CANTOR’S CORNER

Cantor Eyal Bitton shares a few thoughts on prayer and the parasha of the week.

2023-07-01 Parashat Chukat-Balak

On Shabbat morning, just before the “Shema”, we offer up the prayer “Vahavienu”, asking God to lead us with dignity to our homeland: “Bring us safely from the four corners of the earth, and lead us in dignity to our land.” This prayer speaks to the deep connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel, and acknowledges the sense of displacement that is historically inherent to diaspora life. By including the word “dignity”, it informs us that the rabbis viewed being a diasporic people, a landless people, as a mark of national shame.

In the haftarah we’ll read this Shabbat, from Micah, we read of a time when the remnants of Israel will be scattered among other nations, and then gathered together as a proud and strong nation. “The remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of the many peoples.” Micah then says that the people of Israel will not be subjugated forever, as “Your hand shall prevail over your foes.” Indeed, today we are living in that time, as Jews from all corners of the world have returned to their ancestral homeland in the modern State of Israel.

The establishment of Israel in 1948 is a momentous occasion for the Jewish people, as the promise of return to our homeland became a reality after centuries and centuries of diaspora. This fulfillment of prophecy has begun to reshape the identity of Jews living outside of Israel, offering a newfound connection to our roots and heritage. 

Micah warns that there will be Jews in the diaspora who will take on the beliefs of their hosts. Today, much of American society is irreligious in a classic sense. Membership and attendance to religious organizations, whether Christian or Jewish, has decreased over the decades. But the truth is that people still do have a belief system. People subscribe to a whole host of beliefs. It is worth questioning, then, whether these beliefs are truly Jewish or whether these are examples of Jews subsuming their beliefs to the ones of the host culture. It is worth questioning if we’ve indeed maintained our particularity as a Jewish people or if we’ve taken on the belief system of the society around us. I’m thinking in particular of the popular and extremely modern tikkun olam, as we know it today, an iteration of the larger social justice movement.

Additionally, I believe that we, outside the land of Israel, have failed to see ourselves as a people truly rooted in a homeland, a people that is willing to center itself when living among other peoples. With tikkun olam, American Jews generally place other causes ahead of ones that deal specifically with the Jewish community. This is unsurprising, not because of the emphasis on justice in Judaism but because historically, Jews have sought the acceptance of the society around us – either the society itself or the authority of that land – for protection, for self-preservation. 

In the realm of pop culture, I recall the reaction of the Jewish community to Sharon Osbourne’s cancellation after she questioned why Piers Morgan had been fired for saying he didn’t trust Meghan Markle. There was essentially no reaction. Sharon Osbourne (née Levy) was labeled a racist and the Jewish community did not object. Contrast that to Whoopi Goldberg’s repeated comments that the Holocaust was not racism. Jews were upset, make no mistake, but Jews generally did not call for her cancellation. Jews sought to educate her and quickly accepted her apology following her first comments. 

The parasha of Chukat-Balak reminds us of the challenges that come with the journey towards the homeland. Just as the Israelites navigated the difficulties of the wilderness, so too must modern Jews navigate the impact of diaspora life on identity. 

At the end of the day, the State of Israel stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Jewish people – the entire Jewish people. The fact that the promise of return has come true is nothing short of miraculous, and a source of inspiration and hope for Jews everywhere.

As we recite “Vahavienu” and reflect on the journey of the Jewish people, we can draw strength and inspiration from the realization of this promise. The establishment of the State of Israel is a testament to the power of our religious tradition, the resilience of the Jewish people, and the enduring connection between the Jewish people and our homeland.