What's in our Jewish DNA?

(JNS) — I once heard a particular story from a colleague in Johannesburg, who, like me, grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. He said that his grandfather was once the victim of an attempted mugging on Shabbat. Calmly, he told his attackers that it was his Sabbath and that he had no money for them.

“Come back on Sunday,” he said. They left him in peace. It seems a generation ago, even the muggers had some respect.

How times have changed. And with it, our values.

Today, Israel may boast the most successful and courageous defense force in the world; nevertheless, Jews at heart remain a peace-loving people....