Woody Allen once said that ninety percent of life is just showing up. This was precisely my intention in attending the mass rally in Washington D.C. this past Tuesday. It was not about direct lobbying or having impassioned conversations with my representatives in Congress. The rally was about being a face in the crowd, just being present, part of a huge scene that would indicate broad, overwhelming support for Israel. Just by showing up.
That was my intention, and I hope I succeeded in accomplishing that mission. That elected officials who believe Israel’s operation in Gaza to be just, now have something to point to when others are attempting to avert their attention to all those who consider Israel to be the villain in this war. “But these are also my constituents, I have to respond to them as well.” I hope it worked.
What hadn’t occurred to me when I decided to attend the rally was that something else altogether might be accomplished. Something that, again, without really doing anything at all could be achieved simply by showing up.
What was that? Nikki Haley summed it up well in a Twitter post:
Today, ~300K people marched in DC in support of Israel & against antisemitism. No one was assaulted. Nothing vandalized. No one hiding behind masks. Lots of American flags. A stark contrast w/ the pro-Hamas protestors. This is a fight between good & evil, & good will prevail.
None of the behavior that Haley identified as being present at Tuesday’s rally was planned. Nobody set an alarm the night before on their phone to go off at 1 PM with the reminder, “Don’t assault anyone at the rally,” or, “Remember not to vandalize property.” I can’t imagine anyone standing at the coat closet the morning of agonizing over whether or not to bring that menacing-looking mask along to wear on the National Mall. People were just being themselves. They were just showing up.
When you’re an ordinary, normal mensch, there can sometimes be great drama in just showing up. Because more often than not you can count on others to be anything but. Against a backdrop of reprehensible behavior, acting with just a modicum of decency can make you a standout.
What Nikki Haley described in her tweet is what we’d refer to as a Kiddush Hashem. Demonstrating that living a life dedicated to Jewish values—even when the finer of points of halacha are not necessarily adhered to—means acting in a way that is pleasant, refined, and courteous.
Which is a more collective expression of another Kiddush Hashem—one accomplished by an individual—that also took place at the rally. When Ishay Ribbo exited the stage, he did so with the simple words, Hashem yishmor aleichem—May G-d watch over you. Words that are remarkable only because of the dearth of G-d-talk throughout the other presentations. Ishay didn’t beat anyone over the head with his religiosity. He just acted himself. He showed up. Read some Tehilim. Acknowledged Hashem. But when the coolest guy to take the stage is also the frummest guy to take the stage—and he’s not afraid to simply be himself—it’s a powerful statement.
We’re often looking for ways to have an impact. Whether it’s a family Chanukah party or an office get-together, we’re often looking for ways to best express our brand of Torah living to those who live otherwise. How do we make it understandable, palatable, normal, impressive, impactful? I don’t think we place enough value on just showing up. Just being ourselves. We may not be Ishay Ribbo, but if we’re liked and respected by peers, colleagues, and family members, we have a platform. And we can use that platform to just be ourselves. To be normal, and pleasant, and charming—and make a bracha before we eat our food, and after our food, and wear modest clothing and yarmulkas. We need not bludgeon everyone around us with our frumkeit, nor be embarrassed to be ourselves.
If we want to properly showcase our values, we need not overthink it. If you’re a mensch, it will come through. If you’re religious, it will come through. We can make a Kiddush Hashem just by showing up.
A great message! Thank you.