The Jewish Future Begins with Parents

Ever since the massacre of October 7, I have found myself repeating the same mantra everywhere I go: let’s bring more Jewish children into the world. That is the best Jewish response to this tragedy.

We should eliminate terrorists. We should strengthen our military and our economy. We should build roads, schools, homes, and synagogues. But in the end, none of these matter without the people who will fill those homes with life. Every Jewish child is a victory over those who sought and seek our destruction. Every new life participates in the healing of what has been lost.

This is why, ever since the massacre, I have urged everyone who can to build a large family. I have spoken about this in synagogues, at family celebrations, and to groups of soldiers. Those who are able to have children should not postpone building the next generation. Those who are beyond that stage of life can help support those who can. More than any building we construct or any institution we establish, children are the treasure of the Jewish people—and they become an even greater treasure to the families that raise them.

My son named his first child Harel after one of his friends who fell in battle. That child cannot replace the young man who was lost; but his birth honored Harel’s memory and offered some comfort to his parents.

This idea is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. The child born to Ruth belongs biologically to Ruth and Boaz, but he also belongs by custom to Naomi, and perhaps to the dead husbands of Naomi and Ruth as well. He belongs to the entire Jewish people, who will be comforted with the birth of King David. In Judaism, children are never only their parents’ children; they belong to the entire nation.

Our behavior during the war reflected this sense of a larger family of the Jewish people. We saw this in countless acts of generosity. Volunteers supplied our soldiers with life-saving equipment such as ceramic vests, protective eyewear, combat gloves, and also warm meals, and every imaginable necessity. Communities adopted military units. Families opened their homes. I contributed combat gloves and protective eyewear and I brought fresh fruit and vegetables whenever I could. It was a small gesture beside the sacrifices our soldiers themselves were making. It is a debt I can never pay.

Yet as my sons came home during brief breaks in the fighting, I slowly realized that another battle was underway. Six of my sons served in the war. One commanded soldiers in continuous combat for nearly two years. He learned the strengths and weaknesses of his soldiers from up close. He understood that his mission was not only to accomplish his military objectives, but also to bring his soldiers home alive and in the best condition possible.

When the fighting ended, we all saw the struggles they were facing. How can you concentrate on studies when you can’t sleep at night? How do you accomplish things at work when you are haunted by memories? Our soldier-heroes had achieved remarkable victories in battle, yet now faced the challenge of rebuilding their own lives with less than optimal conditions.

We owe our soldiers the chance to succeed in civilian life, for their own sakes above all, but also because, as I slowly came to realize, the young men and women who defended us are also the fathers and mothers of the next generation. Helping them recover is not only an act of gratitude. It is the most important investment we can make in the future of the Jewish people.

The State of Israel has done remarkable things for our soldiers, especially those physically wounded in battle. But no government can do everything. Somehow, many of our greatest heroes have fallen between the cracks. Recovery ultimately takes place in communities, friendships, families, and relationships of trust. This is where all of us have a responsibility.

Together with some remarkable partners, my son established a program dedicated to helping combat veterans recover, rebuild, and re-enter civilian life with strength, dignity, and promise. I am so proud of my son and his associates for recognizing the greatness of the moment and taking action to help. Every person we help is another stone in the wall that defends all of us from an uncertain future. Let us help ensure that those heroic men and women who defended our future are able to build one for themselves and for the Jewish people.

Here is a link to the organization’s webpage: https://www.anchor-idf.com

And here is a link to the contribution campaign: https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/donation-targets/172527