One of the greatest characteristics of the Jewish people is the dual streams of example and exposition in our heritage. Not only do we have primary sources in our oldest, holiest texts, we also have layer upon layer of commentary, questions, answers, and extrapolation on everything from the very nature of God to the intricacies of property ownership or public education. It is a feature of this kind of learning that we find and trace sources for everything from translation to tradition, from common sense to custom.

At the same time, we are blessed with exemplars and (some might say) cursed with challenges that bring out the heroic nature of those who face everything from drought to destruction, leaving for the rest of us a legacy to emulate.

In this vein, I wanted to share with you some of my teachers from our history, from my family, from our tradition, and I ask those who read this to think about and share who your teachers are.

I am a student of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, who expounded (in his revolutionary way) that the Almighty doesn’t want ‘yes-men’, but rather those who struggle with Him like our forefather Jacob.

I am a student of Hannah Szenesh, who devoted herself to the Jewish people and the Jewish land, who gave her life after parachuting into Hungary to fight the Nazis, and who left for us a legacy of poetic love for our people and our land.

I am a student of Yitzchak Rabin, who I had the privilege to meet and spend time with (I recall that he drank his cigarettes and inhaled his coffee for breakfast, and he didn't smile much, but when he did it was glowing) who looked at peace with both hope and wariness. From him I learned that peace is a worthwhile aspiration, but wishful thinking can be dangerous.

I am a student of Avigdor Kahalani, who saved the Golan front at the Valley of Tears in 1973, determining and utilizing every resource, every inch of terrain, every heroic soldier, and every last round of ammunition to effectively destroy the weapons and the will of those who rose up against us. I had an opportunity to meet and learn from him as well, and I have a deeper understanding of ‘Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh’ - all of the Jewish people are responsible for one another - because of him. ’

I am a student of Rabbi Akiva, who both reinterpreted the understanding of ‘Love Your Neighbor as Yourself’ that Hillel the Elder had expounded, rendering it most clearly in terms of that which is hateful to you you should not cause to befall your fellow, and also stood alongside Bar Kochba in his brave but ultimately futile revolt against the Roman empire.

I am a student of the Prophet Devorah, who gathered an army of the willing to defend Israel against a mighty invader, who convinced, cajoled, and inspired a divided people to unite in their own defense, and when victory was attained, wrote a beautiful song about these events that is still preserved in our tradition.

I have many more teachers, and perhaps I’ll share more in an upcoming newsletter. Before I leave you with a final example, if you’d like to share some of your teachers, email me at arosenblum@jewishrockland.org and we can include them in the future.

Lastly I am a student of my grandmother Anna Zigelman, who was, and in memory still is an example to my entire extended family of philanthropy, devotion to people and community, and incredible determination. Though with limited means, she became involved in fundraising for Emunah (the Mizrachi) Women at the earliest stages, and remained so for almost five decades. She passed on her love of Israel and the Jewish people, and inspired all of us to be involved in our communities, our schools, and our synagogues. And though slowed down by a stroke, the determination in her face as she walked up a driveway and climbed a staircase insisting on only a cane for balance, is an image that remains with me to this day.