Last summer, a writer for the then new and wildly successful "Survivor" TV show asked me, "Six thousand people applied to appear on the show, and not a single one was Jewish! Aren't the Jews Holocaust survivors?"

The dictionary offers two definitions for the term "survivor." 1. To continue to live or exist. 2. To live longer than; outlive. Plain English has two perceptions of survival: is our existence important and meaningful on its own, or relevant only when we have someone threatening it?

Jewish survival is not a game. We don't exist to spite our enemies -- we continue to exist despite them. The focus of our survival has always been to live, rather than to outlive.

We survived unimaginable difficulties over three millennia. Yet we never looked for challenges or invited impediments. In fact, we say in the morning prayers, "Bring us not to test or temptation." Obstacles were placed in our way, but we didn’t ask for them.

Enter 2000. Now it's popular to tempt and entice oneself. The badge of courage is earned in today's media culture by living precariously on the edge of immorality, and shows like "Survivor" or "Temptation Island" promote this type of sentiment. It is sad to see people embrace compromising situations where selfishness and desire get the better of them. It is sadder yet that society encourages such behavior.

I am thus heartened that there were no Jewish applicants to Survivor. Perhaps it reaffirms our true survival skills as a people.

In the course of our stormy 2,000 year exile we have survived and continued to flourish. But perhaps the greatest challenge is still to be faced.

We survived the horrors of persecution and genocide. We met the challenge of rising from the ashes. We spent five decades frantically rebuilding in every way imaginable. We have passed every roadblock placed in our way. But can we survive the self-inflicted ones as well?

Our survival depends on the positive drive and desire to live Jewishly, not the need to overcome enemies (or the Australian outback). This drive and desire is nurtured, cultivated and sustained by education, involvement and commitment. Only diligent pursuit of Torah knowledge, spirituality and active Yiddishkeit will ensure our survival.

Get involved in Jewish Holiday and Shabbat celebrations, Torah classes and special events–there’s something for everyone in the family. Forget Puala Tiga, Temptation Island and the Outback. Get involved in your Jewish community so we will survive as a people - forever!

Contact Rabbi Mendel Kaplan of Thornhill, Ontario at: www.chabadflamingo.com