Have you ever stopped to think about the mindset of the Israelites and the Jews in the times of the Torah? For example, how could it be that after everything God did in Egypt, 80% of the Israelites stayed back?
How could that be? What was their narrative? Were they out of their minds?
Another example, we know the story of the spies, but have you ever stopped to think how it could be that the 10 leaders of the generation, the biggest Rabbis, spoke so badly about the land of Israel? What were they telling themselves? What was their narrative? Did they just lose it?
If you want to know the answer to those questions, it’s best you look at the narratives that the Jewish people are telling ourselves today, and have told ourselves throughout the generations.
Same narratives. Same blindness. Same excuses.
Let’s take Egypt as an example. 210 years of back breaking slavery, open miracles, and a clear message from God. Get out now!
So why did so many stay back?
Well, surely some of them said to themselves, “I am Egyptian. I was born in Egypt. My parents were born in Egypt. My grandparents were born in Egypt. I am Egyptian, and don’t tell me about some land of milk and honey. I’d rather stay here.”
They probably also told themselves, “Miracles? These aren’t miracles. Moses has been nothing but trouble for us, and he is a terrible leader who I want nothing to do with.”
Well, let’s look at the narrative that so many Jews are telling themselves today. “I am American, I am British, I am South African, I am Australian, don’t tell me about the land of milk and honey.
I want to stay here, where I am home. I was born here, my parents were born here, my grandparents were born here. I’m American and stop creating hysteria telling me I need to leave.”
Same story, different generation.
But they were slaves! They were persecuted. How did they not see it? Well, how do so many Jews not see it today? Numbers don’t lie and all they tell themselves is “It won’t happen here. Antisemitism? It doesn’t affect me.”
Same story, different generation.
That’s one narrative. “I am comfortable here in America. Sorry but I’m not leaving.”
What about the spies? What was their narrative?
Again, the story makes no sense. These were 10 of the biggest rabbis of the generation, and God told them exactly what to do, to enter the land, and they came and spoke badly about the land? That makes no sense. So what was their narrative?
The answer is clear. They are in the desert, they have a direct line of communication with God, who provides them with food, drink, and shelter.
They are very “religious” in the desert, and they don’t think that it will help them spiritually if they enter a land where they have to build an economy, an army, and live a normal life.
We’ve all heard this narrative before. “I’d make Aliyah but my kids will “go off the derech.”
“I am here in Brooklyn or Lakewood where I am very frum. My kids are sheltered. Not going to go to Israel where they can go off the derech.”
Sound familiar?
By the way, it’s worth mentioning that if someone is afraid that their kids will become less religious by moving to Israel, it’s not Israel‘s fault, it’s their fault, it’s the way they educated their kids.
Also, let’s not forget what happens when someone becomes less religious in Israel vs what happens when someone becomes less religious in America.
In Israel, they might, “God forbid” get a tattoo. And then they’ll celebrate all the holidays and remain connected. In America? That’s the end. Assimilation.
In every generation, we tell ourselves the same stories to justify the things we want to justify.
Just as the Israelites did not recognize the miracles that were happening to them, the same is true today.
Tens of thousands of deadly rockets, and under 100 casualties from those rockets? All of those rockets and missiles falling in empty spaces in a country smaller than New Jersey? How are these not open miracles? And yet, so many refuse to see it.
I think it’s time we get out of this pattern, and start opening our eyes to reality.
It’s not just today. We’ve told ourselves the same stories in every generation. How else do you explain the German Jews not getting out when the writing was on the wall?
What was their narrative? So many millions of Jews were “enlightened”, identified as Germans, not as Jews. Others were so religious and so learned that they felt this is the place for them and their spirituality.
We need to get out of this pattern and listen closely to what God is telling us to do.
Just like no one has any doubts that they need to keep kosher or Shabbat, living in Israel is equally as important and central to Judaism.
Enough with the justifications, enough with the ridiculous narratives, it’s time to come home.
The writing isn’t just on the wall. It’s covering the wall. There is no wall. It’s all writing. And the writing says three important words. “Get out now!”
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