Be a mensch!

Did anyone ever tell you that? (Like your Mom? In dulcet tones, maybe when you were acting up a bit in public?)

What does being a mensch even mean?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a mensch as a person of honor and dignity. 

Still not quite sure what the parameters are of being a mensch. 

Perhaps the following story is an example of menschlickeit, the action of being a mensch. 

In 1948 Alaska Airlines president James Wooten had purchased some surplus transport aircraft from the US military. He really was not sure what to do with his purchase. Then he was apprised of a need and stepped into the breach. 

After the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948, violence erupted in the Middle East. One of the areas of conflict was Yemen, and the Jewish population of Yemen was attacked and persecuted. They were desperate to escape to Israel. They could not travel by boat as the Egyptian army was patrolling the Gulf of Aqaba, so Operation on Wings of Eagles was launched. James Wooten was contacted and he oversaw 450 flights transporting Yemeni Jews to Israel. He used his newly purchased cargo planes. Many of these flights he piloted personally. This was a dangerous operation, avoiding enemy airspace and often enemy fire, flying long stints and taking turns to get much needed sleep. Other challenges included the fact that this ancient Jewish community had never seen an airplane before and despite the danger, were hesitant to board the aircraft. “Despite many challenges Alaska Airlines proudly executed the mission without a single loss of life” (courtesy of Mishpocha Magazine)

Would James Wooten be considered a mensch?

I think so!

How about someone more contemporary?

Immediately after reading the article chronicling the above historical feat of menschlichkeit, a dear friend, in Atlanta, informed me that she would be embarking on a mission to Ethiopia in the upcoming weeks.

Her mission?

To participate in the relocation of the remaining Jews in Ethiopia to help them resettle in their ancient homeland, the Land of Israel. 

She may not be piloting cargo planes, but she is leaving her home and comfort zone, to travel thousands of miles to help her sisters and brothers journey to Israel. 

She says she had the shivers as she thought about the honor it was for her to participate in this event. 

I have the shivers, because I am moved beyond words by her desire to help her brothers and sisters despite the challenge. 

Would my friend be considered a mensch?

I surely think so!

Truth be told, although I think you would agree with me in the above, are there any true guidelines about how one is a mensch?

My daughter, Sarah Lehrfield, recently spoke in a series entitled Raising a Mensch and she acknowledged that perhaps this word was her way of telling her kids to be kind and nice. Then she asked her 11 year old daughter what she thinks it means, my granddaughter replied “it means behaving perfectly in public”. 

This eye opening comment gave my daughter pause. 

Instead of putting the heavy weight of perfect behavior on our children so they can be the personification of perfection and then by extension the epitome of great parenting by her, perhaps she needed to turn the idea of being a mensch inward. Using the idea of how we as parents can be beacons to our children by modeling the proper behavior as best as we can in every situation, private or public. 

The Torah gives us many examples of how we can model proper behavior in our interactions with others, many of which were highlighted in last week’s Torah portion. 

But I especially loved my daughter’s choice of the word “beacon” because it lights up a concept found in this week’s Torah portion, Emor, which means, Say or Tell. 

The Parsha begins with the words “say to the Priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them”

The word “say” is written twice, it’s redundant. 

Rashi, the Torah super commentary notices the redundancy and explains that it is to inform the older priests that they should guide, say, and teach the younger priests about the laws of sanctity. One say is for them and the second say is to pay it forward. 

Rashi uses the word lehazhir which means to warn, this is a direction that the elders must be careful to educate the next generation. 

Rabbi Biderman, contemporary Torah teacher in Israel, focuses on the word lehazhir which means to warn. He explains that actually the root of that word is Zohar, a bright light. 

When parents, or priests, want to educate the next generation they should shine their bright light and influence the younger generation by modeling well, how they show up. 

Be a mensch means being a beacon. 

That’s how you create the next generations of mensch. 

By being one yourself!

Thank you dear friend, you are going to Ethiopia in my stead. And as our representative, you are serving as a beacon of light and love and casting a great illumination on a path for all of us to follow. 

(Especially your children who are watching your example closely!

I found it fascinating that the last surviving member of the team who flew the sorties between Yemen and Israel was himself flown to Israel in 2017. When asked what sights or politicians he would like to see in Israel he responded 

“I would love to see the people who came with me on those planes to Israel” Elgen Long. 

Upon arrival in Israel he met hundreds of people who arrived with generations of children to show their gratitude to the man who helped save them. 

Now that’s called being a mensch!!

Writing to you from our precious Jerusalem, imagining many of you by my side as I walk the holy streets and sending you from the charging station of the Jewish people,

Shabbat Shalom and so much love!