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By Rabbi Yossi Groner
As we embark on the new year of 5786 with the advent of Rosh HaShanah, we reflect on the state of Judaism— both here and across the world— to see where we are heading in the future.
It would be dishonest to ignore the challenges facing the Jewish people today. The rise in anti-Jewish sentiment globally, especially in parts of Europe, is quite disheartening. The constant, misplaced criticism of Israel and its valiant fighters— who heroically defend all who dwell in Israel with their life and blood— damages our standing in the world and carries tangible consequences. What is most troubling is the negative attitude toward Israel harbored by many young Jews here at home. This disconnect threatens the vitality of Jewish life in America for generations to come.
My intent in writing these
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words is not to convey pessimism. On the contrary, Judaism is all about positive thinking and being optimistic about our future. My point is to explore the cause and find ways to understand and repair.
One of the underlying causes of the current situation is the lack of clarity in genuine Jewish values that plagues our generation. Compounding this problem is that many young people today— rather than consulting genuine Jewish sources— rely on artificial intelligence and chatbots for their information.
What gets lost in today’ s way of processing information is the truth, which is now subject to biased interpretation and altered facts. This creates a prejudiced and distorted narrative about Israel, Torah, and Judaism.
The irony is that we live in a time of unprecedented access to genuine Jewish knowledge, readily available to all. Yet access alone is not enough— we must make time to study and learn the Torah, which will allow us to grow and mature in our Judaism.
We are called the People of the Book not only because our roots are found in the Torah, but because of our enduring commitment
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to study. Jewish learning has always been our calling card, and it involves honest questioning, critical thinking, and a deep respect for sacred texts.
The Talmud alone addresses countless dilemmas affecting religious and civil matters in Jewish life. Following the Talmud was the development of Rabbinic Responsa, which covered all facets of life— many of which were challenging and painful.
The method of Jewish study was to approach the subject matter without preconceived ideas. It was important to examine the material with integrity and honesty, allowing the rabbi or student to reach a reasonable and correct conclusion. Of course, this process of study involved much debate, critical thinking, and vetting to try to ascertain the true intent of Torah. This process eventually led to the creation of a vast repository of Torah knowledge and ideas available for us to examine.
Many of the issues facing us today— whether the question of what defines legitimate warfare or how to deal with the hostage issue— are discussed in the Talmud and the voluminous work of Jewish scholars. These teachings
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serve as a guide for us in our current situation.
Judaism is not defined by how we feel about it or subject to our gut feelings. It is a genuine doctrine, rooted in the G-d-given Torah— a Torah that is constantly being developed by sages and students today, yet based on its core principles as given to Moses at Mount Sinai.
Our task at hand is to seek the truth and disseminate it to our youth with passion and love. It is the responsibility of our generation to learn the knowledge and values and transmit them to our young so they can be confident in who we are and what we stand for.
Similarly, when it comes to the constant flow of misinformation from the media or other questionable sources, we need to combat it with the light of truth. As the famous Jewish adage from Rabbeinu Bachya teaches:“ A little bit of truth defeats much falsehood like a little bit of light dispels much darkness.”
I would like to propose that we create truth-seekers among us, beginning with ourselves.
Once we dive into our vast treasures of Jewish knowledge, we will begin to develop a sense
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of self-confidence in Judaism and our immutable connection to Israel. We will emerge stronger, and the world will recognize that our roots are deep and cannot easily be toppled.
Let us remember: we as Jews have contributed to society at large disproportionately to our numbers. And we know that even with all the tumult in the world, we are still spiraling upward to a better and healthier future— one that will be peaceful and harmonious.
Let us resolve to make this new year the year of truth, light, and positivity— through increased Torah study and by engaging in more acts of kindness and generosity. May this new year usher in an era of peace, tranquility, and genuine relationships for all.
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