It has been a fascinating week—and a difficult one for many, for the Jewish people and for lovers of Israel. Not difficult for all because of who was elected, as many are in favor of Netanyahu’s election, but because of the sentiments he expressed in these elections.
An important verse comes to mind: Leviticus 19:17.
לֹֽא־תִשְׂנָ֥א אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ הוֹכֵ֤חַ תּוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ אֶת־עֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂ֥א עָלָ֖יו חֵֽטְא׃
You are not to hate your fellow in your heart, and you are to rebuke, yes rebuke your fellow, and not bear sin on his account.
We are not to hate our brethren. We are, as many interpret this verse, to love them as we do ourselves. But, as the next clause immediately adds—with forceful language—we are to give reproof when are brothers and sisters are wrong. When we see or hear something done that is egregious or inappropriate or that qualifies as a sin against God and humanity, when we say nothing, it is as if we have nodded in assent.
Based on our own understanding of the divine in all human beings and based on the very text of Israel’s declaration of independence, as Jews we cannot stand by a statement of racism against all Arab Israelis. And, as Jews we cannot stand by a refusal to work for peace, no matter the obstacles. The declaration for Israel’s Independence from 1948 reads,
The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The Zionist dream was for a Jewish and democratic state for all its inhabitants: a place of freedom, justice and peace, a place of equality and respect for all who live there. A place that is better than Mitzrayim, than 19th century Europe, than the many places in which the Jewish people have lived and suffered. When the sitting and incoming Prime Minister claims to speak on behalf of all world Jewry and utters words of hate and hopelessness, it is incumbent on world Jewry to speak up and offer תוכחה—reproof. It is incumbent upon us to express that we understand security as a matter of life and death, but we also understand that to maintain the integrity of our Jewish soul, we need to strive beyond immediacy of fear for survival and look to a future of ideals where peace with all of humanity is possible. To strive for this peace, we must leave room for openness in our hearts.
I give reproof because I love Israel and I believe in the Zionist dream. We need a Jewish homeland where we can be safe and we can live out our Jewish values. I give reproof because I refuse to allow a voice of prejudice and hatred to speak for me, and I give reproof because I insist on remaining engaged and connected at the deepest of levels with the Jewish homeland. And so I offer to Netenyahu and those energized by his anti-Arab and anti-peace statements, and to all of you, the beautifully laid-out demands to Israel’s leadership from Rabbi Eric Yoffie, past-president of the Union for Reform Judaism:
First: [I hope for a] statement that Israel is committed to democracy. I don’t need to hear another call for negotiations, or even a peace plan, but I do need a clear and plain proclamation from Israel’s elected leader that Israel will not budge from the democratic values that have always been the foundation of Zionism. Israel will be a Jewish and democratic state, Mr. Netanyahu must say, and he must give us his solemn assurance that even if the details of how to accomplish this are not clear now, the principle remains central to his political outlook. No equivocation, please. No dancing around. Just say what Zionists have always said, and American Jews – and all Americans – will be reassured. Surely that is not too much to ask.
Born from 29th Aug 1958 to 25th Jun 2009 – Love him or despise him, Michael on line viagra frankkrauseautomotive.com Jackson or MJ as he was affectionately known was the indisputable King of Pop and was one of the biggest churches in North America. Sir Isaac Newton’s Law of Motion viagra for states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Generic Tadalafil is one of the buy cheap viagra top 10 e-commerce companies thriving in the country. The patient can return to the normal activities within a couple of days. discount viagra no prescription Second: [I hope for an] apology to Israeli Arabs for his comments about Arabs “voting in droves.” Americans are immersed right now in remembering and celebrating the great achievements of the civil rights era. The events in Selma are very much on our minds, a source of pride for right and left alike. Mr. Netanyahu’s slur of Arab Israelis was, in many ways, more shocking than his statement dismissing a Palestinian state. Racism – and that’s what it was – is grating for all Americans and particularly shocking for Jewish Americans, who stood at the very core of American civil rights work. There is only one way for Mr. Netanyahu to deal with his repugnant words, and that is to repudiate them with a profound and sincere apology. Again, no dancing around. “Say you were wrong and that you are sorry, and that Israel fully embraces her Arab citizens. And then demonstrate that you are sincere by opposing legislation that discriminates against Arab Israelis by promoting Israel’s Jewish character at the expense of her democratic character.
Third: [I hope that you don’t] give away the store on matters of religious freedom. All Israelis, and Mr. Netanyahu in particular, tend to forget just how important religious pluralism is to the American Jewish community. It may not seem important now, but if in six months’ time triumphalist ultra-Orthodox parties lash out at liberal Jews and rescind what few rights they have in the Jewish state, the American Jewish response will be anger and bitterness. Here I do not expect public statements from Mr. Netanyahu. What he needs to do is work quietly, behind the scenes, to make clear to the ultra-Orthodox parties that will soon be in his coalition that there are limits to what they can demand. (http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.647868 – Eric Yoffie – Mar 19, 2015)
May these words pass from Rabbi Yoffie’s pen to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s eyes, and may these hopes be fulfilled.
Rabbi Hanina taught in the Talmud (Bavli Shabbat 119b) that Jerusalem was destroyed only because its inhabitants did not reprove one another. For, as another great sage taught, Resh Lakish, without reproof, there can be no lasting peace.
Though sometimes difficult, it is so important that we remain engaged with Israel and Israel’s ideals, and that when Israel’s leadership fails to meet these ideals, we offer reproof—תוכחה—in love.
Let us offer together the blessing for the state of Israel (on page 377 of Mishkan Tefila):
אבינו שבשמיים, צור ישראל וגואלו, ברך את מדינת ישראל, ראשית צמיחת גאולתנו. הגן עליה באברת חסדך, ופרוס עליה סוכת שלומך. ושלח אורך ואמתך לראשיה, שריה ויועציה, ותקנם בעצה טובה מלפניך. ונתת שלום בארץ, ושמחת עולם ליושביה. ונאמר אמן.
O heavenly one, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel which marks the dawning of hope for all who seek peace. Shield it beneath the wings of Your love; spread over it the canopy of Your peace; send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with Your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. Amen.
Thanks for this thoughtful piece, David.
Thoughtful article. Thank you.
There is no room in the democratic society for ”us” vs ”them” treatment of the citizens. Leader of the country must unite, and not divide its peoples, regardless of the disagreements that may exist between different communities. Otherwise, leaders may end up on the wrong side of the history, like premier Jacques Parizeau, blaming ”Anglos” and ”Money” during the failed 1995 referendum on sovereignty in Quebec.
While in no way agreeing with Netanyahu’s appeal to Jewish racism and fear of Israeli Arabs, it’s time to get real about the situation in Israel. Israel was founded on the basis of a socialist Zionist fantasy. Ben-Gurion believed that Arabs and Jews could live together as equals in an avowedly Jewish state. That was never going to happen as Jabotinsky and others, correctly as it turns out, pointed out. There has never been a state of equals in the middle east as Americans understand it. The best a minority could hope for was an enlightened dhimmi status. Unfortunately Israel, out of necessity, not Jewish theology has followed this path. Arabs are not drafted into the army, although Bedouins and Druse volunteer, and not even the most liberal of Israelis would advocate teaching Palestinian Arabs how to fight and arming them. That would be national suicide. Unfortunately, in Israel, military service is the fulcrum through which many benefits and contacts accrue. Israeli Arabs have not in he past, do not now, or are likely to in any forseeable future, accepted the concept of a state devoted to Jews within any geographical configuration. How can Arab and Jews be equal when I as an American Jew can go to Israel and claim citizenship under the Law of Return and an Israeli Arab can not get citizenship for their relatives in the West Bank or Gaza? One can not be exclusive to one group and democratic to all at the same time. If you accept Israel as a Jewish state then one must accept that non-Jews will have an inferior status as a practical matter. Israel is never going to be California on the Mediterranean. All of this does not mean that Israeli Arabs are not entitled to the respect due all human beings or are due less opportunities than their Jewish neighbors. I favor a Palestinian state so that all Israeli Arabs who want to live in an Arab state can chose to do so. Those who stay should bear all the burdens of citizenship including military service if only in a non-combat role. Jews for centuries fought in the armies of nations in which they were second class citizens as did black Americans until the military was integrated in 1947. I don’t like how Netanyahu won, but please don’t promulgate idealistic nonsense. Arab and Jew will never be completely equal in Israel until Israeli Arabs accept the concept of a Jewish state in Palestine. You and I both know this.
Jerry, I appreciate your comments and thoughts. I think there are two lenses through which we can look at Bibi’s comments and the larger political environment: the lens of realism and the lens of idealism. From realism, I entirely agree with you, and you should see some of the other conversations I’m having in defending my personal critiques against the American administration for their response and diplomacy with Iran. From a religious lens of idealism, I have to hope for something higher. As someone who not only is responsible for the Jewish political state, but who also, purportedly speaks on behalf of all Jewish people (and who therefore implicates me and my co-religionists), I expect a higher standard of behavior. Some people see Israel as a place where Jews can live freely and in security. I think that’s a good understanding, but it can’t be everything. My own belief (shared by many others) is that Israel is a place where Jews, Judaism and Jewish life can flourish. It is a place where we really ought to strive to take our Jewish living and ideals as far as they can go. In other words, I see Israel as an incredible laboratory for meaningful Jewish living, and a necessary one if Judaism is going to survive for the next centuries and millennia. The first view is important, don’t get me wrong. Recent events in Europe only prove once again that we need a safe haven. Bibi speaks to this audience, and rightfully so. Without the survival of our people, there could be no Jewish people. But if we forget the religious idealistic elements that have kept our people alive for the past millennia, there is no point to Jewish continuity.