The Commandment to Be Exceptional

Critical Race Theory says that western civilization is inherently racist. Whatever any of us does is bad. There is no victory in their world other than accepting defeat. 

Woke theory tells us that all men do is exploit women, keeping them down at every step. There is no chance at chivalry, just emasculation. Don’t be a man, they say. The key to masculinity is to express your feminine side.  

The Pride movement tells us we are evil for rejecting transgenders and homosexuals.  

Every message the elite bombard us with is the same: Don’t be exceptional. Anyone who tries has privilege. Anyone who succeeds is a racist.  

I am sick and tired of living in a Born to Lose culture.  

The Torah tells us otherwise. The Book of Vayikra calls Sodomy an abomination, and the Book of Devarim calls men dressing like women and women dressing like men an abomination.  

One of the fundamentals of Jewish faith is the concept of reward and punishment, and the 7 commandments given to everyone. Regardless of race, gender, or religion, any person who performs a Noahide commandment is rewarded for doing good.  

All of these people telling humanity we have no hope can go to the very place they are trying to send us.  

Where We Come From  

According to the first chapter of the Torah: 

God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27).  

We were not created to lose. Hashem created us in His image.   

G-d created both man and woman, black and white, Jewish and non-Jewish. He is not racist, sexist, or elitist. Everyone on this earth gets their next breath. Everyone enjoys their next meal. Everyone can reap amazing rewards for the commandments they fulfill.   

We are all rewarded to perform in this world. The more we do, the more Hashem blesses us.   

In their world, accomplishment is taboo. In His universe, accomplishment  is required.   

It is an obligation for a Jew to eat Kosher. It’s an obligation for all humans to not eat part of a living animal.   

It is an obligation for a Jew to guard the Shabbat. It is an obligation for all humans to not steal or murder.   

It is an obligation for all of us to dress modestly and to temper our lusts.  Yes, that’s correct – most of the basic laws of modesty in dress and action apply to non-Jews as well as to Jews!  

G-d puts us in this world to perform His mitzvot and correct this world.

He made all of us born to win with every commandment we follow.  

Where We Are Headed 

Never let any of them shame you into feeling embarrassed for achieving what He wants in His world. Never feel bad for wanting what G-d wants.  

No matter how much money they have, it’s not their world. It’s His.   

Their moment at the top is just a moment. They see it as permanently replacing G-d as supreme arbiter of right and wrong. With all their propaganda hitting us at every moment, sometimes it can feel that way. It’s the Tower of Babble, at war with G-d, all over again – just in a different format. 

But it’s all just a test. The ultimate test.   

It’s a chance for all of us to bear humiliation, suffering, even denial of livelihood, friends, or freedom in the Name of Hashem.   

It’s the chance for us to be looked down on, seen as weird, even discriminated against and smile knowing that we will bear it for Hashem, and endure it to win in His world.  And one day, the rewards we have earned doing so will be revealed to us. 

We have the once in an eternity opportunity to fight for the Kingdom we wish to live in: A Kingdom ruled by G-d, Who wants us all to win. Not by accepting evil and whitewashing it – but by actively creating a world build on G-d’s good Law.

This year, we take the battle to them!  

Let’s get visual. Let’s do obvious things for G-d’s honor.  Let’s clearly strengthen our holiness, which is the secret key to winning spiritual wars – by following the poskim who codify Jewish law, and not every whim on the street or in the stores. 

Let’s grow beards. Let’s wear tzitzit. Let’s make sure that the skirt actually goes down to at least the middle of the calf and that the shirt isn’t skin-tight. Let’s force ourselves not to talk lewdly.

When we tell people we are not racist, it is not because black lives matter. It is because we  are all created in God’s image and His lives matter.   

People will accuse us of racism, ignorance, extremism, or whatever else to hide their horror in knowing that all the money, power, and influence will not redraw the blueprint of the earth.  In reality, it is they who are extreme – extreme in their crooked mindset, extreme in their immodesty, and extreme in whitewashing even the worst sins as acceptable or unavoidable. 

G-d creates a specific a path to victory, with do and don’ts, and we should all follow His lead to the Ultimate Finish Line.  

We are a lot closer than anyone realizes.

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David Ben Horin lives in Afula with his wife and children. Since moving to Israel in 2002, David has discovered Torah, writing hi-tech, hiking, coding ReactJS Apps, and hearing stories about the Land of Israel from anyone excited to tell them. Check him out on Highway 60 or email him your favorite Israel story at:   david.ben.horin@spreadyourenthusiasm.com.