21 Nov THE STARK CONTRAST: EXAMINING THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUTH BEHAVIOR

If you had your first
child, and that child is
the first of the holy
Shvatim who are the
building blocks of
Klal Israel, what
would you name him? Considering that the
name has a significant impact, you probably
would want to name him a name that has to
do with Hashem, such as Eliyahu or Elad.
However, Leah decides to name her first
child Reuven. Why?
Rashi explains that the name is a
combination of two words: בן-ראו,” see” and
“difference,” meaning “see the difference”
between my child and my father-in-law’s
child, Esav. She referred to the fact that
although Esav sold his firstborn right, he
still afterward chased after Yitschak to kill
him for owning it. In contrast, Reuven, even
though he lost his birthright to Yosef, who
took the leadership from him, still tried to
save his life. But one must ask, how did she
know at the time she named her child that
there is such a difference when the child is
still a baby?
The answer is clear. Leah named him this

name in order to instill in him from a very
early age the understanding that he must not
act like his uncle Esav. He should know that
he is elevated and should make sure to act
this way towards others. When you teach a
child from a young age that they must treat
others with respect and dignity and forgive
them for taking their honor, they grow to be
such people.
Last week, the distinction between our
community and others was prominently
displayed at the Jewish rally in Washington,
DC. Buses filled with attendees from
schools, synagogues, and community
centers across the country arrived, turning
the Mall into a vibrant sea of people from
New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami,
Boston, Philadelphia, and various other
places. They proudly waved American and
Israeli flags, holding signs expressing
unwavering support.
As the event unfolded, nearly 300,000
individuals gathered on the Mall, the
national park nestled between the U.S.
Capitol and the Washington Monument,
demonstrating immense solidarity with the
Jewish people and the State of Israel. This

gathering served as a profound
Kiddush Hashem, standing in stark
contrast to the violent protests seen
globally. Just days later at the DNC,
six officers were treated for injuries
as a result of a Palestinian
demonstration attempting to break
into the building. Additionally,
during a violent rally in Washington

which took place a week prior, Pro-
Palestinian protesters vandalized

the White House gates with red
paint and attempted to scale the
fence around the president’s
residence. At another demonstration in Los
Angeles, tragically a Jewish man lost his
life at the hands of an Arab professor.
I always remember the way King David
expresses it in Tehilim (chapter 144). He
first explains that he is going to war and
then continues to elaborate on the difference
between the Jewish people and their
enemies. What’s the connection? David is
expressing that this evident distinction
provokes jealousy in the enemy, leading
them to harbor animosity, ultimately
prompting him to engage in war to safeguard
his people.
The verses in Tehilim (144) say: Blessed
is Hashem, who trains my hands for battle,
my fingers for warfare; Rescue me, save
me from the hands of foreigners, whose
mouths speak lies, and whose oaths are
false.
Then he continues to explain the reason
the enemy comes to fight the war, and
we’ll explain each pasuk below:
The Pasuk says: “For our sons are like
saplings, well-tended in their youth; our
daughters are like cornerstones, trimmed
to give shape to a palace”. David is
highlighting the distinction between our
young generation, encompassing both
boys and girls, and that of our adversaries.
The truth is that, instead of explaining,
one should just take a look at pictures of
our youth at the Washington rally and then
look at pictures of the other rallies, or
better say- riots. You can also see the
difference every day when you walk the

streets. See how our youth is well-
behaved, well-mannered, respectfully

dressed, good-looking, etc., as the rioters
are exactly the opposite. And that is only
the external. The internal difference is like
the distance of the two poles and even
further.
The pasuk continues: “Our storehouses
are full, supplying produce of all kinds;
our flocks number thousands, even

myriads, in our fields”
Kind David is pointing out another
distinction here, illustrating how the Jewish
people are actively contributing to the
prosperity and success of life. In contrast,
the enemies are primarily focused on
constructing destructive means. The rapid
transformation of Israel into a global power
with a flourishing economy and innovation
within just over 70 years stands as a
testament to this stark difference.
Finally he points out the difference in the
leadership: “Our leaders are willingly
followed by the people.
There is no breaching and no sortie, and no
wailing in our streets.”
King David highlights the contrast in
leadership, emphasizing that Jewish leaders
are righteous Talmidei Chachamim
(scholars) with elevated character traits,
whereas the enemy leaders are cowards
who incite for genocides and hide behind
human shields.
Those are just a few of the many differences
between the forces of good and evil, but
they are sufficient to ignite jealousy and
hatred among the enemies, driving them to
madness.
However, there was another important
achievement at that rally – the establishment
of mutual support. With so many people
gathered, there was a palpable sense of
unity, a much-needed sentiment in these
times. This not only showcases strength to
our enemies but also fosters a sense of
solidarity among us. Those who attended
the rally experienced a unique feeling, a
sense of togetherness for a common cause
that was unprecedented.
The verse in Tehilim (133) states: “How
good and how pleasant it is that brothers
dwell together.” According to Metsudat
Zion, this verse conveys that despite
differences of opinion within Klal Israel, it
is truly pleasant to witness when Klal Israel
can come together and rise above those
differences.