He’s got something right

May 25, 2008 · Filed Under Other Jewish World Commentary ·

In the spirit of full disclosure, let me first say I am not American and therefore am not voting in the next American elections. If I was voting, I would most probably vote for John McCain for a number of reasons. However, today, Barack Obama made a speech from which I feel the need to share a part - a speech which struck a cord in me and that, as true as it is for the American People, is even more true for the Jewish People at this time of National Renewal. This is the part I wanted to share:

Each of you will have the chance to make your own discovery in the years to come. And I say “chance” because you won’t have to take it. There’s no community service requirement in the real world; no one forcing you to care. You can take your diploma, walk off this stage, and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should by. You can choose to narrow your concerns and live your life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America’s.But I hope you don’t.

Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, though
you do have that obligation.

Not because you have a debt to all those
who helped you get here, though you do have that debt.

It’s because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in America’s story.

If History has shown this to be true for all people, Jewish History has shown this to be even more true for the Jewish Nation. This is something we must keep on reminding ourselves as we continue building “something greater than ourselves”, “God’s Throne on this earth” (Rav Kook), “A kingdom of priests and a holy nation”, Medinat Israel.

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