Published: 5 June 2025
Last updated: 12 June 2025
Judaism has a long tradition of understanding cognitive dissonance. When the rabbis disagree, the Talmud sometimes concludes “This and this are the words of the living God.”
In the context of the Israel-Hamas War, there are many truths that exist all at once.
The humanitarian situation is Gaza is bad and is deteriorating rapidly, and people — many of them innocent people — are suffering.
And, under international law, Israel is not obliged to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.
And Israel should provide aid despite having no obligation.
And humanitarian organizations are vehemently opposed to Israel being involved in aid distribution.
And much of the aid entering Gaza is being looted by Hamas and wouldn’t make it to the civilians who actually need it.
And providing more aid would lower its prices and allow more aid to get to civilians.
And supplying more aid would enrich and empower Hamas and merchant warlords in Gaza, enabling them to sustain the war for longer.
And the hostages must come home.
And Hamas won’t release the hostages without pressure on Gaza.
And continued fighting will further endanger the lives of the hostages.
And Netanyahu’s treatment of the hostage families is callous and inexcusable.
Comments3
Simon Krite10 June at 07:35 am
We are a people trained to sit in the discomfort of multiple truths. We are not afraid of cognitive dissonance. In fact, we study it.
But truth doesn’t stop at empathy. Emet, truth, is one of the pillars the world stands on. So while it’s true the suffering in Gaza is real and tragic, it is also true that the war was started and is perpetuated by a genocidal group whose charter calls for the annihilation of Jews and who backers are continuing to fester hate for Jews globally.
Judaism doesn’t tell us to pick one side of the story and shut our eyes to the rest. But it does demand we name what is real. The Talmud doesn’t just sit with competing ideas, it interrogates them, tests them, refines them until what remains is fit to guide action.
We are commanded to seek peace – but not without truth. To seek justice – but not by enabling lies. To have compassion – but not for murderers. Our tradition can hold many truths, but not false equivalence. This doesn’t work, it is surrender.
Let’s keep seeking truth, speaking truth, and fighting for truth. Not because it’s easy, but because without it, there’s no path forward, only more blood, more confusion, and more suffering for everyone.
Dani8 June at 01:02 am
Yes and yes! Nailed it!! Every statement is true and contradictory simultaneously. Thats why the only way to describe the I/P conflict is “it’s complicated!” Because IT IS!!
Rachel Sussman7 June at 06:24 am
Bravo to the author!
Thank you for saying it as it is, many of us feel these contradictions… and yet one thing is clear: we must stand by Israel tigether and this means being at its back on one hand and speaking to ensure no wrongs are committed or supported, but the speaking must be done appropriately and this means first by seeing the many faces of the situation and not by blatant accusationsa, and second, within inner circle by approaching the Israeli Government etc rather than joining the haters or abandoning Israel… Israel is not perfect but it is trying damn harder than any other country…