In every pain, there is a bright spot. And in every tragedy, there are moments of grace. The Jewish people, unlike all peoples, know how to put aside real ideological differences in times of trouble and distress and unite. The past month, for all its difficulties and ups and downs, has proven to the world - and first and foremost to us - that we have the strength and ability to rise above and overcome such fundamental differences of opinion.
You probably don't remember, and that's a good thing, the terrifying fire wars that took place right here among us just a month ago, each devouring the other's life. And now, God bless, unity crosses sectors and factions, and there is no one who is not mobilized, some in body and some in soul and spirit, for the success of the campaign. We are all sons of one man.
They agreed and heard an incident that happened with Rabbi Maz HaCohen in the Baylis trial:
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In April 1911, two children playing in a field near Lyukanovka, a suburb of Kiev, came across the body of a boy lying in one of the caves. The boy's hands were tied behind his back and there were stab wounds on his body. It was soon determined that the deceased was Adnerei Yushchinsky, a boy of about 12 years old who had disappeared from his mother's house eight days earlier.
From then on, Kiev entered a crazy bloody system known as the 'Beilis Trial' or 'the blood libel of the twentieth century.' The blame was placed on Menachem Mendel Beilis, who employed the boy's mother in his factory. Soon, an indictment was filed against all of global Jewry, entitled "Premeditated murder for the purpose of religious worship." The extensive publicity the trial received shifted the focus from murder to an argument against the existence of the Jewish people. Many questions were raised against Judaism, the greatest and strongest of which was the Rashbi's statement in the Babylonian Talmud that "you are called Adam and none of the nations of the world are called Adam." According to the petitioners, this statement is enough to prove that the blood of a Christian child is inviolable according to the Jewish system, and therefore, the murder is legitimate in their eyes.
"Are you able to unite?" the rabbi asked.
The mobilization for the campaign was perfect. Representatives were sent from all over the world to serve as defense attorneys in the highly publicized trial. Until Rabbi Yaakov ben Yeshaya of the Ha-Cohen took the stand and turned the tables. After completely denying the incident and proving Judaism's aversion to murder in any form, the rabbi was asked to respond to Rashbi's sermon and explain why the nations of the world are not called Adam.
""In the sacred language," the rabbi began, "there are four adjectives; human, man, man, and person. The first names can be read in both the singular and plural - people, men, persons. However, the word 'man' cannot be read in the plural." - "The nations of the world can certainly unite on certain days and form one unit as men or as people. But in their essence and in their general lives, each one is for himself. But we Jews are called 'man' to mean that even in a primary and individual state we are important as one unit that cannot be broken down." - "Come out and learn," the rabbi raised his voice. "In Russia, the trial of an unknown Jew is currently taking place on a vile charge, and from all corners of the world, the Jewish world has mobilized together as one man to stand in the breach against the nations of the world. In a similar case, when the accused is a Gentile, will a delegation be sent from all over the world to represent him? Is there any concern whatsoever for the nations of the world as one? This is, then, Rashbi's saying; "We are called Adam, and none of the nations of the world are called Adam." - It was his own testimony that tipped the scales and led to Baylis' complete acquittal.
The fiery speech of Rabbi Maz HaCohen has stood the test of reality for two thousand years. Wherever in the world, God forbid, there is harm to Jews, it will be felt in all corners of the world and wherever there is a Jewish community. Only a few years ago, we saw the full mobilization of Jews from all over the world to rescue three Japanese prisoners. And there are many examples. Even now, in our difficult times, the Jewish people are revealing their shining and radiant faces. The hundreds and thousands of organizations that have taken it upon themselves to assist soldiers on the Gaza border will testify to this. A large and well-known organization called the Dosim Project has put together a real ration card full of everything good for the soldiers' needs, and all with a bright face and a strong backing of resilience and encouragement.
But the highlight is actually in the seminaries and churches. Thousands of avrechim and tens of thousands of people of the House of Israel have taken it upon themselves to strengthen themselves in the joy of learning Torah, with each 'person' receiving the name of a soldier and striving to learn it. The project, called after the holy name "Alef Matamat," has proven to us that before everything and after, we are the chosen people. And this is the point of light in the darkness.
