I had the honor of moderating a conversation for the New Israel Fund (NIF) at Beth Am Israel, located on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia.
Our speakers, Rabbi Noa Sattath and Libby Linkenski are dedicated to fostering a shared society that upholds our Jewish values. Our values endure, even in challenging times like these, when they are stressed and tested as rarely before in our history. Indeed, our values are more important than ever for maintaining perspective. Libby shared three points to remember as we navigate these difficult times:
People are not their governments.
Palestinians are not Hamas. Israelis are not Benjamin Netanyahu. Americans are not Donald Trump. We are more than the actions of our extremist leaders and are not directly complicit in their worst acts.
Don’t defend the indefensible.
The conflict didn’t begin on October 7, and October 7 itself was indefensible. So is the ongoing assault on the people of Gaza. We can’t lose our moral clarity, regardless of politics.
Two peoples, one land.
Two peoples have always existed between the river and the sea, and both will continue to exist. Any vision that erases one side is a vision of unimaginable violence. The question is not whether we coexist but how. That’s where the conversation begins—and where it must end.
We must continue working to lay the foundation for a future where both people can live with dignity and security.
Shabbat is approaching and Pesach follows immediately thereafter. I am taking a moment from the preparations to share the beautiful rendition of Stand By Me. It is a fitting prayer seeking Divine connection. Enjoy Music Travel Love as they share their beautiful rendition.
As we gather around the Seder table, we find ourselves in a moment that feels uniquely challenging. While previous generations have confronted serious issues, the current landscape is unlike anything we’ve encountered in recent memory. The ongoing war is relentless, with no end in sight and no plan for what follows. Hostages remain trapped, seemingly without hope for redemption. Furthermore, we are witnessing a rise in anti-Israel sentiment, along with a resurgence of Antisemitism not just abroad but right here in the United States. Fear and anxiety permeate our lives, and rather than coming together to confront these threats, we often find ourselves at odds with each other. This moment in time is fraught with tension.
However, we have the power to respond constructively, with unity and compassion.
By gathering at the Seder table, we embody the spirit of inclusion with our declaration: “Whoever is hungry, come and eat!” This Passover, our hunger for spiritual and emotional support is palpable. Let us set aside our differences to share and celebrate the profound story of our people’s redemption, recognizing that each of us connects to this narrative in our own distinctive way. Our tradition highlights four individuals asking different questions—a reflection of our diverse perspectives. We ought to welcome one another, fostering an environment of understanding even amidst spirited discussions. The Shalom Bayit, the peace of the Seder table, and our unity must prevail. Now, more than ever, we need each other. This Passover, let us cherish our time with family and community, share the powerful story of redemption and freedom, and be grateful that we have one another in these trying times.
Al Kol Eleh-Naomi Shemer’s song to her widowed sister- a song of hope as we continue to pray for the return of the hostages and for peace.
Shabbat Shalom
“Please do not uproot the planted, Do not forget the hope Bring me back and I shall return to the good land” It is spring outside, Passover is approaching, but our lips still struggle to say “Happy Holidays”. We were looking for words of encouragement and comfort, and we found them in the song “Al Kol Eleh”, Over All These, the words of encouragement that Naomi Shemer wrote to her widowed sister. We were joined by the musicians of the IDF Orchestra, conducted by Major Rom Shamir. We hope the line “Bring me back and I shall return” is heard and that our hostages return soon.
The end of World War 2 came at a significant human cost. Eisenhower continued to bomb cities in Germany so that the Germans knew with certainty they had lost. Not one, but two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities, unleashing their death and destruction. And yet many did not put down their arms. 5,000 Japanese soldiers refused to surrender at the war’s conclusion, remaining loyal to their oath to the Emperor, the deeply ingrained values of Bushido, emphasis on honor, and self-sacrifice at their core.
There may be invaluable lessons from the Japanese fighters who held out even after the war ended when dealing with Hamas.
To understand the fighters loyal to Hamas, we must understand the profound philosophical, existential commitment to the idea of fighting to regain the land perceived as stolen. Leaders with bona fides that these Hamas fighters will respect must arise and offer a different path forward. This can initiate a process where, eventually, those committed to Israel’s obliteration will be overcome by those committed to a peace wherein both sides live in safety and security, side by side.
The sheer brutality of the current war in Gaza would, under normal circumstances, make any leader want to stop the suffering of the people and compromise in the name of peace. However, Hamas is not normal circumstances. The human suffering they use in the service of their ideology is perfectly acceptable to them and is, in point of fact, one of the weapons they have employed in dealing with the Palestinians and the hostages.
Similarly, the hatred on the Israeli side of the equation is equally brutal. The invasion of October 7 was viscerally felt as an existential moment. Hatred and the desire for revenge only build with the cynical bargaining chip that is the hostages. As those lives hang in the balance, Israelis must also find courageous leaders to lead their people to peace.
One of the few things made clear is the current situation is a meat grinder consuming human victims with impunity. This is morally and ethically reprehensible. Moderating voices must arise to quell this war machine and find a better path forward.
There will be those who see victory only as the destruction and capitulation of the enemy. It is an unrealistic goal. The price is astronomically high in lives lost and is ultimately unachievable. These ideologues and zealots must be marginalized. It may take generations for this view of the world to fade away, and only with perseverance and strength can we support those seeking a way forward that can permit a peaceful coexistence to form.
A colleague shared ideas in a forum, ending with the words “unrepentantly Zionist and Politically Incorrect.”
He proudly resisted, and while I value his essential work and support as a rabbi, I wonder if he, like many of us, is “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.” Now is the time for nuance, to stand up for our core values, and to eliminate much of the noise that makes those values challenging to embrace. Backlash often lacks focus; now, focus on our values is needed more than ever.
I am a Zionist. But my Zionism is a belief in identity and rights to a safe and secure place to call one’s own. It is precisely my Zionism that compels me to understand this same need for the Palestinian people. Both are true; I must accept the other to validate the one. Before railing against this, let me reiterate that this modern Zionism is premised on both people having the right to safety and security. That requires people to be committed to peaceful coexistence, which requires serious and difficult compromises from each side.
Another colleague, friend, and teacher commented on the so-called Black Lives Matter movement. He is appalled by their alliance with radical pro-Palestinian groups that are also anti-Israel. I agree that they have betrayed their righteous cause of equality under the law. This is another instance where a core idea is co-opted, diluted, and ultimately betrayed by those with different political agendas. However, we cannot allow these individuals to deter us from our core belief in equality for everyone and our commitment to working with others to realize the promise of our nation’s founding principles.
Navigating through the fog is a significant challenge, but it is what we are trained to do. Our tradition of Makhloket l’Shem Shamayim, argument for the sake of Heaven, revolves around how our values are understood when tested under various circumstances. This is precisely the challenge we face today. Whether we agree with our government’s current policies and procedures is an essential but separate conversation; how these impact our cherished beliefs should be our focus. Our fundamental values of caring, including feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and caring for the widow and orphan, are constantly threatened, now evermore so. Therefore, the need to champion our beliefs has never been more crucial.
We offer Eshet Chayil verses from the Book of Proverbs at the Shabbat Table. We are grateful for the “woman of valor,” the specialness of our life partner.
The Shvesters bring these verses to life in a beautiful song.
One of the horrors of the current war is the holding of the hostages. Their predicament is hopeless because their freedom depends on some level of trust, and there is no trust.
Israel and Hamas are avowed enemies. Each is dedicated to the destruction of the other. There is no middle ground, no reconciliation, no peace. With this at each core, trust cannot exist.
Hamas has fully embraced the “civilian as a weapon” idea. To give up the hostages means giving up one of its most potent weapons. The hostages have been used as shields, and many believed as a bargaining chip. But without trust, there is no incentive to use this bargaining chip, and once it is used, nothing is left. Hamas does not trust that Israel will live by an agreement; they believe Israel sees an agreement as only the means to obtaining the release of the hostages, nothing more. Once the hostages are returned, Israel will continue to prosecute the war.
Israel has displayed its commitment to destroying Hamas. As Hamas cannot be appeased, it must be eliminated. Israel has a long memory and believes in retribution. It does not trust Hamas. Israel thought it could permit Hamas to exist as it did not pose an existential threat and accepted a tenuous ceasefire. Then, October 7 happened, and whatever trust existed was shattered.
A ceasefire is a lull until it ends, and the warring begins again. This is part of the cynical lack of trust, but it is one of the few things both sides can agree upon.
War is usually fought to capitulation. One side is defeated unequivocally. The victor then dictates the terms of surrender and peace over the vanquished. This may not be possible. But until these two warring parties have more to gain by ceasing hostilities and learning to co-exist, the death and destruction will continue.
I pray that the current negotiations might prove me wrong and that the hostages will be returned. And perhaps peace might be seen as an alternative to hatred and carnage.
We should pause and reflect on Jimmy Carter and the gift that was his life.
President Jimmy Carter engineered the peace between Israel and Egypt, and we are indebted to him, if only for that.
He was an exemplar of morality, committed to peace and human rights, and striving to improve the world.
During the High Holidays, we reflect on the balance between Din and Rachamim, the strictness of law and compassion. Many have thought Carter was too compassionate and not strong enough. Nowadays, the world seems to be seeking “strongmen” as leaders. We lose something when our leaders cannot access humanity and compassion.
As President and throughout his life, Carter was a remarkable human being, a consequential force for positive change in our world.
Our speakers, Rabbi Noa Sattath and Libby Linkenski are dedicated to fostering a shared society that upholds our Jewish values. Our values endure, even in challenging times like these, when they are stressed and tested as rarely before in our history. Indeed, our values are more important than ever for maintaining perspective. Libby shared three points to remember as we navigate these difficult times:
