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Yom Kippur Forces Us to Look Within; Will We Do That This Year?
The late Leonard Cohen sings to IDF troops in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Photo: Twitter.
Throughout history, physical stature has often shaped people’s perceptions of leadership. The belief that taller individuals are more commanding or “presidential” has long influenced how leaders are viewed, with the idea that a greater height equates to greater capability. Indeed, studies have shown that taller people are frequently assumed to possess qualities like confidence and authority, which can lead to an advantage in both politics and the corporate world. This emphasis on height seems almost absurd when we consider that true leadership is far more complex than what meets the eye.
Looking back through history, height has often been a striking feature of many notable figures. Abraham Lincoln, the tallest U.S. president at 6’4″, seemed to tower over his contemporaries both physically and metaphorically, embodying the spirit of leadership that defined his role in abolishing slavery.
Similarly, Thomas Jefferson, at 6’2½”, was exceptionally tall for his era, and his commanding presence undoubtedly amplified his influence as a Founding Father, shaping the nation’s early years. For both Lincoln and Jefferson, physical height seemed to enhance their image as strong, decisive leaders who stood head and shoulders above the rest.
And yet, this emphasis on physical stature isn’t a hard and fast rule when it comes to outstanding leadership. Franklin D. Roosevelt, although he stood at 6’2”, rarely stood at all due to the debilitating effects of polio that left his legs weakened. His greatness lay not in his physical presence but in his charismatic personality, his vision, and his ability to lead the nation through some of its most challenging times.
Likewise, James Madison, Jefferson’s immediate successor, was only 5’4”—a height only slightly below the average for his time—but much shorter than his 1808 election opponent, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, who was approximately 6 feet tall.
Despite the height difference, Madison won the election, becoming America’s shortest-ever president. He went on to become the “Father of the Constitution”, proving that good leadership is not the result of physical qualities, but is instead driven by intellect and statesmanship.
Interestingly, being tall hasn’t always been a recipe for success in presidential races. The tallest candidate in U.S. history, Winfield Scott, stood at 6’5”, yet he lost the 1852 election to Franklin Pierce, who was only 5’10”. Similarly, John Kerry, who is 6’4” tall, could not convert his height advantage into a victory, losing the 2004 election to George W. Bush, who is 5’11½”.
But while height and appearance often shape perceptions of leadership and a person’s inherent qualities, Yom Kippur invites us to consider quite a different measure of greatness. On this holiest day of the Jewish calendar year, we intentionally avoid physical comforts and distractions.
We desist from eating, drinking, washing, and engaging in physical intimacy—all activities that usually anchor us to the material world. Even our footwear is affected; we forgo leather shoes, a symbol of luxury, and many choose to wear only white clothes and avoid jewelry or other adornments to strip away the physical trappings that can distract us from the true essence of who we are.
This focus on the non-physical reminds us that our value is not in how we look or the material possessions we display, but instead, it is in our actions, our intentions, and our moral fiber. Just as Abraham Lincoln’s legacy wasn’t defined merely by his towering 6’4” frame but by his courage and integrity in leading a divided nation towards unity and virtue, on Yom Kippur we are reminded that great men and women are not necessarily those with an impressive physical stature or great looks, but those who stand tall in their principles and are true to their convictions.
Yom Kippur provides the ultimate contrast to society’s fixation on external traits. During the service, everyone stands together in prayer, shoulder to shoulder, regardless of height, wealth, or status. It is a day when all are equal before God, and the true measure of a person lies in their deeds, their humility, and their commitment to a future of self-improvement.
Unlike the world of politics, where a commanding physical presence might sway voters, God’s vote for us on Yom Kippur – the only election day that genuinely counts – is contingent on who we are on the inside.
So, as we reflect on the meaning of Yom Kippur, we would do well to see beyond the superficial judgments that so often dominate our society. We are challenged to recognize that the accurate measure of a person—whether it is ourselves or those we choose to follow—rests on a foundation of inner qualities. The greatest and most effective leaders are not always tall or conventionally attractive.
Sir Winston Churchill, with his jowly face and stocky figure, stood at just 5’7”, earning him the nickname “British Bulldog.” Yet, despite his diminutive size and rather average features, he commanded immense respect and managed to guide the free world through its darkest hours to triumph over Hitler—a man whose twisted ideology idolized physical perfection.
In the end, Yom Kippur calls us to rise above the trappings of physical appearance and superficial measurements of greatness. We are expected to aspire to become the best versions of ourselves, not by adding inches to our physical height but by expanding our capacity for compassion, honesty, and self-reflection. It is a day that reminds us that while the world may judge whether a leader is any good by how tall they are or by some other meaningless measure, God judges us by how tall we strive to be in our deeds and our dedication to doing what is right.
The author is a rabbi in Beverly Hills, California.
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UN Security Council Meets on Iran as Russia, China Push for a Ceasefire

Members of the Security Council cast a vote during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at UN headquarters in New York, US, Feb. 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/David Dee Delgado
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday to discuss US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.
It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. The three countries circulated the draft text, said diplomats, and asked members to share their comments by Monday evening. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass.
The US is likely to oppose the draft resolution, seen by Reuters, which also condemns attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities. The text does not name the United States or Israel.
“The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Sunday. “We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.”
“We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear program,” Guterres said.
The world awaited Iran’s response on Sunday after President Donald Trump said the US had “obliterated” Tehran’s key nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that while craters were visible at Iran’s enrichment site buried into a mountain at Fordow, “no one – including the IAEA – is in a position to assess the underground damage.”
Grossi said entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit at Iran’s sprawling Isfahan nuclear complex, while the fuel enrichment plant at Natanz has been struck again.
“Iran has informed the IAEA there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels at all three sites,” said Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iran requested the U.N. Security Council meeting, calling on the 15-member body “to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Israel‘s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement on Sunday that the U.S. and Israel “do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place.”
Danon told reporters before the council meeting that it was still early when it came to assessing the impact of the U.S. strikes. When asked if Israel was pursuing regime change in Iran, Danon said: “That’s for the Iranian people to decide, not for us.”
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Israel Rejects Critical EU Report Ahead of Ministers’ Meeting

FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, June 11, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
Israel has rejected a European Union report saying it may be breaching human rights obligations in Gaza and the West Bank as a “moral and methodological failure,” according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.
The note, sent to EU officials ahead of a foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday, said the report by the bloc’s diplomatic service failed to consider Israel’s challenges and was based on inaccurate information.
“The Foreign Ministry of the State of Israel rejects the document … and finds it to be a complete moral and methodological failure,” the note said, adding that it should be dismissed entirely.
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Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

FILE PHOTO: Pope Leo XIV holds a Jubilee audience on the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport, at St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican June 14, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo
Pope Leo on Sunday said the international community must strive to avoid war that risks opening an “irreparable abyss,” and that diplomacy should take the place of conflict.
US forces struck Iran’s three main nuclear sites overnight, joining an Israeli assault in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself.
“Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” Pope Leo said during his weekly prayer with pilgrims.
“No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, the stolen future. Let diplomacy silence the weapons, let nations chart their future with peace efforts, not with violence and bloody conflicts,” he added.
“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza and other territories, risks being forgotten, where the need for adequate humanitarian support is becoming increasingly urgent,” Pope Leo said.
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