How is it that Jews, in so many disparate locations, under so many oppressive regimes, with so much assimilation, have managed to survive – and thrive – through so many centuries?
***
An interesting law in this week’s Torah portion, Acharei-Kedoshim, is the law of Orloh, fruit that are forbidden for the first three years. Interestingly, if such fruit get mixed into other fruit, they are nullified 200/1 (unlike nonkosher meat for example, which is nullified 60/1). But, if one tree in an orchard is orloh, but we don’t know which one, it never becomes nullified.
The reason is that something that is attached to the its source (in this case the ground), it can never lose its identity – and thus cannot become nullified.
***
This is the secret of Jewish survival. Though we may be thrust into the melting pot of societies good and bad, nonetheless we maintain our connection to our source.
When we retain the bond to our Torah, our people, our traditions and our Creator, we can never be quashed.