Hi,

Hope you you’re having a great day.

… Human beings are capable of having more than one emotion at the same time.

We need to be pained by the indescribable destruction and suffering in Haiti.

And at the same time, as Jews?

We should feel incredibly proud to be Jewish.

… Its one of my favorite metaphors for the mission of the Jewish People.

Think of a party.

Lots of food.  And even more drink.

Everyone is having a great time.  Maybe a little too great!

Except one guy.

He’s standing off to the side.

Enjoying himself.  But sipping a Coke.

… Why?

Is he anti social?  A snob?

No.

He’s the designated driver.

He volunteers to stay sober.  For the good of the others. 

So they’ll get home safely!

The Jewish people are meant to be the ‘designated drivers’ of humanity.

The Torah allows us to enjoy life, but with limits.

We need to live on a higher plane.  To keep a spiritual focus.

To maintain higher standards and to teach by example.

For the good of humanity.

… And we are doing an amazing job!

A CNN reporter visited the field hospital set up by the IDF in Haiti.

She couldn’t believe what she saw.

“It’s like entering a different world.  They have everything.

Imaging machines.  Operating rooms.  Ventilators!”

She interviewed an American doctor from Harvard Medical School.

“Our patients are going to die.  And no one is taking them except for the Israelis.”

The reporter asked the doctor if America has set up a field hospital.  She said no.

“But Israel has come from the other end of the world and done it.  Why can’t we?”

The doctor’s response?

“I can’t really explain it.  It’s a mystery.  I just don’t know!”

… As Jews, we should know the answer to the mystery.

It started at Mount Sinai.  We were given the Torah and given our mission.

“Be the designated drivers of the world!”

And a headline from CBS News reminded me that we are “driving” very well.

What was it?

“Israeli IDF hospital…

The Rolls Royce of Medicine in Haiti!”  

All the best,