This Shabbat 4000 world leaders converge on the frosty Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. They are the Shluchos, the women leaders of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, who call Cambodia and Rockford their live location for most of the year. But, this weekend, they are at their home base, Lubavitch World Headquarters, reenergizing themselves at the annual Shluchos Conference in the company of each other and in the shadows of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin's eternal presence.
It’s a time of electrifying inspiration for them; of boundless conversation and dialogue; of deep discussion and learning; of renewed commitment and conviction; of emotional bonding and support.
And, this year, it’s a time of great grief.
We are all mourning the horrific loss of the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz (no close relationship that I know of). The deliberately cruel handover of their murdered bodies pours salt on the unbearable wounds.
How do we respond? How do we bolster our strength?
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In this week’s parsha Mishpatim, we are taught in the Torah never to lie. The wording Hashem chooses is, “You must distance yourself from any falsehood.”
Why doesn’t the Torah simply state that it is forbidden to lie? When it comes to murder, the Torah simply says not to murder. The same with adultery. And many other sins.
Yet, here the Torah enjoins us to distance ourselves from falsehood. What does that mean?
One explanation offered is that there are times that lies masquerade as the truth.
What happens when the Roman Senate compels society to follow its ways? Or the Law of Athens metes out a cruel punishment? Or the United Nations declares its view on human suffering?
We may be swayed to get in line and follow world opinion. We might know deep down that this runs contrary to the genuine truth. But, maybe just following the world order is a greater truth? Maybe secular values should be our guidepost?
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The Shluchos are the stalwarts who recognize that above all, they are proud Jewish mothers, like Shiri Bibas הי"ד. They are the lighthouses who declare that ancient Jewish traditions are relevant in a modern world. They are the cutting-edge innovators who make Judaism exciting for our youth. They are the penultimate multitaskers who are the envy of Silicon Valley. They are the influencers outdoing Instagram.
But, above all, they are the mavericks who live the truth despite the raging waters around them. It is their utter devotion to truth – living lives in sync with deep-held, eternal beliefs – that allows them to literally transform communities.
They don’t waver or quiver. They have their marching orders and embrace them with joy.
And, this is the Torah’s command. Stop cozying up to half-truths and lies. Stand strong for the truth, even if it is uncomfortable and public opinion seems to deny it.
For centuries the Jewish people have been a lone voice of truth. Athens and Rome have come and gone, as have Berlin and Leningrad. Yet, the Jewish people still stand.
Interestingly, the Hebrew letters for Falsehood (שקר Sheker) are all bunched together in the Hebrew Alphabet. Yet, the Hebrew letters for Truth (אמת Emet) are the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. Some note, that this indicates how rare and lonely truth is, while distortions and lies are constants with lots of company. More importantly, it reveals that truth is eternal. When something is true it doesn’t die with the isms of yesteryear. It never fades into history. It is a constant that is just as authentic and accurate in the beginning, middle and end.
As horrific as the reality of today is, knowing that we are committed to the truth, gives us the strength and fortitude to march forward despite all odds.
And, like the remarkable Shluchos, when we march forth with truth and conviction, the world will change – one person at a time and one community at a time.
Our unwavering commitment to the truth of Torah will yield infinite blessings, as we have just witnessed in Israel last night, when G-d alone spared the Jewish people from heinous terror attacks that should have cost hundreds of lives.
As Shabbat arrives, please consider doing a mitzvah – G-d’s truth – in memory of the precious Bibas boys and in the merit that another Yiddishe mamme should at least be returned for proper burial.