As Jewish communities around the world have been facing rising antisemitism and dealing with the emotional toll that the Hamas invasion has caused, it would serve us well to heed the Torah’s sage advice.

 

Last week we read the story of Noah’s ark and this week we read about Abraham’s call to leave his homeland and venture to a place that God will show him. In both stories, we find our protagonists facing the threat of danger in uncertain times.

 

But in each case, God gives them the greatest gift to handle adversity; family. In times like these we are reminded of Am Yisrael. We, members of Jewish communities, are all part of Am Yisrael: the people of Israel. We are all family and as long as we seek out community, we will have the strength to face the challenges in front of us.