Beyond the Headlines: A Jew Is Never Stuck

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news 

“A Jew is never stuck.” I was very moved to hear this statement from young American Jews who came to Israel for the first time through the Livnot U’Lehibanot program. They were scheduled to fly back to the U.S. during the week of the war with Iran and of course, their flight was canceled. But instead of feeling helpless and depressed, they decided to set goals for themselves: They’ve been busy repairing and painting bomb shelters in the northern city of Tzefat.

And why did the words of these young people touch me so deeply? Because it reminded me of a famous story about the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Once, a group of Chabad women were stuck in an airport on a Friday due to a snowstorm. Worried about their situation, they called the Rebbe and told him they were stuck. The Rebbe responded: “Stuck? There is no such thing; a Jew is never stuck. Wherever he is, he has a mission to accomplish.” So these women started looking around the airport for Jewish women who didn’t light Shabbat candles and gave them candles.

 There are Jewish women who began to light Shabbat candles, and continue to do so to this day, because a group of women were “stuck” in a snowstorm on Erev Shabbat.

This is a message for all of us, in every situation.

Jews Stick Together

In response to the above post, which appeared last week in Hebrew, I received the following letter from Shira, mother of IDF solider Eitan Dishon, who fell in battle in Gaza.

“You quoted the Lubavitcher Rebbe that a Jew is never stuck, and I just wanted to tell you how I experienced this myself. I returned today to Israel on a rescue flight from New York after I was 'stuck' in the United States. I had traveled there with the 'Menucha V’yeshua' organization that provides services to grieving families, but was compelled to remain there for an extra eight days due to the situation in Israel.

“But we were never really stuck, not at all. Our extra time there began with an uplifting concert by Yishai Ribo in New York. We were privileged at that event to speak about Eitan, and Yishai spoke about him on stage with deep feelings, dedicating a song to his memory.

“On the following Shabbat, I was asked to speak about Eitan at a number of gatherings. Afterwards, women approached me with tears in their eyes and said that my words had given them strength. And, on my end, this was exactly the “hug” that I needed. The support from our brothers and sisters in America gives me strength and reminds me of the character of our people. We Jews are never stuck; we stick together!”

A Graduation Day Message

What is being said at graduation parties this year? I think the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers), which we are reading now in the Torah, can offer us some direction.

The Jewish people wander for forty years in the desert. They experience highs and lows, surprises and battles, triumphs and setbacks. But one thing remains constant: At the center of everything is the Mishkan—the spiritual heart of the nation. Throughout their journey, all twelve tribes are arranged around it. In every new place they arrive, the first thing they do is set up the Mishkan: the beating heart of holiness, of identity, of spiritual life.

This year’s graduates began elementary school during the pandemic. They lived through October 7, and now they are finishing school in the aftermath of Operation “Am KeLavi.” Through all the upheavals and challenges, one thing matters most: the values their parents and teachers instilled in them. That, in a sense, is their Mishkan—eternal, sacred, and unshakable.

I had the privilege of speaking via Zoom at several graduation ceremonies over the past few days. I asked the students: What was your ‘Mishkan’? What values stayed strong through all the turmoil? The answers I received were deeply moving. It turns out that sometimes, it’s the challenges themselves that bring us closer to our center—to our heart, our Jewish identity, and the story we all share.

A heartfelt thank you to all educators for yet another difficult and meaningful year. May we all, in this coming summer and in every journey and challenge ahead, remember to always keep the Mishkan at the center.

The Real Schooling Begins Now

Mazal tov on the new year of learning which begins this week! According to Rav Yaakov Edelstein, although summer vacation starts at this time of year, this is when kids’ education truly begins. During the year, the Rav explained, students are in a structured environment. There are classroom rules of conduct, bells and recess between classes, and homework. But during summer vacation, students set their own schedule.

Rav Edelstein would tell young people that this is an opportunity to be who they really are. They can create their own daily schedule — when to go to sleep and when to wake up, when and how to spend time with parents, siblings, and friends. Most importantly, they can choose how to fill up their free time. This is not just a taste of what life is like as an adult, but an opportunity to get better acquainted with the person they are meant to be.

I recently received the picture below from Harel Biton, a teacher in Beit She’an. On their own initiative, kids of all ages will be coming every day to the Ort Evyatar yeshiva where they will pray and study Torah together. As the students explain it: “Summer vacation is the time to develop our character and contribute to the strength and the spirit of the nation of Israel.”

Translated by Yehoshua Siskin, Janine Muller Sherr

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