Last Friday, as I was preparing for Shabbos, I heard unusual sounds outside my home. Curious about the commotion, I peered out the window and, to my surprise, witnessed a pro-Palestinian parade marching down my otherwise quiet and unremarkable street. Chanting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans, it felt as though I was observing this from a distance, like watching a movie set in a time and place far removed from my own. The images and sounds seemed eerily familiar, not because I had witnessed them outside my home before, but because they were reminiscent of moments in my people’s past. And here I was, watching it unfold in real-time.
In 1903, Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (1843–1926), published his novella on the Torah, known as Meshech Chochma. In this work, Rav Meir Simcha outlines a cycle of Jewish history that repeats approximately every 100 to 200 years, characterized by a pattern of migration, settlement, assimilation, and eventual exile. Initially, Jewish refugees arrive in a new country, establishing communities, and focusing on both material and spiritual development. This successful integration leads to a sense of belonging within the host country, but eventually, this sense of security is disrupted by rising hostility, culminating in a crisis that forces the community to seek a new refuge, thus restarting the cycle.
This cyclical pattern serves a purpose; it is a means to maintain the Jewish people’s connection to Hashem and to propel them toward their ultimate destiny, highlighting the challenges of maintaining a distinct cultural and spiritual identity in the face of assimilation pressures and the ever-present potential for redemption.
Rav Meir Simcha noted the deep sense of comfort and belonging many European Jews felt in their adopted countries, with some in Berlin even likening their city to Jerusalem, suggesting they viewed it as their ultimate home. This sentiment, expressed in a time of relative peace, carries a poignant foresight, given the tragic events that unfolded in the decades following 1903. Rav Meir Simcha’s reflections serve as a somber reminder of the unpredictable tides of history, echoing through time and foreshadowing future challenges.
This week, I have the privilege to join over 120 members of the Teaneck/Bergenfield community, on a solidarity mission to Israel. Although it has not yet started, there is a profound sense of unity and anticipation. This impressive gathering, dedicated to offering support and finding inspiration, reinforces our deep connection to our heritage and the Land of Israel. It serves as a comforting reminder that we have a sanctuary that connects us to our past and invites us toward a shared future.
Standing by my window last Friday, the unexpected parade was a vivid contrast to the sense of unity and purpose we’re finding here in Israel. It’s comforting to realize that, despite the shifts we face back home, Israel stands as a place of hope, offering us all a sense of belonging and a chance for a new beginning. I hope that our mission reinforces our community’s resilience and our deep bond with our homeland, reminding us that Israel is always there, ready to welcome us back.
To Whom It May Concern 
‪www.IfAmericansKnew.org‬
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I’m an American Jew in the Midwest, and a strong supporter of Israel… I think if you wish to be honest, and think about why this is happening this way — not merely protests, but intimidation of American Jews (who protests down quiet side streets?) — you have to look at the way American Jews have moved hard left in the last couple of decades. The very people YOU voted in to office in liberal New Jersey, the liberalism you probably have preached in synagogue… the liberalism on US campuses… have delivered to you two things: politicians who are craven and bend the knee to these “protesters” (many fake paid Antifa operatives)…and 25+ years of unchecked immigration (legal AND illegal) from the Middle East…much of it approved and encouraged by AMERICAN JEWS as a sign of our “open mindedness”. Now, of course, we are completely outnumbered in our “second homeland” of the USA and don’t even let’s talk about Canada, UK, Australia…or how many Jewish “kapos” are standing WITH the pro-Hamas protesters. Did you care BEFORE THIS? because Jews like me have been warning you FOR YEARS NOW!
You thought it could never happen here. IT CAN HAPPEN HERE!
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You don’t know Rabbi Rothwachs. He is apolitical from the pulpit but he is anything but a “liberal”, as you seem to assume. But you are sadly correct in your assertion that many Jewish people, mostly non-Orthodox, have tried to show their open-mindedness much to our detriment. Now Americans and virtually all of Europe are reaping what they have sown – an influx of immigrants who hate Western traditions & values. Despite a horrible price being paid, there is one country in the world that finally seems to “get it.” And that is Israel. We will see in November if America also is starting to “get it.”
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If you Rabbis stopped the loshon hara and lies that you spread this would not happen.
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Ah, another BOT from Iran or Qatar! what “loshon hara” are you even talking about? there are no lies here. I stand by what I said and I believe the Rabbi also stands on his words.
The only “lies” come direct from Hamas and their supporters… dangerous, deceptive, paid for by our enemies abroad (TERRORISTS).
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