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Dear {{first_name}},

I have often written to you about the phenomenon of holding two truths in the same space. It is, in fact, possible for something to be liberating and good while being scary and possibly bad. This tension is the human experience. We can rejoice for something while living in fear of its reality.
 
Saturday night when I finished Havdalah, I was surprised when I looked at my phone and learned about the United States bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. I was simultaneously relieved, happy and content. I was relieved that it finally happened, I was happy the United States demonstrated, again, that it stands on the right side of history. And I was content because I understand as an American Zionist Jew my voice has once again had a positive impact. Now, I was also alarmed and scared. I was alarmed because of how rapidly it happened, and I was scared because who knows what comes next. All of this is true at the same time. It’s okay to be grateful that the US did what it did, while also being concerned about the consequences.
 
We live in some of the most heavily polarized times in the history of the world. We seem to be unable to appreciate when someone does something we benefit from because it comes from someone, or somewhere, we may or may not oppose. We, as the Jewish People, must acknowledge and thank the leaders of the US and Israel for making hard decisions. We must appreciate their resolve has made Israel, the US and the world safer. Regardless of our personal political views, we all must say two important words: thank you.

The Book of Esther’s events transpired in what is modern-day Iran. A tyrannical man sought our destruction and a well-placed person, Esther, managed to change history. For far too long we’ve lived under the constant threat of the Iranian regimes and their proxies. Jews around the world have been terrorized and victimized. The State of Israel and its citizens have shouldered the lion’s share of the terror and shown us to be strong and courageous. We know we can, and will, still be here long after the Iranian mullahs are all gone. Haman was defeated and so will it be with the mullahs.

There is an interesting connection to the two Torah portions sandwiched between these events. Last Shabbat, when our military was busy eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat, we were reading Shelach Lecha. The portion was about the spies who went to the Promised Land to see if we could take hold of it. They were scared and they thought we were too weak to conquer the inhabitants. When we see ourselves as weak, we are weak. When we see ourselves as strong, and filled with the ability to succeed, we can do anything. That’s true of the situation we’re in now. We spent far too long allowing the Iranians to control our sense of self and our sense of safety. That paradigm is smashed.
 
We are in control of our destiny. This week we will read Korach, which is a parsha all about how we relate to our leaders and leadership. Korach demanded a more democratized society. He did it for selfish reasons, leading to evil. But his core argument remains true to this day. We all have a voice. We all have a right to step up and be heard. Let us never forget our voices matter.
 
In the days and weeks ahead there will be much joy and fear. Let us all sit with the full gamut of our emotions and recognize we’re on the right side of history.

Rabbi Hearshen

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