For the past 11 days, the violence in the Middle East has been on everyone’s mind. After four non-productive election cycles, Israel was about to create a new coalition government that may have been able to make critical inroads toward a healthier Israel for all citizens. Within hours of this monumental partnership being codified, there was a tragic incident coinciding with both Ramadan and Yom Yerushalayim that triggered the outcry and outrage we are all witnessing in real time. Not unlike America, both Israeli and Palestinian societies wrestle with multiple internal conflicts that have ripple effects leading to heightened tensions between them. These painful internal challenges are currently highlighted for all the world to see.
Anti-Israel sentiments in the United States and Europe were hard enough to navigate before the proliferation of social media. Today the barrage of information – both accurate and falsified – is overwhelming! Many of us have enormous compassion for the Palestinian people who have suffered from a painful lack of concerned, productive leadership for more than seven decades. This vacuum has put Israel in a conflicted overseer role for far too long which, in turn, has had a devasting psychological impact on both Palestinians and Israelis. More importantly, it has created an environment in which brothers are failing to see the desperation and humanity in those who are suffering most.
The world is a geopolitical hot mess and corrupt leaders are manipulating the current vulnerable situation for their own gain. It is hard not to be moved by the disproportionate loss of human life among Palestinian civilians. By the same token, the world should be horrified by the constant barrage of indiscriminately fired rockets from Gaza into Israel, instilling fear and putting innocent lives at risk. If Israel’s defense system were not so sophisticated – and thank God it is - the number of Israeli civilian deaths would be exponentially higher. To the untrained eye, Israel is too often seen as the instigator of this warfare which, in turn, pulls the veil off a certain type of antisemitism that is always there, just waiting to be revealed in hurtful, insulting and sometimes violent ways.
In the Jewish diaspora, ideas and passions run the gamut of where to lay blame and what should happen next. Jewish citizens of Israel are also not of one heart as to how to foster (or even define) peace in the region. The expansion of extreme religious Zionism has not been helpful to the cause. Israel is so fractured internally that it may not be able to form a cohesive government. What then?
As Americans, we are no strangers to the harmful effects of fanaticism and unbridgeable divide. As with so many other issues, Israel is sure to become yet another wedge opportunity to foster division between otherwise political allies who will not be able to process the events in the Middle East with the same set of facts on hand. Emotional, historical and religious ties are seldom subject to reason.
We must all brace ourselves for coming months of challenging conversations, shocking hurt, and growing displays of antisemitism that many of us have skirted for so long. My advice is to listen and learn as much as we can from different Jewish voices and not get stuck on one analytical trope. If our rabbis and sages, of blessed memory, modelled one practice that we must all take to heart, it is that healthy, sustainable Judaism is built on dialogue and disagreement. Multiple voices at the table are essential for there to be peace in the world. More importantly, Godly answers will only be revealed when everyone feels heard and respected.
In this week’s parashah, we are introduced to the text for the tri-fold blessing that our priests were charged to bestow regularly upon the Israelites as part of their sacred duties. We must bless each other, today and every day, so that others will be blessed through our example, and possibility for abiding peace between nations will be that much closer at hand.
May the Lord bless you and protect you! May the Lord deal kindly and graciously with you! May the Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!
Kein y'hi ratzon. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Marcia Tilchin
Friday, May 21 at 6:00pm* FRIDAY NIGHT BY CANDLELIGHT Guest musician Jason Feddy joins Rabbi Marcia Tilchin for Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv. Join on Zoom. Join on Facebook. *Please note 6:00pm PDT start time
Friday, May 21 at 7:00pm SHABBATOGETHER VIRTUAL SHMOOZE Join us after Friday Night By Candlelight for time to meet with friends old and new, near and far at ShabbaTogether. Please register in advance so we know to save you a virtual "seat" at the table. Register here.
Saturday, May 22 at 2:00pm (PDT) TWELVE STEPS & TORAH Shabbat afternoon Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Led by Rabbis Ilan Glazer and Marcia Tilchin. Join us on Zoom.
For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here.
Saturday, May 22 at 8:00pm HAVDALAH TOGETHER: LET'S GET REEL PRESENTS JEWISH MYSTICISM, FINANCE & FILM This month we are featuring a not-yet-released, critically acclaimed, experimental film exploring Jewish mysticism and finance. Join us in conversation with the creators, Alicia Jo Rabins, Lara Cuddy and Alicia Jo Rose. Zoom in to the 5/22 programhere. ONLY 50 "TICKETS" REMAINING to view the film.Register now to receive the link.
Monday, May 24 at 9:30am ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Dr. Reinhard Krauss continues with his next talk in the series Jews and Christians – Related but Distinct. This Monday's topic is Nostra Aetate: Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions. To view previous sessions visit our Facebook video library here. Join us on Zoom or Facebook. Learn more and register for our ALI email list here.
Sunday, May 23 at 11:00am PDT
TOGETHER WE CAN BRING TRUTH TO LIGHT In response to the barrage of mis-information about Israel being shared on social media, and in particular to address teens who have not had the benefit of learning Israel's long and complicated history, this webinar will focus on tips for dealing with online hatred and anti-Semitism, and provide a message of hope and peace. Emily Schrader and Yoseph Haddad are the featured speakers. Register to Zoom in here. Click here to view full sized flyer.
Sunday, June 20 at 5:30pm OC JEWISH COALITION FOR REFUGEES WORLD REFUGEE DAY EVENT JCoOC is a proud member of the OC Jewish Coalition for Refugees. Together we partner to make Orange County more welcoming to refugees and asylum seekers. Our World Refugee Day drive-in event features a screening of "The Good Lie" starring Reese Witherspoon as a refugee resettlement worker. Tickets are limited to the first 120 registrants.Learn more and purchase tickets here.
The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is a creative, collaborative, and compassionate community dedicated to innovating and supporting local and national programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life and encourages individuals, and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County 2200 San Joaquin Hills Rd. Newport Beach, CA 92660
