Jonah

to my secular Jewish brothers and sisters: I was in your shoes once. Yom Kippur was just another day. October 7 changed me, and I hope it changes you too. Here is why: The world is obsessed with Jews. And, whether you like it or not, that means it is obsessed with you too. This is not because your great-uncle Albert discovered relativity or your cousin Mark created Facebook. It is an obsession thousands of years old. It will not disappear if Netanyahu loses an election, nor will it disappear if Israel gives up more territory. Jews have tried assimilation, conversion, exile, political passivity, political power, having a state, not having a state. None of it made the fixation disappear. At some point you have to ask why. The answer is that there is something fundamentally different about this people: our covenant, our survival, and our special relationship with the Land of Israel. You may not believe that yet. I didn't either. But one thing should be obvious: billions of people want us to disappear, and they will not be satisfied unless we do. Assimilation not the answer. For thousands of years, every generation of Jews has had one basic responsibility: don't let the chain end with you. Trust me - becoming more Jewish is not some grim act of obligation. It makes life 1000x better. Put your phone down Friday night. Have dinner with the people you love, liberated from electronics and work. Say the Shema, then take a minute to be grateful for what you have and ask for what you need. Learn the incredible history of your family. Celebrate the holidays. Build a Jewish home. It is not enough to be born a Jew; a universe of reward opens only when you live as a Jew. DMs open.