“I am born again,” declared Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta and author of “Lean In,” at a recent Jewish gathering. These aren’t words you’d expect from one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful executives – a woman known more for corporate leadership than religious devotion. But October 7th changed everything.
“Since that day, I sit here as a different person,” Sandberg continued. “Today, being Jewish is as central to my identity as anything else. I sit here as a proud Zionist and a proud Jew, in a way I couldn’t have imagined a year and a half ago.”
This transformation – from secular tech executive to passionate Jewish leader – represents something profound happening within American Judaism. A great awakening is stirring, one that reaches far beyond the horror that catalyzed it.
Most revealing is how Sandberg now views her very identity. In the past, when asked whether she was a Jewish-American or an American-Jew – which identity came first – she struggled to answer. No longer. Today, her Jewish identity stands at the core of her being, not as a mere adjective modifying her American nationality, but as the essence of who she is.
When Sandberg’s daughter, previously uninterested in religion, suddenly requested a Jewish star necklace for her birthday and began wearing it daily, it signaled more than a fashion choice. When another daughter, once uninvolved in Jewish life, became president of her school’s Jewish affinity club, it marked more than an extracurricular activity. These small but significant changes reflect a deeper shift occurring across American Jewish society.
For generations, many American Jews have lived in what our sages call a “deep sleep.” The United States became their new Jerusalem, a golden cage so comfortable they convinced themselves it was home. Success, assimilation, and secular achievement took precedence over spiritual connection and divine mission. They lost touch with their inner lion – forgetting they were God’s chosen people, tasked with becoming a light unto the nations.
But something extraordinary is happening. The prophet Amos foretold of this moment:
Across America, Jews who had drifted far from their roots are experiencing a profound reawakening of their Jewish identity.
This awakening echoes the prophetic vision of Ezekiel, who foresaw a time when the spirit of God would stir among the people:
In the book of Jeremiah, we find another powerful promise:
The sages teach that within every Jew burns an eternal flame – the “pintele yid,” the Jewish spark that can never be extinguished. Sometimes it lies dormant for generations, but it never dies. Today, we are witnessing that spark burst into flame across American Jewish life.
“Our identity as Jews needs to be more rooted in Sinai than Auschwitz,” Sandberg powerfully stated, signaling a shift from a Judaism defined by trauma to one anchored in purpose and covenant. This isn’t just about responding to hatred – it’s about rediscovering love. Love for our heritage, our values, and our mission to bring light to the world.
The Prophet Hosea spoke of this very moment:
These words resonate deeply as we witness Jews across America rediscovering their heritage and embracing their identity with newfound passion.
The Bible tells us of another awakening, another return to identity. After twenty years in exile, Jacob heard God’s call:
Like the Jews of America today, Jacob had built a life in exile. But comfort isn’t destiny, and success isn’t purpose. Inside every Jew, no matter how assimilated, dwells the soul of a lion waiting to roar.
This is the deeper meaning of Micah’s prophecy:
The Jewish people in exile may appear tame, like zoo animals who have forgotten their true nature. But beneath the surface lies sleeping greatness, waiting to be awakened. Just as a lion raised in captivity remains, at heart, a lion, so too a Jew in exile remains God’s child, even if they have wandered far from home.
The assimilation that concerned so many was never the final chapter of our story. Indeed, as the sages teach, sometimes it takes an external shock to awaken the sleeping soul of a nation. Just as Haman’s ancient decree of annihilation proved more effective at inspiring Jewish return than the words of forty-eight prophets, today’s rising antisemitism has sparked a profound awakening among American Jews. Isaiah’s vision rings true today: “Oh, let Your dead revive! Let corpses arise! Awake and shout for joy, You who dwell in the dust!” (Isaiah 26:19). A great awakening is happening among American Jews, and Sheryl Sandberg’s journey from Silicon Valley executive to proud Jewish leader is just the beginning. The Jewish people are returning – not just to political awareness or cultural identity, but to the depths of their heritage and divine mission.
In this season of Hanukkah, as we prepare to light our menorahs (Hanukkah lamps), we’re reminded that even the smallest flame can dispel great darkness. The light of renewal burns bright, and its glow promises to transform not just individual lives, but the entire landscape of American Judaism.
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