Get it? It’s a joke. Did you laugh? Out loud? If yes, thank you very much. If you rolled your eyes, then I do apologize. But either way – whether you laughed, rolled your eyes, or cried – there is a lesson we can learn from here. 

On planet earth, there exists a religion, a people, and a nation that is unlike the rest of the religions, people, and nations of the world. I am referring to the Jewish people. Hashem made us unique. We have to face the facts, not hide from them. We are a treasured nation, a people like no other. We are special. 

There has been a myriad of nations who have walked the planet, many of which have come and gone. In fact, I found an article called, “Countries That No Longer Exist” on the website ThoughtCo, which lists over 25 countries that no longer exists. And that is not an exhaustive list in the slightest.  

So, what is unique about the Jewish people? Simply put, we are likened to the stars. 

In this week’s Parshah, Shemos, Rashi HaKadosh tells us that “although G-d counted the Jewish people by their names in their lifetime, He counted them again after they died, to teach us how precious they are to Him. They are analogous to the stars, of which it is written, ‘He Who takes out their host by number, call them all by name.’” 

The Sfas Emes (on this Rashi) explains that the Jewish people must know that G-d Almighty loves them. And just as He created the stars in order to brighten up the darkness of night, so did he create the Jewish people, in order to spread the אור האלקים – light of Hashem – to the dark and low places of this world. 

You see, one of the primary differences between the Jewish people and the other nations is our unique association with stars. The function of stars, although small and spread apart, is to brighten up the darkness of night. The ability to produce light amidst darkness is a characteristic that is required for the long-term survival of a people. This is one of the greatest secrets of the Jewish people. Our likeness to stars teaches us the importance of brightening up the darkness and finding those rays of hope amidst the night. 

When the going gets tough, when challenges present themselves, when difficulties arise, and when dark times exist, it is our deep association with the valiant stars that can help us overcome these moments of darkness and find the inner strength to produce light. 

Anti-gravity, which is a hypothetical force opposing gravity, is exactly that: hypothetical. But not the Jewish people, we are that one nation who possesses an anti-gravity type of strength. We oppose gravity. Other nations fall and fail. But not us. We may fall, but we never ultimately fail. We always find the ability to produce light and find strength no matter what, just like the stars of the night sky. Let us not forget who we are and what we are capable of achieving. Remember, you are a part of a people that is “impossible to put down.” 

Have a holy Shabbos!