Thank You, God, for Making me a Jew!

One should see the world and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed, the scale is tipped to the good side – he and the world are saved. When he does one evil deed, the scale is tipped to the bad side – he and the world are destroyed. Rambam, The Laws of Teshuva, Chapter 3  

The Lubavitcher Rebbe talked about the power of the atom bomb that teaches us many things: 

1. Massive power lies behind the smallest atom.  
2. A simple act unleashes that massive power.  
3. You just need to know what button to press.  

This is the power of a single act. Just like a single bomb can change everything for the bad, a single mitzvah, one prayer, or an act of kindness can change everything for the good.  

Hashem blesses every mitzvah with the power to save His world. We may not know how or even when a certain act changes things, but Hashem promises that there is no bad when you do good.  

Choosing Good  

November 1, 2022, was a warm day for late Fall. You could feel a sense of urgency everywhere. The country was spiraling into oblivion. We had brought in 25,000 non-Jewish Ukrainians as “olim” (immigrants). We had appointed a Sodomite as Heath Minister during COVID. We were about to allow bread products into hospitals during Pesach.  

Everybody felt the need to do something. 

My wife and I were standing in line to cast our vote, and in front of us stood a man with a walker. “I am 100 years old. I fought in the War of Independence. I haven’t gotten out of bed for almost two years. Today, I forced myself. Even if it means my life, I must save Israel.” 

Next to him was a mother nodding in agreement. She was struggling to keep her double stroller steady while calming down her two young children. Despite her efforts, the determination on her face was the same: I must save my country.  

Everyone had a single deed to do that day.  

Whom Hashem Chose 

It was on this day that the religious voters put Binyamin Netanyahu back in power. Less than a year later, we would be at war. Our army, handcuffed for 50 years, was at the mercy of the political leadership that refused to let it unleash its full fury to destroy our enemies.  

From October 8, 2023, it would be up to the people we put in power to decide whether to change direction and fight until our enemies were eradicated and our sons and daughters were safe.  

Does anybody think that any of Mr. Netanyahu’s opponents would have demanded we fight to the very end? Could any other leader push off Joe Biden and his people for 16 months as they undermined every move we made to protect our people? Would President Trump have finished off Iran had we not had the determination to take out Iranian defenses?  

Who put Netanyahu into power? Those who serve God gave him 32 seats, every one of which he needed for political survival. It was the religious, endowed with their God-given gift of what’s right, who made sure Binyamin Netanyahu would remain securely in his spot until Hashem blessed our nation through four wars. 

Those leaders who call us draft-dodgers never dared to confront our enemies. They never let the IDF do its job. After October 7, they might have gone into Gaza for a month, but when Joe Biden would order them to Stay! Sit! Lie down! Play dead! – do any of us believe that the response of those leaders would be anything beyond the heavy breathing of a mutt?  

That’s the beauty of serving Hashem. We choose Him Who is always right, and we live on the right side of His-story.  

One Simple Deed 

It didn’t seem such a big deal to vote for the religious parties on November 1. It’s what we do.  

We want our nation to fulfill itself as God’s chosen people through Torah and mitzvot. We want all our brothers and sisters to merit Mashiach, the Third Temple, and all the blessings in Torah portion Bechukotai¹ and Ki Tavo². We want all of them to learn Torah. We want all of our children to say Shema every morning and night.  

Voting for God in His world is a simple deed. We knew it would lead to such wonderful consequences, but saving Israel? Saving the entire world?  

That’s the beauty of serving Hashem. Hundreds of times a day, we do small things that serve Him. We make small decisions that have a massive impact.  

In 1948, 12% of Israel’s population was religious. Today, it’s 33% of the population. Mitzvah by mitzvah, we are a part of the movement to bring Israel home – to make Israel and the world a dwelling place for God, to make the nation suitable for our Mashiach.  

Over the past two years, we have seen Hashem blessing His people. We celebrate the miracles Hashem gives His ever-repentant nation.  

Praised be Hashem, Who in His infinite kindness, repays our small deeds with His great kindnesses.  

Editor’s Notes:

¹ Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3-13

² Devarim (Deuteronomy) 28:1-14

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David Ben Horin lives in the Jezreel Valley with his family, Afula’s famous sunflowers, and the local camel, Matilda. David loves to write about Judaism, Torah, Israel, and personal happiness.