I did an experiment just before writing this message. I scrolled through my feed on social media, looking for non political and non conflict related Jewish content from my friends, many of whom are creators, artists, rabbis, educators, singers, chazzanim and deeply connected Jews.

One outcome is to remind myself that I am blessed to have so many incredible people in my life in small and larger ways who I can look up to for the amazing things they are doing in their Jewish lives. That said, in every single case, when I came across a positive story, or a shared piece of music, or a wonderful inspiration, I looked at the comments. Inevitably, in each case some, even most, of those comments dripped with hate and poison, with lies and libels, with ignorance and malice.

I could feel anger welling up inside of me. An anger I’ve become all too familiar with in the last three years. An anger I’ve learned (with much, but not 100% success) to channel into energy and motivation, rather than a consuming or destructive emotion.

And then, I reminded myself of some things I know with absolute certainty. These purveyors of ugliness fall into a few categories in my estimation. Among the largest of these is the fact that the ONLY leverage these ignorant bullies have is what we give them, is rage or upset they are seeking. So, my advice is DON'T give it to them. Advise them you’ve made a contribution to a Jewish or Israeli organization in their name and thank them for the inspiration. Let them be enraged, not you.

I also know that there is nothing new or original in the content of any of this, only the modality, the algorithms, and the consequent reach. But in truth, the Michigan Democratic senate nominee who finds ‘understanding’ for the attempted child killer at Temple Israel a few months ago is pretty much the same as the medieval friar tsk tsking over the bodies of Rhineland Jews, bemoaning the carnage left by crusading mobs, but understanding their motivation and celebrating their heavenly reward.

I know that the rabble - and their rousers - who are entertained by their cruel comments on local images of accidents, or insistent on labeling any discussion of policy or recognition a function of the pernicious machinations of the “penguins” or the “hats” or the “bloc” will not stop. But the truth is they didn’t start. Their forebears preaching in front of the mellahs of Damascus and the ghettos of Europe started with the same labels and scorn.

To paraphrase Matt Damon, who so devastatingly described the posturing, plagiarising pompous grad student in Good Will Hunting, as bad as all those qualities, they are also deeply unoriginal. So basement-dwelling decades-long obsessives, or retired political also-rans trafficking in conspiracy and outrage aren’t worth the energy it takes you to dissect their tired, fantastical diatribes.

Ecclesiastes tells us “Ein Chadash Tachat Hashemesh” - there’s nothing new under the sun. And it's true. So we need to watch for and act when their vitriol leads to violence and its incitement. But that is a tactical necessity, not a strategic value.

Our strategic value is OUR VALUES.

It is the local Rockland Jewish family who tragically and devastatingly lost their young daughter in an accident and have transformed the entire experience of loss and mourning into one of Ahavat Yisrael and a lesson in strength and forgiveness for everyone. Spreading love, kindness and responsible citizenship.

It is the humble Israeli born founders of a local Rockland animal rescue who have leveraged one kind of kindness and healing to raise up and heal our brothers - at the tip of the spear - who have been traumatized by unrelenting combat in defense of our Jewish homeland. Healing and helping.

It is the massive project of ensuring needy Rockland Jewish families have the wherewithal to celebrate Pesach with dignity, and the partnership of local government agencies to help make that happen, year in and year out. Supporting those in need.

It is the groundbreaking undertaking our Federation has made to increase the level of security of every Jewish institution in Rockland - and the close to 200 vulnerability assessments, dozens of of trainings, hundreds of networked Rockland institutions in our alert system, and over 3,000 trained volunteers - which safeguards our community and now assists several of our partner organizations beyond it. Securing the community.

It is the work done every day by our major beneficiary agencies, like the Lewis JCC providing programming for seniors, students, campers and more; like the Holocaust Museum educating thousands of schoolchildren every year, like the Rockland Jewish Family Service meeting the needs of the vulnerable, those in crisis, those in need of basics, like kosher food, or just someone to listen; like Hillel Rockland, inspiring hundreds of students at RCC and recent graduates with programming every week; and the many smaller beneficiaries of Federation who are meeting the unique needs of our community. Educating, inspiring, sustaining, conveying Jewish pride and identity.

And this is just what we can see in our own community. Beyond Rockland, there is a world of Jewish creativity, from music to literature, from academia to beit midrash, from cooking to sport, and to world leading innovation in every sphere. Do you want somewhere to put that energy and emotion you refuse to give to anger? Put it here.

We are all better off focusing on these and so many more examples of deploying Jewish values to accomplish these goals - and I’ve only scratched the surface on the incredible work of hundreds of Jewish non profits in Rockland. It may feel good to see the nasty people described above as utterly forgettable and self absorbed. But even more so it CERTAINLY feels good to focus on, think about, and support the amazing things being done, inspired by Jewish values, right here in our own community. We have so much to be proud of.