What can unite all members of the Jewish people, with all the differences that exist between them in their countries of origin, culture, lifestyles, and worldviews?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week, three thousand three hundred and thirty-eight years ago, a unique event occurred in the Jewish people. It was on the first day of the month of Sivan, when the people of Israel camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Torah. The Torah describes this in the words: "And they came from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in the wilderness, and there Israel encamped opposite the mountain." 'And encamped' \u2013 singular. Chazal interpret that this was the only time that the entire people came together "as one man with one heart.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a profound message in this story. True unity in the people of Israel can only exist on the basis of the Torah given at Mount Sinai. Without this foundation, one can truly wonder whether we are one people or a collection of individuals, tribes, and cultures with nothing in common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That's what you are<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jewish identity is unique to us, and has no equal in the world. It is not a national, racial, or tribal identity. Jewish identity stems from the covenant that the Creator of the world made with us when we stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Torah. At that time, we were designated "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is important to understand the meaning of Jewish identity in depth. Some translate the concept of 'Jew' into a system of beliefs, actions, and behaviors, and hence anyone who does not fulfill these requirements \"is not a Jew to me.\" Indeed, being Jewish requires us to believe in the principles of the Jewish faith and to behave according to the way of life that the Creator has outlined for the Jewish people; but the very essence of being Jewish does not depend on our actions or our way of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are a Jew not because of what you believe, think, say or do. You are a Jew because that is who you are \u2013 because you are a Jew. Because that is your inner and true essence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A person who is born Jewish (or converts properly) is a Jew by nature. Being a Jew does not depend on what he thinks, feels, speaks, and does, but rather on his inner essence. Therefore, no Jew can ever be separated from his Jewishness, since a person cannot change his inner essence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Jew may, God forbid, behave in a way that is foreign to Judaism, and then we have a Jew who behaves inappropriately \u2013 but Jewish<\/strong>Even someone who casts off the yoke of Torah and commandments remains connected at his navel to the eternal covenant that God, the Blessed One, made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. He remains a Jew, because by his very essence he is part of the 'kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' It is precisely for this reason that the Torah calls him to return to it, for he always remains connected to the Torah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will always remain Jews.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the foundation that unites us all. We can quarrel and argue, struggle and fight \u2013 and we will still remain Jews, brothers. Even if we do not reach an agreement, and even if each one thinks the most difficult things about the other, we are still Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the great thing that took place at Mount Sinai \u2013 the unbreakable covenant between God and all the members of the Jewish people throughout their generations. This covenant is the source of our unity and the secret of our strength.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What can unite all the members of the Jewish people, with all the differences that exist between them in their countries of origin, culture, lifestyles and worldviews? This week, three thousand three hundred and thirty-eight years ago, a unique event occurred in the Jewish people. It was on the first day of the month of Sivan, when the people of Israel camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Torah. The Torah describes this in the words: \"And they came from the wilderness of Sinai, [\u2026]","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":680328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[6238,4250],"class_list":["post-1069519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-138","tag-6238","tag-4250"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n