Still the Chosen People: Finding Value After Tragedy

In the shadow of the tragic murder of two young Israeli diplomats, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who dedicated their lives to peace, we confront the heart-wrenching questions: Are we still the Chosen People? Can we still believe in humanity when humanity seems to fall apart? This week’s Torah portion, Bechukotai, addresses blessings and brutal curses, followed by the surprising laws of erchin, evaluating human worth. From this strange juxtaposition, Chassidic masters draw a powerful truth: even after unspeakable loss, the value of a human soul remains eternal and divine. Through stories of survival and sacred resistance, from Auschwitz to Washington D.C. we rediscover that our calling is not diminished by darkness, but rather revealed by it. This class is dedicated to the memory of Yaron and Sarah, may G-d avenge their blood. 

Takeaways:

1. The antidote to darkness is dignity. The Torah teaches us that even after curses, we must return to affirming the value of each soul.
2. Giving heals. The symbolic 143 shekel of erchin counters the 143 curses, showing the power of charity and sacred commitment.
3. Pain does not diminish worth. Jewish identity is not dependent on external conditions. We remain chosen not despite suffering, but in how we respond to it.
4. A moral education saves lives. The solution to violence isn’t only policy—it’s character, conscience, and responsibility to G-d.
5. We rise because we remember. From the bloodied streets of exile to the halls of peace diplomacy, the Jewish soul remembers who it is and why it’s here.

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