I recently had the privilege to hear Einat Wilf (former member of the Israeli Parliament, author of six books, and a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education), speak at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.  She began by sharing her thoughts about the poem, Chatzi Nechama, “Half Solace,” that Ahad Ha'am, a prominent Jewish thinker and essayist wrote back in 1892.  In this poem, Ha’am worries about what will happen when the Jews are increasingly exposed to the larger world and confront the centuries of lies that the world has waged against them.  

When referring to the oldest lie, the blood libel (Jews using the blood of Gentiles for their ritual food and drink), Ha’am was not worried. He found comfort because he was certain that all Jews knew they could not and would not drink blood, certainly not human blood, and therefore he believed they would know, by extension, that it is indeed possible for the whole world to be wrong and for the Jews to be right.

But what about all of the other lies waged against the Jews? Ha’am was particularly worried that as the Jews were increasingly engaged with the larger world, they would begin to internalize the litany of evils they were collectively accused of.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and it feels very much like 1892. I think many of us could not have imagined that we would live to see the seemingly never-ending centuries-long cycle of attacking and vilifying Jews actually rear its evil head as it is doing today. 

I am heartened though that we are not alone. We have many allies in this country and across the world, but the fight against anti-Semitism and the survival of Israel is as formidable as it has ever been in the last century and we should not underestimate the gravity of the current situation. We can’t solve it alone, but we must do what is within our power.

Let's focus on Ahad Ha’am’s warning from over a century ago, what it means to us right now, and how we can respond.

Many young Jews today have an incomplete understanding of their identity and as such are influenced by the dominant narratives of the general population. That is why Ha’am titled his poem “Half Solace” and why it is relevant today.  

In "Half Solace," Ahad Ha'am highlights the dangers of an incomplete understanding of one's identity and heritage. This incomplete understanding can lead to a fragmented sense of self, where individuals find themselves caught between different narratives without fully belonging to any. For young Jews, this fragmented identity can result in a loss of connection to their Jewish roots, leaving them adrift and susceptible to external definitions of who they are. 

With that in mind, we can almost understand all of the misguided young Jews today who have turned against Zionism and Israel. Heavily influenced by what Ahad Ha’am called the “general agreement” of the larger society - that Israel is a colonial power, perpetrating ethnic cleansing, these young people internalize the general agreement of those they are around, and want to be a part of a just cause, get swept up, and turn against their own people - their own families!

In the past Jews could stand up against the blood libel because they knew it was ridiculously false and could feel certain that against the world they were right.  Sadly, today, young Jews do not know their history, do not understand Zionism, do not understand the Jews unalienable right to that land of Israel and in that ignorance adopt the general agreement, which is no more than this centuries’ form of anti-Semitism. Most Jews do not recognize that the Jew becomes the symbol of evil, whatever it is, in every generation.  

How can we ask our young people to stand up and fight for themselves and their people if they do not know who they are?

I know for many Jews living in the United States, public education has spoken to them.  There has been a sense that Jews could go to public schools and still know who they are as a Jew.  This approach has largely failed.

In our false sense of security that somehow the world had changed and anti-Semitism was no longer the existential threat it had been in other generations, vast numbers of American Jews have put their collective identity on the back burner of life.

Now Jews are in search of themselves again. It sadly takes a serious rise in anti-Semitism for Jews to take a second look at who they are and to rediscover their sense of Jewish pride. The Pew study of 2013 had alluded to this notion that anti-Semitism drives Jewish identity and it seems to be true today. It is sad that this is the motivator and not the richness of Jewish life, in and of itself, as the source of pride.

But pride, without knowledge, is no more than a mile wide and an inch deep - and staying the course doesn’t seem to be the answer either. Public education supported by an inadequate  “Hebrew School” system will not provide our children what they need. It hasn’t and it will not.

To complicate matters, our current political climate around Israel and other issues have infiltrated the largest teacher’s unions, the NEA and AFT. There are movements within these organizations and in school districts across the country to push for votes in support of the BDS movement, teaching the “Nakba” in our schools, and promoting a generally anti-Israel agenda. Votes were to be held at the NEA conference and are scheduled to be voted on at the AFT conference. There are growing examples of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incidents in our schools both locally and nationally. The fact that these motions can even be presented should be of great concern. 

We need to reclaim ourselves in a bold and proud way. Our fight begins with education. That is something we all can control. Education was one of the tools that Einat Wilf advocated for during her lecture. Knowledge and truth are power.

It is clear that young Jews must have a strong understanding of their identity to resist false external narratives. This makes Jewish day schools more essential than ever in this endeavor, providing the historical context, cultural education, and supportive environment necessary for nutruting a robust Jewish identity. By prioritizing Jewish day school education, we ensure that young Jews can fully embrace their heritage and confidently navigate the world without losing touch with who they are. They must have the fortitude to resist the anti-Israel, andti-Semitic "general agreements" that are so pervasive in our world right now. They much know that we can still be right and the rest of the world wrong. 

Ahad Ha’am’s poem underscores the importance of a comprehensive and deep understanding of one's heritage and identity. Ahad Ha'am's warning is that without such depth, any comfort or solace derived from a shallow understanding will be fleeting and inadequate. Jewish day schools provide the necessary comprehensive education, immersing students in Jewish history, culture, and values. This deep and thorough education helps young Jews form a complete and resilient identity.

By taking control of their own narratives, young Jews will be able to assert their place in the world with confidence. Jewish day schools empower students to shape their destinies based on authentic Jewish values and experiences, fostering a strong sense of self that is resilient to external redefinition.

Join me in calling upon our local philanthropists and the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey to increase funding to our Jewish day schools in Bergen County to make sure they are accessible to all of our Jewish children regardless of economic background.

Schechter Bergen would proudly welcome new students and families into our 5th-8th grades who choose to embrace a Jewish day school education now, for the 24-25 school year, as their children enter the critical middle years - a time of deep identity development. Join me in spreading that word as well. 

The stakes are higher than they have ever been in our lifetime. We cannot be tepid. We must be bold. Einat Wilf agrees education is among our greatest “weapons.” Education is our first line of defense and offense - here we can make a difference. Do your part in spreading this message.