When I was about fifteen years old I boarded the subway with several friends. As I took my seat the passenger beside me, a perfect stranger proceeded to tell that he knew exactly who my mother was, my grandparents and even my grandparents. He named some of my aunts and uncles and several other relatives. Before I had a chance to even open my mouth the train came to a stop and he promptly got off. I will never, ever forget this.
In a very distracted world, Israel now has a new enemy: Facebook.
Unsuspecting Israeli Soldiers update their statuses literally notifying the enemy of the army's next move! As the country that uses Facebook more than any other in the world, the IDF is at wits end with how to put an end to it.
In 2010, a soldier in the artillery corps posted this status: “Cleaning up Katana and home on Thursday.” Katana is a village in the West Bank. The status revealed the time of the planned raid and the unit involved. The other soldiers in the unit, also apparently glued to their screens, saw the update and, feeling imperiled, let the authorities know. The soldier was dismissed, the raid canceled.
In Denver last week, a US Soldier posted a photo of herself on Instagram and wrote: 'This is me laying back in my car hiding so I don't have to salute the (5pm flag ceremony)'. Though she never dreamed that she was being watched, she was severely reprimanded.
As I learned that day on the B train and these soldiers were sure to have been made to understand as well is that we represent something much bigger than ourselves and we have a responsibility to that. In addition, the mission to which we have each been assigned is not separate or apart of our personal lives, rather part and parcel of who we are.
Who my grandparents are and were is written all over my face and as their grandchild I have the important task of being a good reflection of them. A soldier is a soldier wherever he or she is. It is something apart of their personal lives rather one and the same.
In the Torah portion this week, G-d instructs the Jewish people: “They shall make a sanctuary to Me and I shall dwell amongst them'. Though the Temple of Moses finally receives its Certificate of Occupancy (Halevai on us very soon too!), G-d's true desire is to be within each one of us. It is an incredible merit and we especially fortunate but along with this, we carry a very important mission as well, to be a proper representation.
We must remember that just as my lineage was so blatantly evident from my facial lines features that day on the train and as a soldier is expected to reflect his commanders and the country he represents, each one of us too carries that huge responsibility to be a proper representation of G-d and the Jewish people.
Whether we like it or not wherever we go people say, there goes a Jewish person, just be sure you are making a good statement for all of us!