Podcast Summary
Three Generations and Their Views on Israel in America: Older Americans see Israel as threatened, middle generation sees it as morally complex, and new generation knows it as powerful and oppressive
The current political dynamics surrounding Israel in America reflect the experiences of three distinct generations. Older Americans view Israel as a vulnerable and threatened nation due to historical conflicts and wars. The middle generation, including the speaker, saw Israel as a strong but morally complex country, with a peace movement seeking to improve its image. However, after the collapse of the peace movement and the rise of extremist politics, a new generation has only known a powerful and oppressive Israel. This understanding shapes their perspective on Israel and can contribute to tensions and misunderstandings.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict touches Jews' identity and ethics: Rabbi Sharon Braus urges acknowledging Palestinian suffering and addressing Israeli occupation's injustices for peace
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the actions of the Israeli government towards Palestinians have become a source of moral dilemma for many Jews, particularly younger generations in the US. This issue goes beyond politics and touches upon identity, ethics, and spirituality. Rabbi Sharon Braus, in her Yom Kippur sermon, urged honesty about Israel's occupation and its right-wing government, acknowledging the trauma and fear that led to the denial of Palestinian rights but emphasizing the need to address the injustices. The growing extremism in Israeli society and the resulting occupation have been ignored for too long, and acknowledging the suffering of Palestinians as victimizers, not just victims, is crucial for understanding the complexity of the situation and promoting peace.
Israel's future as a democracy and a just state under threat: As American Jews, we must speak out against undemocratic and un-Jewish trends in Israel, build bridges, and dedicate resources to ensure its future as a thriving democracy and just state.
The dream of Israel as a safe haven for Jewish values and a thriving democracy is under threat, and as American Jews, we have a responsibility to speak out against undemocratic and un-Jewish trends. The stories shared during a joint commemoration ceremony on Israel's National Remembrance Day, where Israeli Jews and Palestinian citizens came together to share their grief, serve as a reminder of the human cost of the conflict. Despite controversy, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv this past year to build bridges and offer hope for a shared sense of humanity. It's crucial that we dedicate resources and passion to fighting for Israel's future as a democracy and a just state, just as our grandparents did in the face of persecution and genocide.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict creates cognitive dissonance for American Jews: American Jews face a values rift between Israeli policies and their Jewish self-understanding, causing disengagement and a focus on other social justice causes.
The ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is causing immense pain and grief for people on both sides. However, some protesters are drowning out the voices of those who want to share their stories and seek a better future. This issue creates cognitive dissonance for many American Jews and diaspora Jews, who fear speaking out against Israeli policies due to the risk of antisemitism and the perception of unfairness. Many have disengaged and focused on other social justice causes instead. The rift between the Israeli and American Jewish communities is a values rift, as Israeli values that are core to Jewish self-understanding are being undermined by extremist voices in Israel. It's important for the world to recognize that this situation is not representative of the entire Israeli population and that the civil disobedience and protests are a response to a dangerous core that has risen in power. It's our responsibility to ensure that these extremist voices do not become representative of the population. The religious observance of some Israelis does not justify turning Israel into an entity that goes against Jewish values.
The Jewish faith's emphasis on human worth and equality: The Jewish faith values all humans equally, emphasizing their creation in God's image. This belief fosters empathy towards strangers and the protection of the oppressed, but unfortunately, Jews have historically faced persecution.
The Jewish faith, as depicted in the Torah, emphasizes the inherent worth and equality of all human beings, derived from the belief that we are all created in God's image. This core belief is reinforced throughout Jewish sacred literature and traditions, which prioritize the journey of the Israelites from slavery towards building a just society. This experience of displacement and oppression is central to Jewish identity and teaches the importance of empathy towards strangers and the imperative to protect the oppressed. However, history shows that despite these teachings, Jews have often faced persecution and violence. This duality - the understanding of the oppressed experience as part of Jewish identity and the necessity of self-preservation - forms the complex foundation of Jewish thinking.
Liberal Jewish community's existential dilemma: Alone or part of the human community?: Liberal Jews are grappling with a sense of isolation and responsibility for their own safety vs. being part of the larger human community. The Israel violence highlighted their lack of understanding and acceptance in progressive circles, leading to introspection and a call for balance.
The Jewish community in America, particularly the liberal Jewish population, is grappling with a sense of existential loneliness and conflict between seeing themselves as fundamentally alone and responsible for their own safety versus being part of the larger human community and working towards a better world for all. This tension was highlighted during the violence in Israel in October 2022, which led to a painful realization that many liberal Jews felt they were not truly understood or accepted in their progressive circles. The community has been accused of naivety and ignorance of the realities faced by those living in Israel. This reckoning has led many to question whether they were indeed naive and whether they should have taken more seriously the warnings of those who criticized them for downplaying antisemitism. Ultimately, the Jewish community must navigate this tension and find a way to be both self-reliant and connected to the larger human community.
Identity shift for American Jews: The events of October 7th led American Jews to reconsider their connection to their community and their responsibilities towards others, highlighting the importance of balancing deep tribal connections with ethical responsibilities.
The events of October 7th prompted a profound shift in identity for many American Jews, leading them to reconsider their connection to their community and their responsibilities towards others. This shift can be seen in the story of Avraham and Lot, where Avraham's responsibility to his nephew Lot awakened a deeper sense of obligation and connection, while his awareness of the potential harm caused by his actions underscored the importance of minimizing harm to others. This duality of deep tribal connections and ethical responsibilities is a challenge that many traditions and groups grapple with, and finding the balance between the two requires ongoing practice and self-reflection, especially during times of trauma and grief.
The danger of excluding others during times of tribal attachment: During crises, it's crucial to extend moral concern to all suffering people, not just our own tribe, to prevent loneliness, fear, and isolation.
During times of tribal attachment and identity, it's crucial not to exclude others from our circle of care and concern. The speaker emphasizes the danger of drawing our circles too small, leading to loneliness, fear, and isolation, which can harm individuals and communities. The current global situation, marked by conflict and antisemitism, calls for an extension of our moral concern to all suffering people, regardless of their identity or location. This challenging task requires heart work and a commitment to empathy and compassion towards all innocent lives, including those caught in the midst of conflict. Ultimately, the speaker calls for a more inclusive and compassionate response to global crises, rather than retreating into tribalism and exclusion.
Bearing Witness to Suffering: During conflict and crisis, expanding moral concern and acknowledging the humanity of those affected deepens connections and promotes healing.
Expanding our moral concern and bearing witness to the suffering of others is a crucial political and spiritual practice, especially during times of conflict and crisis. The speaker's experience of visiting Israel after the attacks and witnessing the devastation and grief firsthand was a profound reminder of the importance of seeing and acknowledging the humanity of those affected. The idea of bearing witness is rooted in ancient Jewish tradition, as seen in the Mishnah, where someone who is brokenhearted is given space to share their pain with others. By truly seeing and acknowledging the suffering of others, we can deepen our connections with one another and work towards healing and understanding.
Ancient Jewish ritual teaches the importance of empathy and connection: Empathy and connection are crucial for individual and societal well-being. Offering support to others, even in small ways, can help prevent isolation and heal wounds.
Importance of empathy and connection, as exemplified in an ancient Jewish ritual. During this pilgrimage, those making their way around the holiest site were required to stop and offer a blessing to those coming towards them, regardless of their own circumstances. This simple yet profound act serves as a reminder that when we are suffering, we need to be seen and acknowledged by others. The inability to engage in each other's pain and offer support can lead to isolation, hurt society, and even endanger our democracy. Three recommended books to deepen this understanding are "The Prophets" by Abraham Joshua Heschel, "To Bless the Space Between Us" by John O'Donohue, and "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi. These works explore the power of empathy, belonging, and the impact of trauma on generations.
