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MIZRACHI IN ISRAEL’S NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman

The Fight

Against Assimilation

ne of the most important, characterized the belief our forefathers and refuses to be comforted because
complex and difficult had in the building of Jerusalem. they are no more.” There is no
Ochallenges faced by Diaspora consolation, we must continue our
Jewry is the fight against assimilation, When the city was destroyed and the struggle and have hope. Change
which is affecting Jews everywhere. Temple was burned down, the Jewish is definitely possible. We cannot
people refused to be consoled. We be comforted and we must have
The expression “refused to be remember Jerusalem and mention faith. Assimilation can and must be
comforted” appears twice in the it at every opportunity – in prayers countered using all the tools available.
Tanach. The first time is in the and when saying Grace after Meals. We have to bring people closer to their
story of Yosef and his brothers. The At joyous occasions, we break a glass faith and to Jewish tradition so they
brothers return home and tell their to remember Jerusalem. If a Jew will remain part of the Jewish people.
father Ya’akov that “a wild beast has whitewashes his home, he leaves an
devoured” Yosef and that Yosef is dead, empty corner in memory of the city. The war against assimilation is the
placing his clothes before Ya’akov. The The verse “if I forget thee Jerusalem, most important battle being waged
Torah tells us: “and Ya’akov mourned may my right hand wither” has by the Jewish people today. The most
for his son many days and all his sons accompanied the Jewish people since effective way to win it is through
and all his daughters arose to console Biblical times. education, which offers the sole
him.” But Ya’akov “refused to be The second case in which consolation guarantee for overcoming this painful
comforted.” was refused occured when Jeremiah phenomenon. We must enlist all our

This begs the question – why did reflected on the loss of 10 of the 12 strengths and brainpower. Those
on the front line, in each and every
Ya’akov refuse to be comforted? Did he tribes: “A voice was heard in Ramah, place, must put their fingers in the
not know that mourning has a limit? lamentation and bitter weeping. huge dike to hold back the gushing
There is a time to cry and a time to Rachel is weeping for her children and water jeopardizing the resilience of
be silent. Why did Ya’akov refuse to refuses to be comforted because they the Jewish people and their spiritual
accept the consolation? are no more.” continuity.
What we have here is a foundation of Today we see Jews distancing The shlichim (emissaries) of Religious
the Jewish faith. themselves from Torah and detaching Zionism are hard at work in hundreds
themselves from Jewish tradition.
At first glance, faith is found in the There are two possible responses to of Jewish communities across the
globe. Their goal is to cultivate the
ability to be consoled. Tragedy strikes, this situation: connection with Jewish heritage and
there is suffering and destruction, strengthen the bond with the Jewish
and a Jew accepts the judgment and There are those who will be consoled people and the State of Israel.
says: “the Rock; His work is perfect.” and say this is the way of the world
He resigns himself to the facts and and the will of the Creator. Jewish We all share the hope that the vision of
continuity, both physical and spiritual,
views them as the will of the Creator. will be sustained by the people loyal the prophet Jeremiah – “there is hope
Ostensibly, this is the apex of faith. to Zion, to Jerusalem and to Jewish for your future, declares the L-rd, and
However, there is a faith higher than tradition. That is how it was in the the children shall return to their own
that: the refusal to be comforted. past, that is how it is in the present, Land” – will speedily be fulfilled in our
We agree to be comforted when we and that is how it will be in the future. lifetime.
believe that hope is lost. Deep in his We must accept this. The situation
heart, Ya’akov knew that Yosef was cannot be changed. Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman is Head of the
Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora
still alive. The refusal to be comforted in the World Zionist Organization and one
is a victory of hope over desperation. There is, however, another response: of World Mizrachi's representatives in the
Throughout the generations, it also “Rachel is weeping for her children National Institutions

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