In Parshat Vayigash, Breisheet 46:27, we read “…All the
“nefesh” (soul) of the house of Yaakov that came to
Rashi points out that the Jewish people were not called
“nefashot”, souls. Rather they were called “nefesh”, a soul, since B’nai
Yisrael all worshipped one God. In Vayikra Raba we see that in the case of
Esav’s sons (Breisheet 36:3-5) they are called six “nefashot”, souls, since
Esav’s descendents worshipped many gods.
The Jewish people are meant to be one soul, nefesh, united.
We all believe in the same God. There is no reason for us to be divided.
Unfortunately, there are neighborhoods in
communities are divided. There are also many Jewish communities which are
united.
The Baka and Talpiot neighborhoods of
communities.
In Baka and Talpiot, there are different types of
synagogues- Ashkenazic and Sephardic, Modern Orthodox, National Religious, Conservative,
Reform, Halachic Egalitarian and Chabad. Everybody attends the synagogue(s)
that they are most comfortable with and nobody judges or criticizes anybody
else.
The National Religious public school is called Efrata. The
school is a mixed community of Hebrew speakers, French speakers and English
speakers. There are students who are native Israelis as well as families who
made Aliya from Ethiopia, the US, Canada, England, France, South Africa,
Australia and South America. No matter what their background is, the students
all get along and treat each other with respect. There is also a track for
students with special needs. Students do not look down on each other.
The Matnas, community center, in Baka provides extra
curricular activities for all residents of the neighborhood. On the soccer
teams for students as young as four years old one will find boys with and
without kippot as well as girls.
In the local nursing homes and senior centers, Torat Reva
Yerushalayim provides classes for senior citizens of all ages and backgrounds.
Even those who are not observant take part in our Torah discussions and even
those who challenge some of what we teach always do so with the utmost respect.
The Baka and Talpiot neighborhoods should be seen as model
communities that Jews in
I am honored to live in such a wonderful community.
