Be Who You Are
History has never been kind to Jews who place their security in the hands of others. While liberal ideals like tolerance, equality, and universal human rights are noble aspirations, they have too often collapsed when Jews become the targets of hatred. Time and again, Jews were told that reason would prevail, that prejudice would fade, and that modern society would protect them. History tells a fundamentally different story.
From the Dreyfus Affair to the Holocaust, and down to modern assaults on Israel, historical evidence proves that antisemitism is not simply another form of prejudice. It is a recurring political and ideological weapon. Its survival across eras repeatedly exposes the inability, or outright unwillingness, of mainstream institutions to defend Jews when it matters most.
Consequently, Rabbi Hillel’s famous two-thousand-year-old question resounds with urgent clarity today: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” This is not merely a philosophical observation; it is a political imperative. Jewish survival has always depended on Jews taking responsibility for their own defense, preserving their own identity, and refusing to outsource their security to movements, governments, or ideologies that may abandon them when political winds shift.
This harsh reality is particularly relevant in contemporary discussions about Israel. Many critics hold the Jewish state to double standards never applied to other nations, proving that hostility toward Israel often serves as a socially acceptable vehicle for ancient anti-Jewish animosities.
This raises a challenging question: What happens when a person entrusts their future to universal promises, only to discover those promises were never truly universal? The answer is clear. A person, community or nation that is not prepared to stand up for itself cannot expect others to do so on their behalf.
Self-defense and self-respect are flip sides of the same coin. A person who does not respect their own religion will garner no respect from others. The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks captured this profound truth in his famous teaching: “Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism, and they are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism.”
When people openly practice and honor their own faith, it signals a healthy self-respect that others naturally recognize and honor, even if they do not share the same theology. Personal authenticity tethered to integrity is the conduit which will guide you to live in accordance with your religious tenets. Conversely, toning down or hiding one’s identity out of a desire to appease others never brings acceptance. It only results in mutual awkwardness and a loss of respect. True security begins with the courage to stand up, stand out, and be who you are.
