This morning something changed when I read my emails. Something wonderful was happening : "The Chabad Billboard Campaign Answers Antisemitism with Jewish Joy!"
Around 80.000 daily commuters who are crossing the Third Avenue Bridge, towards the FDR Drive in New York city will pass this awesome billbord of two children with yarmukas and Tzitzit, laughing and playing, on the billboard are written the words:
" Born to Be a Yid "
And this is just one of the several billbords gone up this summer, they are the answer to antisemitism as the message is: Joy!
One of the other awesome billbord is in view of Staten Island Borough Hall and the St.George Ferry Terminal. This is a billbord showing a Jewish couple under the Chuppah. A digital billbord in Time Square will join this wonderful and joyful campaign.
Rabbi Motti Seligson of Chabad Media Center and Chabad.org directed this campaign.
" The public knows all too well about the challenges we face, " Rabbi Seligson said.
Chabad wanted to take a different direction, one with confident and joy.
Antisemitism is rising in New York, and around the world. We see an increase of security measures taken to protect our people in the community, Shuls, yeshivas and cheiders. To ease our anxiety we all feel, this is the best way to fight hatred against our people.
When hatred is all around us, it creates an unsafe and fearful atmosphere for every Jew, men, women and children. Some of us removing signs of their Jewishness, taking down the mezuzah, in avoidance of dangerous situations, and to protect their family.
Hiding our identity does not quarantee safety, as the stories of W2 are telling us. Our response should not be less, but more Jewish pride. Rabbi Jonanthan Sacks ז"ל, said at the International Conference of Chabad Shluchim some years ago : " Non- Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism. "
In "To Win a War the Jewish Way" , Rabbi Manis Friedman in response to antisemitism: " Let us be proud, and protect ourselves, both physically and spiritually by being more Jewish than we ever have been. "
We love each other, we love our families, our friends, we do see the goodness in the world, we love giving, and we love life.
The Rebbe experienced antisemitism throughout most of his life, encouraged us to use our influence in a positive way. Repeately the Rebbe turned a discussion from ugliness of antisemitism to a more global conversation, highligthing the problem in a big- picture solution. The Rebbe did not spend words of condemnation, but finding shared values, emphasizing what we all share together as human beings.
" Maintain pride in yourself as a Jew, and in your Jewish observance " - The Rebbe
But above all we need to realize that HaShem protects us, and will continue to do so.
Thank you Chabad for this wonderful campaign, may we see more billboards of " Born to Be a Yid " globally.