Ha’azinu and the Manchester Massacre on Yom Kippur, 5786: Lessons for Today
by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz
As Yom Kippur concluded, Jews emerged from their tefillos and were confronted with a nightmare: at the Heaton Park Shul in Manchester, mispallelim were violently attacked. A terrorist drove into them with his car and then began stabbing. Two Jews were murdered; four were wounded. For terrifying moments, police warned of a bomb, which thankfully proved non-viable. The horror struck on the holiest day of the year, when the Jewish people were davening for life, forgiveness, and protection.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised that Britain would confront rising antisemitism and protect its Jewish citizens. But words alone cannot erase history. Britain, imperial and proud, issued the Balfour Declaration, yet later slammed its gates to Holocaust survivors. It preferred to see Jews drown in the Mediterranean rather than reach the Land of Israel. In the last few weeks, Mr. Starmer was one of the leading voices calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state — an act that could bring destruction to Israel and death to Jews. He has not remembered the lessons of history, and tragically, the result came to his own doorstep on Yom Kippur.
The test of our generation is not the same as the test of previous ones. Our children grow up in a digital world of instant communication, endless distraction, and information overload. Parents and teachers must find a way to transmit the timeless mesorah in a language that speaks to the 21st century, integrating technology properly while never allowing it to erode the sanctity of Torah life. Do we respect our elders and value their wisdom? Do we adapt the eternal teachings of Torah to the realities of our generation without compromising their truth? These are the questions that binu shnot dor vador asks us to consider.
This week’s parashah, Ha’azinu, commands: “Zachor yemos olam, binu shnot dor vador” — remember the days of old; understand the changes of each generation (Devarim 32:7). The Shem M’shmuel, Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain (1886–1926), the second Sochatchover Rebbe, explains that shnot does not merely mean “years,” but “differences.” Each generation faces unique challenges. For us, as Jews, this means transmitting Torah in a way that reaches our children today while remaining faithful to the ways of our parents and grandparents. Each generation’s survival depends on courage, adaptability, and unwavering faith.
The command to remember is not only for Jews. Nations too must face their histories. They cannot proclaim concern for Jews in their lands while supporting policies that endanger Jewish lives in Israel. As George Santayana (1863–1952), the Spanish-American philosopher and Harvard professor, wrote in The Life of Reason (1905–1906): “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Santayana’s warning emphasizes that societies that ignore history inevitably repeat its tragedies. For Jews, this is a reminder to remain vigilant; for nations, it is a call to act responsibly, with foresight and moral clarity.
And here is the sharp contrast: the challenges of each generation change — but one thing has not changed. One thing has followed us with a bitter persistence throughout all of Jewish history. That one thing is antisemitism. The words may shift, the accusations may take on new forms, but the hatred is the same. In medieval Europe, it was the blood libel; in czarist Russia, it was pogroms; in Nazi Germany, it was racial extermination; today it is political delegitimization of Israel and attacks on Jews across the globe. The clothes change, the slogans change, the excuses change — but the hatred remains.
Ha’azinu calls us to remember history and understand generational change — for Jews, to strengthen our mesorah; for nations, to confront the consequences of their actions before it is too late.
A Message for Jews: Remain steadfast in Torah and mitzvot. Transmit our mesorah faithfully, using methods that resonate with today’s children and grandchildren. Face the unique challenges of our generation with courage, wisdom, and unity. Do not be lulled by comfort or indifference; the safety and continuity of our people depend on vigilance, action, and adherence to the eternal covenant. Learn from history and Torah to build a stronger, safer Jewish future.
A Message for Non-Jews: Be careful what you say and do. Remember your past, acknowledge wrongs, and understand the consequences of your actions. Ignoring history endangers both Jews and yourselves. The time to learn is now. The world must act with moral clarity before more lives are lost and more communities destroyed.