Parshat Vayeilech and the Challenge of Hatred in Our Cities
In Vayeilech, Moshe stands before the people knowing his time is ending. He tells them:
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or dismayed, for Hashem your God goes with you; He will not fail you nor forsake you.” (Devarim 31:6)
It is a call to courage in the face of fear. In the UK today, we see a wave of antisemitism, radical jihadist violence, and hatred not only against Jews but against Western values themselves. Jewish schools need police guards, Jews hide their identity on the streets, and even the police often seem afraid to confront extremists. The Torah’s charge of “Chazak ve’ematz” could not be more timely: do not surrender to fear.
Moshe also warns that when the people abandon their covenant, there will be a sense of abandonment in return:
“I will surely hide My face on that day because of all the evil they have done…” (Devarim 31:18)
This idea of hester panim — God’s hiddenness — captures what many Jews in the UK feel. When hatred spreads unchecked, when law enforcement hesitates, when Jewish voices are shouted down in the public square, it feels as though God’s face is hidden. But Vayeilech reminds us that hiddenness is not absence. The covenant remains. Just as Israel could always return, so too must we strengthen our Jewish identity and moral courage, even in a society that turns hostile.
Moshe commands the people:
“Write for yourselves this song and teach it to the children of Israel…” (Devarim 31:19)
Why a song? Because a song carries memory across generations. For Jews facing hatred in Manchester, London, or anywhere else, our “song” is Torah, identity, and moral clarity. It reminds us who we are when society tries to make us feel small, ashamed, or afraid.
Rav Jonathan Sacks, zt”l, often wrote that antisemitism is not only a Jewish problem but a symptom of a society in decline. When hatred of Jews is tolerated, it corrodes the entire moral fabric. This is exactly Moshe’s warning: if evil is allowed to spread, the people lose their way and God’s presence feels distant.
But the Torah does not leave us in despair. Moshe insists: “It is not hidden from you and it is not far away… but the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.” (Devarim 30:11,14). Even in an age of rising hatred, the antidote is close at hand — faith, identity, courage, and the willingness to stand up for truth.
So what does Vayeilech teach us about jihadist hatred and antisemitism in the UK?
- Do not let fear dictate your future. Chazak ve’ematz is God’s charge to a vulnerable people — and to us.
- Evil flourishes when leaders are weak. Like Israel, we cannot depend on hesitant leaders; we must build resilience from within.
- Our song is our survival. A proud Jewish identity, passed from parents to children, is our strength in hostile times.
- Hatred of Jews signals a larger collapse. Protecting Jewish life is not only about the Jewish people, but about safeguarding civilization itself.
In a moment when the police are afraid, and hatred marches openly in the streets, we must not be. Vayeilech reminds us that even when God’s face feels hidden, His covenant endures — and so must our courage.