We stand in solidarity with our people in Israel during this time of “Operation Cast Lead” in
Gaza. We pray that the Israel Defence Forces will be successful in their mission against
Hamas; that Israel will fulfil what it needs to fulfil and that the “evil” will be uprooted
and eradicated from being a threat to our people in Israel. And this is how it has always been. We only survive “Galut” if we have
these three dynamics: the Jewish Community, the Jewish household and schools for Jewish
education.
Sermon for Sidra Vayigash
January 2009
by Rabbi Geoffrey Hyman
In the meantime arising from the Gaza crises, here in the U.K. there has been a steep rise in
anti-Semitic incidents. At a demonstration in Birmingham on the 29th December they chanted:
“Kill the Jews”; Manchester 28th December a crowd called: “Hey ho Israel has to go”.
Unsightly violent demonstrations were held outside the Israeli embassy here in London and
there has been daubing of anti-Semitic graffiti on several Shuls and sites. We have also
heard the call from Iran calling for anti-Jewish attacks and to increase a Jihad against the
Jews.
From information gathered by the CST 30 groups are calling for action against Israel, in
advertising protests and groups of demonstrators. So it is a time of high alert and members
of the community should be vigilant when attending the Shul here.
Our Sidra carries with it the very first experience of “Galut”, of creating a community in
exile. Jacob is forced by the circumstances of the dreadful drought that befell the Middle
Eastern region during his time and at the behest of Joseph he travels with the tribes to
Egypt to settle there - 70 souls in total. They are settled in the Land of Goshen, separated
because of their occupation as shepherds.
The establishment of this first exilic community in Egypt acts as a model as to how the Jew
is to survive “Galut”, living in the Diaspora. Three major tactics are employed to preserve
their identity as the Bnei Yisroel.
However, together with these elements there must also be the overall realisation, as put by
the sons of Jacob to Pharaoh: “Lagur baaretz banu” – “We have come to sojourn in the land”.
We must always recognise where our true destiny is. And therefore as Jews “sojourning in
exile”, we know about the balancing act of our identity as Jews and our loyalty to Israel and
we know how to live as loyal citizens of Britain and to contribute to the well-being of the
host society.
We as a people have been exiled around corners of the earth, but we have always been loyal
and contributing citizens, this is something that the ethnic communities can learn from us.
But we have witnessed a change in the world’s perception of us. We were once viewed as the
victim of persecution but now we are labelled the aggressor and occupier. But we must not
give up or become despondent, rather we must defend our people and put our case to the
world. Defeatism, using such phrases: “There is nothing we can do because everyone hates the
Jew”, is of no avail, except for the call to us to repent, but to the world, Israel and we,
its ambassadors, must tell our non-Jewish contacts and friends the true story of Israel’s
survival among its surrounding enemy. And my friends that survival is an existence of our
people from the times of Jacob to today, a period of over 3,000 years and that is a miracle
in itself.
Let us remain the people of vision and hope. May G-d fulfil the verse: “Ufros Aleinnu Succas
Shelomecho”. May G-d spread His tabernacle of peace over all Israel and the world. Amen.
Rabbi Hyman's Sermons - Archive