The voice of peace is always heretical

Since October 7, 2023, I have had the opportunity to run many listening circles, both for Jewish communities, and with Palestinians, Jews and others. They offer an atmosphere in which people can honestly share their experiences and feelings, without fear of judgement, criticism and debate. The circles often enlarge a personal position, encourage unity, empathy, acceptance.  

Working with a multifaith/cultural educational organisation, I have also had a unique opportunity to talk with Jewish students from all over Australia.  As such I have come to see first-hand the trauma and fear that has taken over my community, and in the face of that trauma, how the vast majority have hunkered down, reaching out to their own, filled with a certainty and conviction that Israel is doing what it must against a world bent on her destruction.

When we faced our own historical destruction, the prophets from our Tanach, frequently broke the status quo and confronted authority in their communities. They were often called to proclaim a message arguing that people were straying from the path set down by the Torah.

They also were frequently called to challenge the apathy of people and to insist that they take a more pro-active stance in reforming social structures to achieve a situation where equality, justice and peace would prevail. 

The prophets knew that self-reflection and looking at the part that we have played to contribute to our destruction, was fundamental to our principles.  They did not point at the ‘enemy’ and bemoan their lot; they held a mirror up to their own people and forced us to consider what we could do better.

What has become very evident to me, is how difficult it is to show compassion to the other, to the ‘enemy’.  When I spoke of my heart break that 40,000 people have died in Gaza, I saw eye rolling, exchanged glances, heads shaking in denial. I saw that it was controversial to think about the other, as if compassion for Gazans somehow lessens one’s own experience of fear, trauma, prejudice. That it diminishes support for Israel, is dangerous, even treasonous. 

The voice of peace is always heretical, until peace is achieved and then heretics become the heroes.  It’s always like that. And peace cannot be made if we do not see each other as human, if we do not take the time to hear the experiences and feelings of those ‘on the other side’, and to recognise that they too have trauma that will take generations to heal.

To believe that showing compassion to other does not alter your love and devotion to Israel, on the contrary to hold both narratives within you, is surely righteous, expansive even messianic.  It is a position that requires self-reflection, and a deep respect for humanity. 

Justice, peace, equality are qualities that I always thought were guiding  Jewish principles. I was always taught that Israel was to be a light unto the nations.  But our memories, histories, struggles and loss have led us to only seeing ourselves.  When we deny the humanity in our neighbours, our own humanity is diminished. I want more for my people and for Israel.  I want more for the Palestinians too.

A well-known teaching from our sages illustrates it best,

The Torah describes the characteristics of kosher and forbidden animals, fish, and fowl. Among these prohibited birds enumerated we find the chasida, translated as "stork." The literal meaning of chasida is "kindly," an appropriate name, says Rashi, because this bird is helpful to its friends, and shares its food with them.

Nachmanides observes that the forbidden fowl are predatory. The Gerrer Rebbe ask why if the bird is kindly and sympathetic it is not , then according to Nachmanides it does not belong among the kosher instead of the forbidden fowl. He declares that the chasida is helpful to its own kind but is indifferent to the plight of birds of another feather.

From this ruling, we learn that kindliness toward one's own is not enough. If we differentiate between a friend in need and a stranger in like circumstances, between our kind and another, we are not kindly. Goodness must be indiscriminate - whoever needs help is deserving.