Don’t drink from a fire hose. It’s not just good sense, it’s also a good metaphor. We can’t extinguish the burning fire of misinformation, lack of Jewish education, or personal unpreparedness around Israel’s crisis in one great sermon, marvelous podcast, or viral video. Though our times tend to demand instant gratification, the lack of knowledge of Jewish and Israel history should be a powerful prompt to start learning, reading, and understanding. The goal doesn’t have to be to earn degrees in the subject, but rather to address the burning subject by prioritizing issues with greater discernment. Let’s highlight good sources of learning and nourish our heads and hearts with what we can know. Let’s share what we can and know that there are still thousands of more articles that have raised inquiries and addressed Israel, beginning decades and decades ago. Here are the top three burning concerns for which Israel must find a resolution promptly and effectively:

• Return the hostages
• Destroy the terrorist Hamas organization
• Provide access to political power that favors the Palestinian people in Gaza, not Iran’s proxies in Gaza, or anywhere else.

While Israel, the U.S., and their allies resolve to accomplish these three enormous objectives, we should replace all our current reading material with resources on Jewish and Israel history, culture, geo-politics, and religious issues. Then we can take hold of our future against any antisemite or uneducated Jew or non-Jew. Rabbi Karff used to say as an advocate of adult education, “Judaism is too precious to leave it only to our children.” As adults, we must learn in order to teach, and we must teach in order to lead. Begin with yourself and at home, and continue with your neighbors and on the Internet where communities engage. Resources are listed below.

As Israel fights to defend itself, let us learn and teach. It will be our contribution to the future of our people.

L’Shalom,