As I prepared for Shabbat this week, I was drawn to the wisdom of the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z"l. He highlighted two verses from this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetzei: “Do not despise an Edomite, because he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land.” (Deuteronomy 23:8). Despite all the suffering Israel endured, Torah calls us not to remain trapped in hate.
Rabbi Sacks reminded us: “To be free, you have to let go of hate. To answer hate with hate is to be dragged down to the level of your opponent… Hate the sin but not the sinner. Do not forget the past but do not be held captive by it. Learn to love and forgive.” (Rabbi Sacks, Covenant & Conversation, Ki Tetzei, 2014).
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. expressed the same truth when he said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
These words feel particularly urgent as antisemitism continues to rise in so many corners of the world. Last Sunday evening, Congregation Or Shalom in Vernon Hills, Illinois, discovered antisemitic graffiti on their property. Their rabbi, Ari Margolis (beloved former rabbi at TBO), responded with courage and hope. Rather than allowing this act of hate to define them, he invited the community to transform the wall into a mural of blessing, turning pain into resilience and despair into hope.
This is the Jewish way. Again and again, our tradition calls us not to shrink back in fear but to stand tall with courage. Judaism urges us to be proud of our Jewish identity, to live openly as Jews, to strengthen community, to reach out in friendship to others beyond ourselves, and to keep choosing life, hope, and love.
This is how we can demonstrate courage in the face of difficult times. Courage leads to resilience. Resilience is not simply endurance, it is the ability to transform hardship into strength and to draw from our past in order to keep building our future. Every Shabbat we celebrate is an act of resilience. Every act of chesed (kindness), every word of Torah, every meal delivered to a neighbor, is an act of defiance against hate, and a powerful affirmation of life. Every time we speak out for justice, or ring a bell for freedom, or raise a hand to volunteer we are turning faith into action and courage into light.
Each of us carries within us the capacity for courage. Sometimes it is bold and visible: standing up for what is right, challenging injustice, protecting the vulnerable. At other times it is quieter: offering compassion, showing up again and again, refusing to give in to despair. Each act, large or small, affirms our commitment to ourselves, to our community, and to the world. We are Am Yisrael, the People of Israel. For thousands of years we have wrestled with adversity, endured, and thrived. We are proud of who we are, and we will continue to live with strength, resilience, faith, and courage. We will not give in to hate.
As Rabbi Sacks taught, “Acknowledge the evil people do, but stay focused on the good that is in our power to do.” This is our sacred task in this season of reflection and renewal: to rise above hate with love, to transform curses into blessings, and to help redeem the world we share. May we always choose courage over fear, hope over despair, and love over hate.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel
Interim Rabbi
Temple Beth Or
rabbisobel@tboraleigh.org
