From Adrenaline to Identity: What It Really Means to Live Jewish Today | Rabbi Bernath’s Shabbat Sermon

In the aftermath of October 7, Jews around the world experienced a surge of emotion and identity—an outpouring of Jewish adrenaline. But as the energy fades, the real question emerges: what does it actually mean to live a meaningful Jewish life?

Rabbi Bernath draws from Dan Senor’s "State of World Jewry" Speech and 92Y last week, A.B. Yehoshua’s challenge to diaspora Jews, and the timeless answers offered by our prophets and sages—from King David to the Rebbe. He reminds us that Jewish life isn’t about where you live, but how you live: with integrity, with mitzvos, with visible Jewish pride.

Rooted in this week’s Parshah, the sermon invites us to reclaim the mitzvos that affirm who we are in a world trying to forget us—and reminds us that the most radical act of Jewish survival is living Jewish every single day.

Key Takeaways:

1. October 8th Jews Need More than Adrenaline: Emotional response to tragedy must evolve into sustainable Jewish living—rooted in action, not just feeling.
2. Geography Isn’t Identity: Living in Israel doesn’t automatically make one Jewish in practice. Living Jewishly—through mitzvot and moral clarity—does.
3. Our Prophets Knew the Secret: King David, Isaiah, Micah, and Chavakuk each distilled Judaism to its ethical essence, but only because ritual was then a given. In exile, the inverse is true—we must rebuild our ritual identity.
4. The Rebbe’s Mitzvah Campaign Echoes the Prophets: Strategic mitzvot like tefillin, Shabbat candles, and kosher aren’t just practices—they are declarations of identity.
5. We Must Lead Jewish Lives—Loudly and Proudly: In today’s world, being visibly Jewish is an act of courage and continuity. This is our generation’s mission.

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