News

I got a call this morning from a student asking my opinion about the Israel–Iran situation. He wasn’t asking for my political analysis, but rather something deeper: What should I be thinking right now? What should I be doing these days as a Jew?

I told him I was thinking about Esther.

For much of her story, Esther remained hidden. She lived quietly, carefully, not rushing into danger or seeking attention. But when the moment came, when her people needed her, she stepped forward and led. Her courage is what helped save the Jewish people.

We are not all meant to stand in royal palaces or shape world events. But each of us, in our own way, face moments that call for leadership. Judaism does not ask us to run toward danger recklessly, but it does ask us not to hide when our presence matters.

Being Jewish publicly today can sometimes feel heavy. There is tension, uncertainty, and too much noise filled with anger. These days, every time we do something that's Jewish is itself an act of leadership. Because at our core, this is who we are. This is my identity at our core and no one can take that from me.

Last night, after our NYC Fellowship program ended, I was walking through Midtown Manhattan. Out of nowhere, a homeless man began yelling at me: “You Jews and Israel, always making problems!” I stared at him and didn't look away. He calmed down. “You Jews somehow always end up okay though”.

It wasn’t said kindly, and it certainly wasn’t meant as encouragement. But as I drove home, I kept thinking that in a strange way, he was right.

Despite the hardship, antisemitism and every moment in history when it seemed uncertain how we would move forward, the Jewish people endure. We adapt, rebuild, lead, and somehow we just continue.

Not because history is easy for us, but because our strength has never come from circumstances. It comes from identity, from the ethics and values of the Torah and our heritage, from community, and from the quiet decision, again and again, to step forward when the moment calls.

Like Esther, we may not choose the times we live in. But we can choose how we show up within them.

And if Jewish history teaches us anything, it’s this: We will be okay, not by accident, but because we continue to stand together and lead as Jews.

Warmly,
Dave