Three Thousand Jewish Women Raise the Roof in Manhattan |
It’s not easy being a Jew these days. As our forbears used to say: “Schver tzu zayn a yid.” An excruciating war, the anguish of the hostages and their families, anti-Jewish hate crimes, antisemitism sweeping social media. The election of the proudly anti-Israel Mamdani as mayor of New York City. And then, at the start of Hanukkah, the horrifying terror attack in Sydney. It would be understandable to feel a sense of despair, even hopelessness, and to ask, as the prophet Isaiah did thousands of years ago, “Ad matai, Hashem?” How long will our unbearable situation continue? But more importantly, I began to fear for the younger generation. How would they cope with the significant challenges they face as Jews in today’s world?
Then, on Monday night, just as the lights of Hanukkah were growing dim, I was invited to a Ishay Ribo concert for women at the United Palace Theater in Manhattan, featuring words of inspiration from Sivan Rahav Meir. The show was a fundraiser for the organization Efrat, and the theater was packed — including the balcony upstairs........