Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center sent out this message about the Israeli bombing of Gaza.
Today the starkest choice of values and visions of the future was laid before the Jewish people throughout the world.
On the one hand, Jews throughout the world were reading in synagogue the Prophetic vision of Zechariah, no stranger to exile and humiliation, writing from the midst of the Babylonian Captivity 2500 years ago and looking forward to the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the relighting of its Menorah — both of which had been destroyed by Babylonian militarism.
This rebuilding and relighting, Zechariah proclaimed, must be achieved not by mobilizing might and power against Babylonia but by drawing on the Infinite Spirit, God’s power. A vision reinforced by the Rabbis who chose the passage to be read on the holy day that might easily fall into a celebration of the military might and power of the Maccabees.
On the other hand — on the very same day!! — at least 225 Palestinians were killed by Israeli bombs in one more attempt to quell by might and power the use of violence (on a much smaller scale) by Hamas, in what Hamas sees as itself a retaliation against the Israeli blockade and semi-starvation of the people of Gaza.
There is plenty to bewail and plenty to examine in the details of this crossroads-moment in the history between our two Families of Abraham. Tonight (Saturday night) I cannot gather the strength to do this — having just, after a pleasant Shabbat of synagogue and family dreidling, discovered this crushing news. We will look more deeeply together into these choices, in the next several days.
But what I can do now is simply ask us all to face the choices, to experience the deadly vertigo of choice between these choices.
A hard but necessary moment to send you the blessings of shalom, salaam, peace. — Arthur
posted December 28, 2008 at 12:03 pm
“in what Hamas sees as itself a retaliation against the Israeli blockade and semi-starvation of the people of Gaza.”
Hamas is a organization with a Nazi-like hatred for all Jews everywhere. Hamas’s motives go way beyond the current conditions in Gaza. These attacks are not just retaliation. You have forgotten that Qassam attacks started when Israel left the Gaza strip when Fatah was still in power.
posted December 28, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Rabbi,
As a Christian ignorant of Jewish thought and conversation inside your community, I am very pleased to happen upon your reflections here on belief.net. I know no group wishes to air their inner conflict in public, but it helps to know there are different opinions as to how to handle the conflict between the two “sons of Abraham”.
With this statement – “in what Hamas sees as itself a retaliation against the Israeli blockade and semi-starvation of the people of Gaza.” – perhaps you could heal the wounds. Israel is so powerful in its organizational qualities, its competency in creating and sustaining society and societal resources. I often wonder if Israel unleashed that force upon the people of Gaza, if that would heal them and the wounds between you so well that through love and respect, you could accept the lands given to you by God.
May God bless you and forgive the attackers. I pray it is not the Holy One of Israel’s will that Jerusalem be taken by force and hatred.
posted December 28, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Is there anyone who seriously expects to see Shalom emerge out of the bombing, firing, slaughter of innocents, starvation of the poor, etc.?
posted December 28, 2008 at 5:59 pm
When it is tribal, when it is built upon fear and a desire for blood, the actions of men are brutal and bring wave upon wave of suffering that crosses from generation to generation.
When at some point, something–usually a terrible tragedy affects both sides and requires both to work together, then is a foundation built that will allow the drums of war to be finally stilled.
posted December 28, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I agree with Albert.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was right when he said, “Dark cannot drive out dark. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” Certainly, the conflict between Israel and Palestine requires a more complicated solution than simply telling them to love each other, but ending the bloodshed would be a good place to start.
posted December 28, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Susan, if the UN declared that you had to leave your home with no compensation, and then turned that home over to someone else, would you stand by idly and peacefully protest, or would you defend the home you and your family lived in? Would you have a “Nazi-like hatred” of all of these people who came in and took over the place you called home?
When I listen to people here talk about how they would resist ANYONE kicking them off their lands, or taking their guns from their homes, I hear EXACTLY the same sentiment that comes from these Palestinian people…exactly the same emotion, the same fervor, the same protective instincts.
I also hear it in the voices of Israelis who are interviewed, mourning the loss of their family members. I see the same desire to live safely, free from terror and fear, in homes where it is safe for their children to play in the parks and yards without worry.
What would you do if you were in the position of the Palestinians? Would you sit quietly and do nothing, or would you take up arms and try to take back the home taken from you?
posted December 28, 2008 at 11:07 pm
One of the other problems is the terrible corruption that exists on the Palestinian side. The leaders be they of Hamas or Fatah do not really give a tinker’s damn for the welfare of their people.
Yes there are historic wrongs that have occurred by both sides.
The question is not how to redress the horrors of the past, but how to move forward equitably, respectfully, and honourably today?
In the current scenario, Israel and Palestine will continue to have low grade hostilities which occasionally flare up into larger actions as they have in the last two days. What is necessary is for there to be a willingness to negotiate and to build a functioning Palestine that will prosper alongside Israel. For that there must be legitimate leaders on the Palestinian side who are not corrupt. There must be a will to build a real state with real power and real accountability, not a syndicate of the corrupt who care not a damn for their citizens.
posted December 31, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Albert wrote, “For that there must be legitimate leaders on the Palestinian side who are not corrupt. There must be a will to build a real state with real power and real accountability, not a syndicate of the corrupt who care not a damn for their citizens.”
It is also the case that there must be legitimate leaders on the ISRAELI side who are not corrupt. There must be a will to build a real state with real power and real accountability, not a syndicate of the corrupt who care not a damn for their citizens in Israel. That would lead to a radical breach with their past; and it would include a committment to begin keeping the many treaties they have signed and then ignored or violated.
posted January 2, 2009 at 9:04 am
and while they attack look what this man posted here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=553vSPJNRzg
posted January 6, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Regarding Gaza strip, when Joshua replaced Moses, God continually commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanites, but Israel failed to obey God in several areas. In consequence, Joshua gave a curse,’Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will NO MORE drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.’ Joshua 23:13. God stated his curse again against Israel in Judges 2:20 ‘And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will NOT henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:’ The passage continues and mentions the cities specifically in the Gaza strip. And we find that that Gaza, Ashkelon and that little strip which was once Philistia (Palestina)has never truly been conquered by Israel because of Israel’s ancient unpurged sin. Yet, modern political ‘Israel’ has raised its hand against God’s ancient decree, again, and God will remember it as he is no respecter of nations. Until the end comes, the land is to be shared. The ancient decree has been written, so shall it be done.