Good news is good news, whomever the messenger might be. This past week, we saw how a ruthless dictator allegedly involved in illicit drug trade was turned into a prisoner in pajamas in our own backyard. Nicolas Maduro, once the President of Venezuela is now sitting in a cell in New York City. We see how he went from a leader bedecked in royal garments to an inmate housed with common criminals.

Contrast this with the Jewish people who, as we read in Sefer Shemos, remained royal despite being enslaved. When the Jewish people debase our status as G-d’s chosen people by changing our names, dress and customs then we are truly slaves. However, “V’eileh Shemos b’nei Yisroel:” we maintained our holy lifestyle and thus merited to be saved.

One dictator in history, Alexander the Great, could not fathom how the human eye far outweighed all the wealth he had amassed. As Rabbi Doniel Osher Kleinman said in a presentation given by Vayimaen, an organization dedicated to shmiras einayim, the human eye is insatiable. The eye that keeps its desires in and does not act on them is superb; all of Alexander the Great’s wealth paled in comparison to the weight of an eye that controls its natural tendencies. As the Midrash explains, the Rabbis told Alexander that if he would stop attempting to conquer more countries and instead focus on the welfare of his people then he would live a long life. Otherwise, he would die.

Maduro claimed to be one of the people, yet he amassed great oil wealth as his people starved. Venezuelans believed in national pride yet they were made to be “meshubad” to Iranian interests through cooperation with that country. People throughout the world were made to be slaves to drug addiction thanks to the prolific drug trade operating out of Venezuela. Today, Venezuela’s Pharoh, whose insatiable eye filled his bottom line but hurt his people, has been dethroned.

Jews in Caracas can breathe easier this week. Israel’s archenemy, Iran, lost an ally on the western hemisphere. Victims of drug addiction have won a battle against drug distribution. Whatever one might think about Trump or his operation to extradite the Venezuelan dictator to the United States, the world is a better place for it. Of course, we must thank Hashem for this. And if we appreciate Hashem, then we can better appreciate the need to remain holy. Kavod Shamayim is paramount.

I myself, driven by elation, passed by the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn this past Sunday where Maduro was being held. As pro-Palestinian protestors (funded by foreign interests) cried over American money being used to extradite a foreign dictator to the U.S. I sang shira to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Ironically, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s NYPD is guarding the prison to ward off friend and foe alike. (I believe President Trump chose New York as Maduro’s prison destination to send a message to the Mayor: foreign affairs are not your concern; don’t welcome enemies or eject friends). We ourselves can internalize this message: be careful who you associate with; be the guardians of your own eyes.

In these six weeks of Shovavim, it is important to maintain Jewish purity. Learn the halachos, guard your eyes and don’t fall to outside influences. Don’t give in to your desires; use your G-d given talents to improve your life and the lives of those around you. Hashem also wants us to have kavod habriyos. Be happy with what you have and think of those who have not. This is royalty. And this is how will we merit to be redeemed not through a messenger, but by G-d alone.

Chaim Yehuda Meyer

Brooklyn, New York

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