Tag: peace

When Values Clash…on Iran

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This past week has been a very troubling one.  The killing of Soleimani has heightened tensions with Iran.  The circumstances of a Ukrainian airliner’s crash in Tehran are murky.  Iran has targeted US bases in Iraq.  It is a real morass.

There is little doubt that Soleimani was not a nice guy.  There is little doubt that the Iranian regime is problematic at best.  And yet, we worry about the possibility of an armed conflict and what it might mean for those who will have to fight it…as well as those who may get caught in the crossfire–including those in Israel.

I am reminded of my study of Talmud.  The Talmud’s style is to ask every question imaginable (even those you could not imagine!).  It debates each opinion and even itself.  It digs deeper and deeper until we may forget the original question.  Rabbis disagree with each other on issues of law and conduct.  It is full of “on the one hand…and on the other hand.”

What is happening in the Middle East now (as always) is more complicated than it seems.  Nothing is truly clear cut.  It is difficult to know what the US Administration’s motives are.  We cannot know what the Iranian regime is thinking. We do not know all the intelligence that is out there.  We tend to follow whatever news source confirms what we already think from our own political or emotional perspective.

It is not easy to know what to think for certain…which is why the last week has felt like a dive into the Talmud for me.  And why so many of us are so worried.

One thing that is clear from our tradition is that there are times when values may clash with each other.  Sometimes there are two options that both seem right, or that both seem wrong.  How do we know what to choose?  How do we know what to believe?  Judaism teaches us that when values come into conflict we must try to follow the example set by the students of Aaron the Priest:  we must love peace and pursue it.

There are times when war is necessary.  First, however, we must seek to avoid it all costs.  If there is a way to save a life, it must be a priority.  May our tradition guide us and our leaders through the rough waters ahead.

Shabbat Shalom!

Love Each Other More than We Hate Our Differences

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Thought for Shabbat

I usually stay away from politics in the Thought for Shabbat, but it seems unavoidable this week.  Israel and the Jewish community appear to have been dragged into a discussion where many feel we have no place.  There have been charges against some Jews of disloyalty to both the United States and Israel.  This is a familiar trope and one that should cause all of us concern—no matter what our political affiliation.

Sadly, the divisions that have deepened in US society seem to have reached the Jewish community as well.  Israel was for many decades a bi-partisan issue; American Jews believed that no matter who controlled Congress or who sat in the White House, it was important for them to have good relations and strong connections with the Jewish State.  Our current situation is a long-simmering departure from that.

What is worse is that this schism can potentially fracture communities, congregations and even families.  Individuals and communities need to engage in serious study/workshops/seminars that help us learn to communicate with those whom we love but with whom we may have deep differences of opinion.

It is my hope that in what promises to be a tumultuous period ahead that we will remember our love for each other.  What we share as a community and congregation is greater than what separates us.  Let our words and actions be guided by the teachings of Aaron to “love peace, pursue peace and bring others closer to Torah.”