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Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126  rablenblank@gmail.com
**January 8, 2026, 19, Teves, 5786**
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Love, respect and care for all Jews whatever their background might be.

Achdus
“Vayechi: Every group is a blessing.”
The importance of Am Yisrael as shared by Rabbi Joey Haber.

A visit to the Ohel and the myriads of diverse Jews.

From: Rabbi Joey Haber. Jewish Vues .com December 31m 2025-January 6, 2026. “Vayechi: Every Group Is A Blessing” Page 61. “We read in Parshat Vayechi the special Brachot that Yaakov gave to his sons just before his passing. He addressed each son individually and delivered a specific blessing that was appropriate for each one.

After telling us of all the Brachot, the Torah summarizes this event by stating, Vayivaeich Otam, Ish Asher K’virchato Bareich Otam, “He blessed them; each one according to his [appropriate] blessing did he bless them” (49:28).

The Or Ha’haim takes note of the last word in this pasuk-otam. Rather than say, bareich oto- that Yaakov blessed each son with the blessing that was appropriate for him, the Torah instead says that bareich otam- Yaakov blessed them with the blessing that was appropriate for each of the sons.”

The Or Ha’haim’s explanation of this nuance is exceedingly powerful, and so relevant to us. He writes that each son’s blessing was a blessing for all the other sons, as well. When the tribe of Gad is blessed, this is a blessing for all the other sons, as well. He writes that each son’s blessing was a blessing for all the other sons, as well. When the tribe of Gad is blessed, this is a blessing for the entire Jewish Nation. When the tribe of Asher is blessed, this is a blessing for the entire Jewish Nation. When any of the tribes succeeds and prospers, the entire nation benefits. A blessing for one group is a blessing for all the others, because, at the end of the day, we are a single nation.

This is so critical for us to remember today, when Am Yisrael is fragmented into so many different groups and subgroups. We often make the terrible mistake of assigning labels and names to different groups of Jews, regarding them as lower and less significant. Each group within the Jewish Nation, understandably, sees itself as exceptional, and as most correct group. There is nothing wrong with this kind of pride, but this does not mean that we can or should assign derogatory labels to other groups. We are all in this together.

And in case we may have forgotten that we’re all in this together, our enemies have given us a very stark reminder of this fact over the past few years. Our adversaries really don’t care about our different customs, different prayer texts, different positions on important religious issues, different levels of observance, different countries of origin, different modes of dress, or the many other differences between the various groups of Jews.  They see us as all the same – and this is how we must see ourselves, as well.

Instead of looking down on other groups, or dismissing them as inferior, we need be helping and looking out for them – with the understanding that one group’s success is a win for our entire nation.

This is true also within our community.  Our community has numerous different groups and subgroups, all of whom must be committed to one another. Each group has what to contribute to all of us, and can be a blessing to all of us and to all Am Yisrael.

Too often, shidduch suggestions are turned down because the young man or young woman is from “the wrong kind of family,” which is “not like us.” This is a terrible mistake.  We all know people who come from difficult backgrounds but grew to become the most wonderful people.

The labels we have given to a group within our community, or to certain families in our community, are so damaging.  The Gemara in Masechet Baba Metzia (58b) teaches that people who refer to someone by a nickname, even if the person is not embarrassed by the nickname, are sentenced to Gehinam, and never rise from there.  The Maharsha explains that assigning someone a nickname is akin to slander.  When we label a person or a group, we are basically announcing to the world that the person or group is bad, and irredeemable.  That person or group is then dismissed and rejected.  And this should never happen.

We need to stop labelling, and to start respecting.  We need to remember that we’re all in this together, that every group bring our nation great blessing, and we must therefore all help one another achieve and succeed – realizing that every group’s achievement is our achievement, and their success is our success.”

The young men from Chabad who come to visit me almost weekly shared their happiness with my wife and I about their recent weddings. I shared in previous articles of my associations with Lubavitch through the years. I was pleased when these Chabad young men not only began visiting since last year but we also were delighted sharing with each other Devrei Torah and uplifting chizuk. They even requested to receive my Moments of Inspiration articles. When all three of us became engaged, we had much to celebrate. I remember when they found out that I was engaged and brought cake and a lechayim.

My wife and I were unable to attend their weddings, but they brought their joyous spirits to our home when they came to visit us. Just this past Monday my wife and I attended one of the sheva brachos which was held at the local Chabad House and it was truly so nice to see such diversity of attendees. The spirit of achdus permeated the sheva brachos.

The two Chabad young men during one of their visits mentioned it would be very uplifting for my wife and I to visit the “Ohel” before our wedding or even after our marriage. We took their recommendations and went last week. Honestly, this was the first time for me to visit the Ohel and I found it very inspiring to see so many men, women and children from different backgrounds coming to be mispallel for whatever spiritual desires they may have. What tremendous achdus in Klal Yisroel can be seen at the Ohel.

May Hashem imbue in Klal Yisroel to show love for each other with an emphasis on Achdus, Am Yisroel Chai, Shalom Al Yisroel and Chaverim Kol Yisroel.  

Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank