the Dan Panorama in Jerusalem. While I imagine they would prefer to return home safely, it was clear that they were making the best of the challenging situation. Families from all over, who may have never met, found themselves sharing meals, prayer, games, and babysitting in the lobby. It felt like one giant home. In the mornings, parents would pack lunch boxes for their kids from the breakfast bars, and in the evenings, they would collect their laundry bags at the front desk. Kids ran wild and free, and everyone, including the hotel staff, embraced them as family. 

Times are tough in Israel, and I am not here to paint a false picture of perfection. But when I think of how our people have survived, l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, from Egypt to Babylon-- and now in Israel and all across the world. Our bond is strong, and our neshamot, our souls, are built for survival. In Israel and here on campus, I have seen with my own eyes the strength and cooperation of the Jewish people. 

If there is one phrase to sum it all up-- The people of Israel live “Am Yisrael Chai.”