11/04/2026
By the time you read this, some election results here in America will be clear, others may remain uncertain, and people will be experiencing a mix of celebration, disappointment, relief, and anxiety.
Meanwhile, in Israel, political parties are engaged in complicated negotiations following an election that left no clear governing majority. Questions of leadership, compromise, and the Jewish state's future remain unsettled.
Two democracies. Different circumstances. But a shared question: What kind of people, and what kind of societies, will we choose to be?
Because elections determine who governs. But how we treat one another, particularly when we disagree, determines the character of our communities and nations.
This week's Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, offers a beautiful reminder.
When Abraham's servant encounters Rebecca at a well, she offers him water. But she doesn't stop there. Without being asked, she draws water for his camels as well.
This seemingly small gesture becomes a defining moment in Rebecca's introduction to the Jewish people. Our future matriarch is distinguished not by power or position, but by her willingness to extend kindness to a stranger.
What a powerful lesson for our times.
We live in a world quick to categorize people by how they vote, what they believe, or which side they take. And while our convictions matter deeply - and there are principles we must never compromise - we cannot allow our differences to diminish our humanity.
Our tradition asks, Eizehu gibor? Hakovesh et yitzro - "Who is truly mighty? One who masters their impulses" (Pirkei Avot 4:1).
Real strength isn't simply prevailing over others. It is exercising restraint, extending grace, and remaining grounded in our values, even when emotions run high. In both America and Israel, these qualities matter not only among elected leaders, but among all of us.
Throughout the High Holy Days, we reflected on the Torah's charge, Uvacharta Bachayim - "Therefore, choose life."
Choosing life isn't a single decision at the ballot box. It is a daily commitment to defend human dignity, nurture relationships, and build a future worthy of those who will inherit it.
Whatever these elections bring, may we remember that the future is shaped not only by those who lead us, but by the choices each of us makes along the way.
Jason Nevarez
Senior Rabbi
[email protected]
