So many times, one is asked to answer the question - Ayeka - where are you? Generally, not related to a physical location and how or where to move on towards destination. Rather it refers more to a moral question, a challenging question, of varying degrees of responsibility and morality. It often puts one on a spot definitely not comfortable. However, more and more of this type of question is being posed at a time of great divisions and intimidation, from sheer annoyance and acts and words of little consequence to existential level, when an answer is of acute, even immediate importance. It is a question which demands a moral accounting and a stand on issues of great concern. Where does one stand? Where do you stand? Where do your erstwhile friends stand?
From work-based issues to social issues of great consequences, one must be prepared to respond to that question 'Ayeka' and defend said response for risks abound here, from social isolation and ridicule to words of ever stronger intensity, to raised voices, raised weapons, and great damage. Even the hater, the offender, is harmed for in falling prey to deviant thought and behavior his soul is endangered as he sheds its purity piece by piece.
What is the first time that question was posed. It was in the Old Testament, the first book of the Five Books of Moses, Beresheet, or Genesis, in the beginning. It delineates how mankind failed in the first of many kettles of hot water, via a weakness allowing temptation to sneak through and be victorious. Consequences consequential until today and into the future. Apparently, we never learn.
In Genesis 3:9 G-d asks Adam "Ayeka?" Where are you? Obviously, the Lord knew where Adam was, physically, the only man around, so the question actually asked Adam was to think re his behavior, falling to temptation, whatever the claim of justification. It is a question of the ages. We are asked our location on the scale of morality, of goodness and honesty, of moral growth and understanding, of the sacrifices to be made, the decisions we must make correctly if we are to gain those gold stars.
Adam failed, trying to deflect the question, playing dumb, so to speak. The next person asked that question was Cain and his answer indicated he knew what the question actually was asking, and he answered accordingly, though continuing to evade culpability and responsibility. His response was a foretelling of the answers of humanity well into the future. A denial of responsibility for the very actions we did. Even as the hands were filthy with blood. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Yes, we are and how sad it is that we have failed so abysmally in that understanding and behavior required.
Very quickly we can compare that to the reaction and one word statement of Moses when he was told of his responsibility to shepherd a nation of slaves to freedom, to compel Pharaoh to comply with that mandate. "Hineni." I am here, ready to do G-d's bidding. I. Am. Ready and Here. I. Am.
Running very quickly through the ages we come across another example where a person had to say, in so many words, finally, reluctantly, those words signifying understanding and compliance, of bravery. It was a time when, as usual, there was a jealous man in government, close to the King, a hater of Jews, who obtained permission for a day of attack and extermination of all Jews within the lands.
Unknown to him, there was a Jew where he did not expect one to be. The beloved Queen, Esther, was a Jew. Justifiably frightened at the request of her uncle, Mordecai, to approach the King and save her people, she was reminded that what happens to one Jew, happens to the nation of Jews. There is no hiding, no safety, in the face of virulent hatred, only to confront, oppose, and defeat. Understanding that, Esther did as she was asked, ready to serve and save her people, to fulfill her purpose on earth, to be a role model for all time. Hineni was her answer to her Ayeka.
Throughout the history of mankind, Jew and non-Jew alike, we have all been faced with that very conundrum. Are we ready to answer a difficult question, to be answered truthfully as to where we stand, ready, able. willing to stand tall, or will we fail. Are we Moses and Esther or are we Cain?
Too frequently throughout history, blatantly today, in our ugly times there are leaders of hate rather than leaders of morality, true morality. Humanity has too often avoided the response, avoided the responsibility and courage of Hineni to the question of Ayeka.
Today, even as the brutal attack of Oct7 dragged Israel into a war they did not want, against a morally deficient group of terrorists, in extremely difficult circumstances, created on purpose to defame Israel, held as usual to unique standards not demanded of other nations at war, impossible standards, the only hineni heard is the chorus of nations confirming their acquiescence to the destruction of the Jewish nation, of Israel, and of all advocates. The ayeka of truth, honesty, decency, responsibility and culpability, is too low to be distinguished among the noise of mankind.
Ayeka, world at large. Ayeka all the Jews who have tried to hide, to disappear into the crowd. It does not work. History has attested to that. Routes to combat and survive these malicious attacks are to work, respond strongly, with determination and never quit, for that hatred never quits - ever. Others will not fight our battles for us. We must fight our own. All must answer hineni, even before the sound of Ayeka is heard. The consequences of not doing so are immense.
Too many Jews, especially the younger generation with its huge numbers of uninformed, disinformed and misinformed, via TikTok, Instagram and all sorts of nefarious cites. are discovering their friends are fair weather ones, and as the ugly storms continue to rage about us, they are nowhere to be found. Disembarked. Treasure the true friends. Bless the fact that you actually have some. I am lucky to have such good people.
JewHatred is here. It is open. It is virulent, toxic, detrimental to sanity, to safety.
Be aware. Be strong. Be knowledgeable.
Ayeka, people. Ayeka, fellow Jews, members of the Tribe. Ayeka, world.
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Some reading suggestions: Dara Horn interview on CNN. Must hear. Must think. Hear the insinuations of the host. Dara Horn answered quite well.
Netanyahu of Face the Nation and Sixty Minutes.
Both February 25th. Hear it carefully.
Keep track of the reports of shocking pro Palestinians attacks, violence and its condoning.
Keep a list of 'celebrities' who champion the hatred, the violence of the mobs they approve of and cheer on. Write to them, as perhaps if we hit them in their pockets they will feel it and at least tone it down. Perhaps boycotting their movies, shows, songs will affect them.
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Yitzy, sweet boy who never hurt a soul, not a human nor a creature, how could you even begin understand the ugliness of the world today. To you it did not matter at all who was what or origin, for as you reminded us - all are creations of Hashem.
Wish we had an endless supply of Yitzy clones. Deeply wish so. At least we could hug you as if it was truly you.
Some comfort.
Always and forever. Always and forever.
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