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TENACITY

One of the traits of the Jewish people over the ages has been its unswerving and unshakable tenacity. In terms of influence, Judaism has been the most influential of all faith systems in the world. It is the “mother” religion of the two other monotheistic faiths, Christianity and Islam. Its ethics and world view form the basis of much of the value system of Western civilization and society, even of the most secular elements of that society. But in terms of numbers, Judaism claims very few adherents relative to the other faith systems of the world.

 

In a world of a billion Christians, a billion Hindus, a billion Moslems, hundreds of millions of Buddhists and other Eastern faiths, Judaism’s puny numbers – fourteen, fifteen million – are almost insignificant. The Torah warned the Jewish people of this phenomenon of greatly enhanced influence with relatively small numbers. It challenged us to be the “treasure amongst all nations” while at the same time informing us that we would be “the fewest of all peoples.”

 

In order to balance these two seemingly opposite positions, the Torah relied upon this trait of tenacity in the Jewish people. The core of the Jewish people would remain steadfast in their faith and beliefs in spite of persecutions and blood libels and in resistance to all siren blandishments and seductions. The “stiff- necked people” would prove to be very stubborn. In fact, the Midrash points out to us that Israel is compared to the walnut – a tough nut to crack - and even when it wallows in the mud and dust, its kernel fruit remains whole and protected.

 

The tenacity of the Jewish people regarding its loyalty and adherence to Torah, has been evidenced in current times by the vitality and resurgence of Orthodox Jewish life in all of its variations and components. Sixty years ago Orthodoxy was written off as a force in Jewish life in the United States and in Israel as well. The “experts” then underestimated the tenacity of the love of Torah that exists within the hearts of Jews. King Solomon in Shir haShirim correctly stated that “great waters cannot extinguish the love [of Torah that the Jewish people possess] nor can floods wash it away.”

 

The same is also true regarding the love and loyalty of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem. Herzl in proposing his famous Uganda plan to the Zionist Congress badly underestimated the tenacity of Jewish feeling towards the Land of Israel. Jewish tenacity that did not accept any majority faith as being a legitimate substitute for Judaism would also not accept any substitute, no matter how alluring and practical it would seem, for Zion and Jerusalem.

 

Even though the Uganda resolution passed in the Congress it soon died aborning. Jews are not about to abandon Israel for Europe or any other place in the Diaspora. The warning of Rabbi Meir Simcha Hakohen of early twentieth century Dvinsk, Latvia, still rings in our ears and conscience: “Woe to those who say that Berlin is Jerusalem!” Jewish tenacity does not allow for any ersatz substitutions.

 

Perhaps the strongest testimony to Jewish tenacity has been the ability of Israel to withstand the unceasing enmity and wars that the Arabs have inflicted upon us over the past century. Our enemies fail to recognize that tenacity within us. Somehow they feel that just a little more terror, one more war or kidnapping will break our will and end our resolve. But we are God’s people because of our tenacity. It is our strongest asset and holiest trait.

 

As has often been the case in Jewish history our tenacity in the face of adversity and enmity has been underestimated both by the non-Jewish world and some in the Jewish world as well. However, any objective reading of Jewish history and tradition would clearly establish that this very tenacity is the root part of the overall Jewish personality and mindset. It is the propensity of all of the “experts” to ignore this that has led to serious miscalculations within the Jewish and general world as well.

 

These miscalculations have cost and continue to cost us dearly. It is almost ironic that our enemies clearly are themselves tenacious in ignoring and discounting our tenacity. There is no doubt that our tenacity in love of Torah and Israel will yet be sorely tested in the future. But all of Jewish history indicates to us that we will continue to successfully pass that test.

 

Shabat shalom.

Berel Wein