WHAT IF we began judging people not by the color of their clothing or their headgear?

In this season of dreams, hopes, and possibilities, the mind recalls the might-have-beens of the past, and conjures up the what-ifs of the future.

WHAT IF Israeli secular schools addressed the fact that their graduates are by and large Jewish illiterates who are unable to identify Rashi or Rambam, or Mishnah or Gemara (let alone open them), and often do not know the difference between Moses the Lawgiver and Moses Maimonides, but who have read some Shakespeare and Bialik? (Could it be that secular educational leadership is fearful of exposing their students to the power and magnetism of classical Judaism?)

WHAT IF the “express minyanim” in Israel and elsewhere (Shacharis in 33 minutes…) were to begin five minutes earlier and end five minutes later, thus giving people a chance to savor the magnificent words of Pesukei D’zimra, Shema, and Shemoneh Esreh?

WHAT IF a few carefully chosen chareidim were to attend every IDF funeral (there have been, tragically, over 900 such funerals since October 7) as representatives of the chareidi community, and as a gesture of sympathy ? What if they were to make shivah calls to bereaved IDF families and pray with them? (They might encounter hostility and even verbal abuse based on deep resentment, but if they maintain their poise and react lovingly, the possibilities are inestimable for kiddush Hashem and for some reconciliations and good will.)

WHAT IF, on a parallel note, major yeshivos and kollelim, who rightfully claim to be the spiritual soldiers who defend Israel, were to put themselves officially on a war footing and emulate the army’s physical soldiers, which would mean cutting down vacation and bein hazmanim times, and increasing learning hours — all as a merit for the soldiers in the field? (I personally heard a similar proposal from the legendary Ponevezh mashgiach, Rav Chatzkel Levenstein ztz”l, during the pre–Six Day War crisis. If the spiritual soldiers who also protect Israel were to demonstrate to the public that they have adopted the regimen of soldiers, would this not also create a major kiddush Hashem, beyond producing an atmosphere of reconciliation?)

WHAT IF Israeli drivers were to be less reckless and aggressive, and thus lower our highway accident rate, which is now among the highest in the word? (It is remarkable that some people who are otherwise kind and considerate — as Israelis are — suddenly forget their menschlichkeit and thoughtfulness when they get behind the wheel. )

WHAT IF we began judging people not by the color of their clothing or their headgear? Better still, what if we simply stopped judging others, and began judging our own selves? Black hats, gray hats, kippot serugot, black velvet yarmulkes, shtreimlach, spodiks, kapotehs, with or without buttons in the back — these articles of clothing are important symbols to their wearers, and we respect them.

WHAT IF Israel’s secular leadership were to assess the growing anti-Semitism around the world, our increasing military and political isolation, our difficulties in Gaza, the increasing hostility of so-called European democracies, the growing power of Muslim enmity in the US, plus a world-recognized Palestinian state — and finally admitted that all their panaceas and solutions have been shown to be bankrupt, and that perhaps there could be in all this a time-honored reminder to return to authentic Jewish living and values?

WHAT IF the billions of dollars that philanthropic Jews give to academic hotbeds of anti-Semitism like Harvard and Columbia were to be diverted to Jewish day schools and yeshivos? Suddenly, no tuition crisis, and suddenly teachers and rebbeim could be paid proper wages, and such institutions could focus on teaching rather than worrying about the coming payroll.

WHAT IF those who write columns were actually to write columns instead of teasing us with hallucinatory what-ifs?

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1082)