During this “Roaring Lion” war with Iran, rumors spread online that Netanyahu was killed, so he showed up in a Jerusalem-area Sadaff coffee shop, where he was filmed, making a joke that he was “dying for coffee” and showing all ten fingers – no AI. He also spoke of the importance of the Home-Front.
But while the video’s focus was primarily on Netanyahu, what went viral was the smiling youthful Barista who served him. She’s only shown briefly in the video but that was enough to generate an avalanche of tweets and posts and memes and more.
Her natural warmth and relaxed pleasant smile won the hearts of people online, from Spain to Vietnam, anywhere and everywhere. Even those without any connection to Israel (or they say, even some in opposition) captioned the photo with complimentary (even suggestive) lines…
One much-reposted post captured the sentiment well: “This girl has done more to fight antisemitism in the last 24 hours than the ADL has done in all its years.”
It’s a dramatic exaggeration of course, and this girl actually didn’t do anything – but maybe that’s the point!
The Baal Shem Tov taught us to learn a life lesson from all that we see and hear, so what’s to be learned from this instant viral popularity of this Israeli barista?
Sometimes the best way to fight antisemitism isn’t to address it or fight it or argue with it or stamp it out. There’s a time and place and people for that. It has its purpose. Something should be said.
But that’s not the only way to deal with it, and sometimes may not even be the best way to deal with it, even if it has to be done.
Many times the best approach is just to be the best version of our own selves. Be comfortable in your own skin. Be happy with who you are and where you are. Smile naturally. Be unashamedly Jewish. Be positive and sweet about it.
This girl did just that. She wasn’t even the focus, she wasn’t in the limelight, she didn’t say a word, but all that simple, natural, unadorned beauty and happiness radiated – and it had an even bigger impact than what Netanyahu had to say.