Rabbi Mendy Herson's Blog

Still Feeling Thankful....And Hopeful

Friday, November 24, 2023 - 7:34 PM

Why are we called Jews?

Historically, the name traces back to Judah, the fourth-born of Jacob’s children. Jacob had four wives, and Leah was the first to bear children. She was overjoyed at the births of her first three sons. But when she had her fourth, feeling that he was more of a blessing than she could have hoped for, she named him Yehuda (Judah), which comes from the word thankful, saying “this time, I must [REALLY] thank G-d.”

So the term Jew reflects thankfulness, gratitude for our blessings.

My family and I recently visited Poland, to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of my father-in-law, Rabbi Nissen Mangel. My wife Malkie’s father suffered through seven Nazi death camps, where he saw much of his family, and his childhood, destroyed. Eventually, he made it to this free and tolerant country, where he rebuilt his life.

Now he was turning 90, and he wanted to experience the milestone by bringing his descendants – three generations – to the scene of the crime, Auschwitz. So 97 of us flew to Poland to celebrate…in the shadow of the Holocaust.

The trip still feels as surreal as it was inspiring. My father-in-law has, thank G-d, had many successes and joys in his life. He’s also experienced unspeakable pain. One can only imagine what he carries in his memory banks, in the scars of his soul. One can only imagine how he felt on the trip, revisiting sites where he narrowly escaped the Nazis’ evil clutches.

Yet, counter-intuitively to many, his oft-repeated theme for the entire trip was ”Offer thanks to G-d, for He is good; for His kindness is everlasting (Psalms 118:1).” And, amazingly, an upbeat spirit of gratitude permeated our large group, even as we visited the sites of mass torture and murder.

My father-in-law wasn’t denying and repressing his painful experience. He was very open about them. He was just insistent that they not be allowed to eclipse the co-existent beauty in his life.

Deeply inspiring. And profoundly timely.

Jews are going through a rough patch. Jew-hatred is popping up at Universities and in otherwise-polite company. Our beautiful American tolerance and liberty is being perverted into a turn-a-blind-eye acceptance of savagery and the freedom to incite. As a born and bred American, incredibly proud of what our country has contributed to the world, it hurts. Perhaps naively, I really hadn’t expected this. We can do much better.

But, in the spirit of our trip, I won’t let it stifle my gratitude. And given our country's wonderful history, I still believe we WILL do better. Together.

G-d bless the USA.

Add 'Social Justice' To The List Of Hamas Captives

Friday, November 17, 2023 - 7:35 PM

In our recent Torah readings, we’ve been seeing a pattern: Abraham, a deeply-loving spiritualist, ends up with a wild and destructive son, Yishmael, and Isaac and Rivka, lofty and empathetic exemplars, raise a vicious murderer, Esau. What’s the Torah’s message?

Yishmael and Esau were each gifted with a wonderful upbringing, and each had a golden opportunity to carry it forward in their own lives. But sometimes good – even great – values can be taken off the rails.

Yishmael, for example, grew up in an atmosphere of unconditional benevolence. As the boy’s self-gratification needs developed, he translated ‘unconditional benevolence’ into ‘there are no boundaries.’ So, he lived a life of undisciplined trespassing into other people’s lives. He warped the idea of “what’s mine is yours” into “what’s yours is mine.”

Esau similarly perverted his parents’ lofty values. While those details are beyond the scope of this essay, the Torah’s message that even sublime ideas can be taken to harmful places, is exactly my point.

‘Social justice’ is an ancient Jewish concept. While the wider world was regularly practicing savagery and cruelty, Isaiah consistently called on society to care for the disadvantaged and vulnerable. Over the past years, this beautiful notion seems to have energized many high-minded and good-hearted people to advocate for the marginalized and the mistreated.

How Can Decent People Support Savagery?

Friday, November 3, 2023 - 7:38 PM

I just returned from a deeply emotional week in Poland. My father-in-law – a survivor of seven Nazi death camps – marked his 90^th birthday by bringing 93 of his direct descendants (and spouses) to the scene of the crime. There, despite the horrors he experienced, he wanted to express his profound gratitude to G-d for the miracle of his survival and for the gift of his post-Holocaust life.

It was unnerving to contemplate the Nazis’ methodical evil, and many Poles’ supporting roles, during those years of horror.

Perhaps most unsettling was juxtaposing the world’s post-Holocaust reaction with the present reactions to Hamas’ pogrom. After the Holocaust, Germany clearly accepted responsibility. Many Poles ducked responsibility, claiming they were hapless victims, because they wanted distance from the moral travesty. Either way, the world didn’t excuse it. The world certainly didn’t celebrate it.

The world called evil by its name.

Fast forward 80 years, and we’re witnessing a very different response to the wanton torture and murder of innocents.

Not every Palestinian is a terrorist, and not every Palestinian knew what Hamas was planning. But the populace elected Hamas as their leaders. They know that Hamas sent agents to torture and slaughter innocent men, women and children. They all saw – via the terrorists’ GoPros - proof of the savage attacks.

The citizens of Gaza know what happened. Yet, it appears that many Gazans, rather than going the German route of accepting responsibility, or even the Polish route of ducking culpability are – from what I can tell – condoning and celebrating the brutality.

But I’m even more disturbed by some reactions here, in our blessed land of religious freedom.

If people want to point out that innocent Palestinians are unfortunately dying in Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas, I get it. It’s very sad. If they want to criticize Israel for those deaths, I disagree (I lay the full blame on Hamas); but I don’t consider that an immoral stance. It may just be misguided naiveté.

But what can I say about some fellow Americans (including, sad to say, a few Jews), in universities and in the streets, who – even after the world has seen proof of beheadings, rapes, burnings, kidnappings, etc. – demonstrate in support of Hamas and hold placards that call for the elimination of Israel (“from the river to the sea” means nothing less)?

I’m dumbfounded.

So, in my post Oct 7 daze, I pray for the kidnapped and for our brave IDF. I mourn the victims.

And I grieve the death, in too many quarters, of basic human decency.