Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

Shalom U’vracha.

News outlets are reporting how important it is that Israel agrees to a ceasefire before the holy month of Ramadan. It would be insensitive of us to further press for the freedom of the hostages, and the defeat of Chamas, during an Islamic holy time. Chamas didn’t think of that when they disrupted our holy Shabbat and Simchat Torah. The Arab world didn’t think of that when they launched the Yom Kippur War in 1973. In fact, in the Arab world, the Yom Kippur War is known as the Ramadan War, because in 1973, Ramadan was Tishre. If you took statistics in the last 20 years of who is responsible for the most Korans desecrated, the most Mosques destroyed and the most Moslems killed in the world, the answer would be by far, other Moslems.

It’s only when Jews defend themselves that the college campuses, the elite media, and UN committees and councils, wake up. The hypocrisy is breath-taking.

The antidote for us, for all the negativity that Israel receives from much of the world, is to speak the truth about what an exceptional country Israel is. Our recent mission traveled throughout the land and I conclude today’s message with a description of what we saw from Calev’s report of the land over 3,300 years ago:  “Tova Ha’aretz Me’od Me’od”, the land is very very good. And the people there are acting with resolute certainty that we will prevail against the evil that was done to us.  

Stay well and healthy

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street

New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org