In a world where division and betrayal can erode our collective faith in humanity, the opportunity to thank a true friend, someone who stands by you when others turn away, must never be missed.
This powerful truth was vividly on display last Friday night at our synagogue in Efrat, Shirat David, when we were honored to host Ambassador and Mrs. Mike Huckabee for Shabbat.
Their visit was not publicized because we wanted to preserve the special, intimate nature of our Friday night song and prayer and offer the Huckabees an authentic experience. As our shul family arrived for services, greeted by the wonderful State Department security team outside, there was an unmistakable energy in the air, a sense that something magical was unfolding, and it was.
Efrat's Gratitude
Members of our community approached Mr. Huckabee with quiet holiness, affectionately thanking him for his friendship. It was hard for him to get in and out of our shul, such was the outpouring. A few minutes later, our sanctuary buzzed with anticipation.
As we welcomed Shabbat with song and dance, the harmonies, love, and unity among us felt stronger than ever. Ambassador Huckabee joined in, not as a guest, but as part of our community, singing and dancing with us, embodying the spirit of connection. When I stepped to the pulpit to share words of Torah and blessing, I prayed for the right words to express what this historic moment meant.
How could we, as a congregation, express the profound gratefulness we feel for our dear friend from America?
True friendship
True friendship, I began, is not a passive act; it is a deliberate choice to align with light in the face of darkness. In last week’s Torah portion, we read about the cities of refuge (in biblical Hebrew, arei miklat). The term “miklat” is all too familiar to us over the past few years, as our modern-day miklat, or bomb shelter, has served as a safe haven for us and our children.
Our sages teach that a person who needs to seek safety in a city of refuge must be sustained not only physically but spiritually, with their teacher accompanying them to nourish their soul. The great Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter of Gur poses a poignant question: “Why doesn’t the Torah also command a friend to go with them?”
The answer is both simple and profound: If a friend needs to be told to stand by someone in need, they are not a true friend. True friends choose to stay, unprompted, through the darkest moments.
Turning to Ambassador Huckabee, I thanked him for being such a friend to the Jewish people, especially in these challenging times, when Israel faces threats on multiple fronts and antisemitism surges globally.
His unwavering support, when others have turned away or even aligned with those who wish us harm, is a testament to the kind of friendship that sustains hope.
A sacred act
As I spoke, one congregant began to clap, then another. Soon, the entire congregation rose in applause.
Together, we stood, united in gratitude, seizing the chance to publicly honor a true friend of Israel. The applause was more than a gesture; it was a collective outpouring of appreciation, a recognition that in a world where faith in humanity is tested, we must celebrate those who stand with us.
Expressing gratitude in such moments, I learned, is a sacred act.
It requires sincerity and a connection to shared values. When thanking someone who has stood by you, acknowledge the weight of their choice. It reflects a moral clarity that deserves recognition. By naming this explicitly, we honor not just the individual but proclaim for our children the principles they uphold.
Public gratitude, as our congregation demonstrated, amplifies this impact.
The echoes of Friday’s applause are still resonating and remind us all that as a holy people and a holy nation, we must all remember, in these trying times, that a true friend is one of the most beautiful gifts that God has given the Jewish people today.
The writer is a contemporary religious Jewish singer and author. He serves as the rabbi and spiritual leader of the Shirat David community in Efrat.