This week the Jewish people welcome with joy the three Jewish hostages who returned home to Israel joining the seven others who have recently been freed.
We give thanks to the Almighty and pray for the safe return of the remaining hostages and for the security of our people in the land of Israel.
We recognize and give gratitude to the various governments and people who toiled and persevered in the redeeming and returning home of our hostages from their captivity in the hands of our enemies.
Here in Thailand, we are also celebrating the release of five Thai hostages to the safe hands of Israel, on their way home to Thailand at the earliest opportunity.
To quote the Bangkok Post
Five Thais were released along with three Israelis held by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war.
When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023, 31 Thais were abducted, with 23 released by the end of that year and two confirmed dead in May.
"It is confirmed, my son did not die. Thank you, God," Wiwwaeo Sriaoun said as she heard the confirmation that her son Watchara Sriaoun was among those freed.
This week’s Parsha Bo, is the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
Interestingly, during the plague of the firstborn, it was not just Egyptian first born who died. The Torah says that Hashem smote the first-born sons of the imported servants from other countries. While they were not the captors of the children of Israel, they were not innocent as they too had relished trampling on the Israelites during their slavery in Egypt. When Hashem punished the Egyptians, those willing participants were also included in that retribution.
Good is always more powerful than bad.
If Hashem punishes non-related people for their participation in the oppression of the Jews, certainly Hashem rewards even more powerfully those who are participatory in helping the Jewish people.
The blessings from G-d will thus come to the many Thai workers who are working in Israel in the various sectors of their employment. As they will to the families of those who tragically lost their lives in the massacre of October 7th.
To those hostages who have returned in the past and those who have just now been redeemed, may Hashem bless them and their families with all good things.
(The government of Israel has included the Thai workers in the various subsidies and benefits that are being provided for the victims).
As the rabbi of the Thailand Jewish community I commend, applaud and deeply thank the local government for all of their efforts on behalf of our community.
The Royal Thai Government makes every effort to protect the facilities and buildings of the Jewish community of Thailand as well as the personal safety of every Jew who lives or visits Thailand.
As the Psalmist says in Tehillim (Psalms 127:1) ‘If Hashem does not guard the city, the watchman guards in vain, may Hashem continue to bless the Thai authorities efforts with success so that we can walk upright and proud with kipah’s and tzitzit and be unabashedly Jewish.
As I am focusing locally, on Thailand let me share with you a Torah thought that was sparked by some words of practical wisdom taught to me by a local rideshare app driver.
The standard car seemed to require a long wait, so I hit ‘premium car’ and within a few short minutes a BMW showed up. As we were driving the tightlipped driver opened up in response to my complimenting his car and asking him if it was his. Yes, he told me. He had bought the car second hand and proceeded to give me tips on how to buy a secondhand BMW for less than the price of a new Japanese or Chinese car.
He then told me some interesting things. ‘When I would drive a Honda Jazz for six hours a day, I would come home aching and unable to move my body. Now I can sit all day in my luxury car and return home without any side effects.’ Lest I think he was trying to advertise for BMW he went on to tell me that the Toyota Camry is also similarly well suited for driver comfort.
While I found it interesting that different cars could have such different side effects, I don’t know enough about cars to be able to judge whether what he said is true, and quite frankly its not my field. But the next statement that he made grabbed my attention and I want to ponder it together with you.
My driver continued: ‘When you drive a standard car they tell you to look for the parking spot yourself. When you drive a luxury car, the parking attendants at the shopping mall look for a parking spot for you. When you need to use the bathroom in the mall, having a luxury car means that you can use the facilities without even buying anything. Vip parking can be opened for you even if you are not a member entitled to that service.’
As he summed it up, ‘people respect money’ .
I found it interesting hearing it directly from a ‘boots on the ground’ driver in this context.
The next thing he said was even more eye-opening. ‘My friends respect me more now that I drive a luxury car. Even my son respects me more’.
Remember, he is not richer, he bought a secondhand car with nearly 100,000 km’s on the odometer, for a price cheaper than his previously standard car which he bought brand new. However, the more expensive brand paints him in the image of a ‘rich’ person and society respects him more.
We can debate this point back and forth. I present it as food for thought.
What it prompted in me is to recall the famous statement by the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
“Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism, and they are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism.”
G-d has given us the gift of being his ‘treasured nation’.
If we treat it as such, others will treat us accordingly.
A group of Korean business men and women visit the Chabad House in Bangkok this week.
Some people overlook the gift of their Jewishness. I don’t want to imagine that anyone sees it as being a burden that they have been born into, but perhaps not all see it as the most priceless gift of their lives.
Healthy Judaism is to recognize the special identity and mission that you have been blessed with.
And to treat the gift with the best possible care. To get the best out of your car you ought to use the appropriate fueling method. So it is with making the most of your life.
Hashem hardwired humans to get the most out of life, long term, by acting morally and ethically as per G-d’s instructions to humanity (seven laws of Noach).
To us Jews we can only be at our best possible condition, physically as well as spiritually when we perform our additional Jewish mitzvahs.
Let me use physical health as an analogy. Being inactive is easier. Doing exercise requires effort.
Does anyone have any doubt that for the human body to function in good health we require some form of effort and movement?
Similarly, as Jews, Hashem has provided us with the way to live an optimal and healthy life. By living according to the Mitzvah instructions that He gives us.
When we do so we live life to its fullest.
When we see it that way, others look at us and respect us as well.
After all, we are ‘driving the most exclusive car possible’ to use that analogy.
It’s that simple.
Embrace an additional mitzvah. Touch up and upgrade a mitzvah you may be already doing but could do it nicer and better.
Try it out. I would love to hear back from you how it goes.
Please tell me if you feel better about yourself when you embrace your Jewish identity and observance more fully.
We pray for all the hostages to come home. For the wounded to be healed, for the soldiers to be able to come home peacefully and for the end of all wars and strife in the world.
We pray for Mashiach Now
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yosef Kantor