Tag: activism

Loving something flawed-Reflections on my trip to Israel

Love (with)… all your perfect imperfections

John Legend’s beautiful song All of me, inspired by his love for his wife, Chrissy, moved and inspired many of us with the romance. But what happens when reality falls so far short of the romantic vision, pushing the boundaries of acceptable, even tolerable? Unfortunately, divorce is often the result.

I am struggling with my relationship with Israel. The aspirations of our ancient homeland land and our history drew me to the miracle that was and, in many ways, continues to be this place. But the state is pressing on issues such as racism, tolerance for pluralism, and checks and balances in government. I was suckled in a mythic Israel but have learned to ween myself, given the practicalities of a nation-state that cannot live solely by the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people. However, as Ben Gurion understood, to be a nation like other nations. It was a pragmatic understanding of survival in the harsh real world. Today, the ideals of a homeland that is both Jewish and a democracy are threatened by raw political power and expediency.

We had come to accept Jewish and Democracy in tension. But, for the first time, we face the existential crisis of threatening both. The fractious rough and tumble nature of Israeli politics and the need to form a governing coalition in Knesset has brought us to a new place.

Over time, we developed complacency in our attitudes. Israel, as a Jewish Democratic state, was always considered a given. Laws and policies often were merely annoyances and opportunities for workarounds. “Religious” marriage meant a weekend in Cyprus. The orthodox church that has become the Kotel was not an issue for the secular. Israelis have enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and unrivaled military strength, making this a safe and secure place for most. Palestinian rights, west bank settlements, and civil rights were not on the radar screen of most and were relegated to the margins.

Then came Bibi 3.0. The assault on cherished rights, once considered unassailable, has awoken many from slumber. The protests in the streets by hundreds of thousands are sending a strong message that this is unacceptable. “Guns and butter” at any cost are not enough. The extensive unbridled settlement program is intolerable, and the Israeli terrorist response to terrorism is rightly called a pogrom. To use a familiar Jewish word, it is a Shanda.

I struggle to love the country as I continue to love the land that held a people charged to be a light unto the nations. This is my heritage. Last week during my trip to Israel with the CCAR, I was proud to be at two demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. I was deeply moved to see the sea of Israeli flags and patriotism on display. However, I was disgusted and deeply aggrieved to be spat on when attempting to bring our Torah for Rosh Chodesh and assaulted by yeshiva bochers as trying to stop my expression of Judaism in the Kotel space.

I cannot turn my back on this precocious and precarious experiment. But I am distraught. I support those who do the work, including the Israeli Religious Action Center and the brave Women of the Wall. I also proudly support NGOs who envision a place where people can live in a shared society, including the Yad b’Yad schools and the New Israel Fund, on whose regional board I serve. I am actively considering dual citizenship, not to lessen my devotion to the United States, but to achieve a voice in shaping the destiny of Israel as only a voting citizen can do. I urge everyone to evaluate where they stand and what they want to do at this critical juncture.

No one can sit on the sidelines any longer.

The Death of Harambe and the emptiness of Moral Outrage

The Death of Harambe

 

harambecincinnatizoo.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2It is sad that this beautiful silverback gorilla was killed. Let’s move on. I am dismissive of the groups expressing outrage and seeking to hold someone “accountable” for this “horrible act of injustice”; if you are truly appalled by this event you must ask yourself, where have you been all this time?

The child falling into the gorilla’s area precipitated the deliberate decision to kill the gorilla. A great ape was sacrificed to ensure saving the life of a human being. The real underlying issues are twofold:

First, is it right for zoos to hold these animals for our amusement/education? Shouldn’t wild animals be allowed to live in the wild rather than Disneyesque approximations, what do we gain by the study or entertainment/observation of these creatures that is worth their captivity?

Second, given that so many of these creatures live in threatened habitats, why aren’t we more active in protecting them in their native environments on the land and in the sea? Rhinos, elephants, tigers, gorillas, the list goes on and on, are in an existential struggle to survive as species. Without public awareness, money and human staffing the outlook for these creatures is bleak. The loss of a single gorilla pales in comparison to the disappearance of these animals from the planet. Until these activists are ready to commit to the cause it is difficult to do other than dismiss them.

Protesting to achieve “Justice for Harambe” is not about justice.  Unfortunately, it is about the hollow ease with which someone can jump on a bandwagon without thought as to the underlying cause. We can too easily click an icon on a social media page or electronically add our name to a petition and consider our obligation fulfilled. But such inaction does little to actually affect change or address an injustice. Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” To truly express moral outrage is to take a real stake in the process of change through financial contribution and more importantly personal action. To champion a cause requires more than noticing injustice, it requires combatting injustice.